CAHC Comment Letter to CMS on Medicare Part C and D Rule

Seema Verma, MPH
Administrator
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

RE: CMS-4182-P

Dear Administrator Verma:

The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) is pleased to comment on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule entitled “Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs For Contract Year 2019” published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2017. These comments reflect the positions of CAHC, but may not necessarily reflect the individual views of our members.

CAHC is a broad-based alliance with a singular focus: bringing down the cost of health care for all Americans. Our membership represents a broad range of interests – organizations representing small and large employers, manufacturers, retailers, insurers, patient groups, and physician organizations.

Our full membership list is available on our website at www.cahc.net.

BACKGROUND

CAHC is broadly supportive of the MA program and believe it provides a valuable, efficient alternative to traditional Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) for millions of beneficiaries. We further appreciate the overall structure of the program and its ability to support more innovative ways to improve quality for patients and control costs in the Medicare program. The inherent value of the program has been reflected in the increasing enrollment in all sectors of MA over the past several years. CAHC generally supports endeavors to strengthen and enhance the program.

Likewise, Medicare Part D provides prescription drug benefits through a competitive model that has kept premiums low and tax payer costs well below expectations.