The Biden administration wants the public to weigh in on ways to improve the Medicare Advantage (MA) program.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information late Thursday, seeking feedback on ways to "achieve the agency's vision" that ensures all people with Medicare coverage, MA or traditional, receive equitable, high-quality and person-centered care.
CMS is encouraging health plans, providers, patient advocates, state agencies, employers, unions and other partners to submit comments, which it will use to shape and inform future MA policy.
“Medicare Advantage is a critical part of CMS’ vision to advance health equity; expand access to affordable coverage and care; drive high quality, person-centered care; and promote affordability and sustainability of Medicare,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in a statement. “Medicare Advantage plans are essential partners in this work.”
CMS' strategic pillars place emphasis on engagement with partners and communities in shaping policy priorities. The agency said in the announcement that it is focused on working with the public to find new ways to innovate the Medicare program.
“We see a huge opportunity for partnership with as many stakeholders as possible to better understand how care innovations are changing outcomes and costs and how Medicare Advantage is working for enrollees,” said Meena Seshamani, M.D., CMS deputy administrator and director of the center for Medicare, in a statement.
“It’s important that CMS engage as many stakeholders as possible to achieve our collective vision of equity, access, quality and affordability," she said.