Humana Comments on Final 2014 Medicare Rate Notice from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
<0> Humana Investor RelationsRegina Nethery, 502-580-3644orHumana Corporate CommunicationsTom Noland, 502-580-3674 </0>
Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) disclosed today its preliminary assessment of the anticipated rate impact from the issuance by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the final Announcement of Calendar Year 2014 Medicare Advantage Benchmark Rates and Payment Policies (the CMS Final Announcement) which was issued by CMS after the close of market trading on Monday, April 1, 2013.
Based on its review of the CMS Final Announcement, Humana expects its 2014 Medicare Advantage bid benchmark premium to include an increase for medical cost trend of approximately 3.4 percent versus the previously expected reduction of approximately 2.2 percent. The company also noted that previously disclosed statutory reductions for Affordable Care Act payment cuts and risk coding intensity adjustments are anticipated to nearly offset the medical cost trend increase of 3.4 percent.
The CMS Final Announcement adjustments for risk coding recalibration and county rebasing are anticipated to have a material negative impact upon bid premiums in certain geographies in 2014. The company is completing more detailed analyses of these additional adjustments and anticipates further discussion in its first quarter earnings call on May 1, 2013.
“We are pleased that CMS has recognized the significant negative impact the rates initially proposed for 2014 were expected to have upon the millions of Medicare beneficiaries who choose Medicare Advantage plans, but we believe certain of the technical adjustments may still present meaningful challenges in certain geographies,” said Bruce D. Broussard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Humana. “We thank the Members of Congress who stood with their seniors to protect coverage under this program. We will continue to work closely with CMS and our provider partners to provide access to quality affordable health care services and believe our integrated care delivery strategy will further those efforts across multiple provider contracting models.”
The company continues to evaluate the anticipated impact of the CMS Final Announcement as well as other statutory and regulatory changes and the commensurate impacts upon its 2014 Medicare benefit offerings. Market-by-market analyses will continue to be refined now that county-specific rate details have been issued as part of the CMS Final Announcement. Bid designs for the company’s 2014 Medicare Advantage offerings are due to CMS on June 3, 2013.
Humana anticipates it will share 2014 operating margin, earnings and membership expectations based on its approved Medicare bid designs during the fourth quarter of 2013 after CMS makes 2014 benefit designs for the entire sector publicly available.
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in investor presentations, press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of Humana’s executive officers, the words or phrases like “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “likely will result,” “estimates,” “projects” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, among other things, information set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the company’s SEC filings, a summary of which includes but is not limited to the following:
In making forward-looking statements, Humana is not undertaking to address or update them in future filings or communications regarding its business or results. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein may or may not occur. There also may be other risks that the company is unable to predict at this time. Any of these risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Humana advises investors to read the following documents as filed by the company with the SEC for further discussion both of the risks it faces and its historical performance:
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at , including copies of: