Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – March 2019
March 31, 2019
Posted by: Daniella Chambers
Note from Congresswoman Schwartz
Hello BMA Advocates!
With over 100 new members now serving as part of the 116th Congress and the issue of health care reform taking high priority, Members and their staff are looking for information and resources to inform their policy decisions. As experts on Medicare Advantage, BMA welcomes this opportunity to inform and galvanize support for the care seniors choose.
In April, we hosted a Hill briefing for Congressional Staff titled Medicare Advantage 101: A Primer. The event introduced fundamental concepts in Medicare Advantage, highlighted the differences between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare, and explained the Medicare Advantage payment model. A panel of BMA Allies representing the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), Oak Street Health, and the Teacher’s Retirement System of Kentucky followed and , shared insights on care provided under Medicare Advantage, improved health outcomes, and information on how Medicare Advantage is working to address health disparities and address the full health needs of patients.
We are happy to note that this event was widely attended! Over 80 participants joined us to learn more about the high-quality, affordable care available with Medicare Advantage plans. These participants represented more than 45 House and Senate offices. these are offices BMA will look to as we build support for Medicare Advantage. The briefing was a great first step towards increasing understanding and bi-partisan support for Medicare Advantage.
This month, we also took to the road to share information on Medicare Advantage! BMA was a proud sponsor of Aging in America 2019, hosted by the American Society on Aging. The conference, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, featured a diverse line-up of speakers and exhibitors dedicated to addressing the needs of seniors nationwide.
BMA was happy to participate in the session called “Panel of Pundits” and as an exhibitor, sharing your stories and information on Medicare Advantage with a variety of providers, community-based organizations and researchers.
We look forward to additional opportunities to share information on Medicare Advantage here in Washington and across the country. Thank you for informing our efforts and for your commitment to high-quality, affordable care with Medicare Advantage.
Sincerely,
Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO
Better Medicare Alliance
The Administration is considering a proposed rule that would eliminate current drug rebates, a tool used by health plans to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs from drug manufacturers. BMA recognizes that the high cost of prescription drugs remains a serious concern for beneficiaries nationwide. However, we have serious concerns about the effect this rule would have in increasing premiums and reducing benefits for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, without addressing the root cause of high drug prices – list prices set by the manufacturer.
The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on prescription drug coverage on April 9, 2019, where a panel of five Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) executives answered questions on their role in the drug pricing system. In advance of the hearing, BMA’s community of advocates sent 2,953 letters to Committee members urging them to #ProtectMAPD.
Join Our Task Forces
* Join our Medicare My Way Task Force
* Join our Medicare Advantage Retiree Plans Task Force
* Join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force
* Join the Protect Our Care Task Force
* Join our Chronic Disease Task Force
Featured Action of the Month: Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force
The Administration is considering a proposed rule that would eliminate current drug rebates, a tool used by health plans to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs from drug manufacturers. BMA recognizes that the high cost of prescription drugs remains a serious concern for beneficiaries nationwide. However, we have serious concerns about the effect this rule would have in increasing premiums and reducing benefits for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, without addressing the root cause of high drug prices – list prices set by the manufacturer.
The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on prescription drug coverage on April 9, 2019, where a panel of five Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) executives answered questions on their role in the drug pricing system. In advance of the hearing, BMA’s community of advocates sent 2,953 letters to Committee members urging them to #ProtectMAPD.
In the coming months, we will have more information on these proposed changes and their impact on your Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug coverage. To stay informed, join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable task force today!
Our Top Advocates
- Ally S. (Pleasant Grove, UT)
- Myrta R. (Houston, TX)
- Harry G. (Kingsport, TN)
BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.
The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Join us on Facebook and become part of BMA’s inner circle of advocates.
Better Medicare Alliance is a Twitter leader in discussions about Medicare Advantage and health care for our nation’s seniors. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on Medicare Advantage news.