#bcbsa

Democratic Report Argues Medicare Advantage Plans Use AI To Reduce Post Acute Care An incredibly biased report engineered by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, finds that the country’s three largest Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers – United Healthcare, Humana, and Aetna — obstruct seniors’ ability to receive post-acute care. It says the companies use technology (perhaps AI algorithms) to reject prior authorization claims. The report finds that the three insurers denied claims for post-acute care at “far higher” rates than for other types of care. Humana’s denials in post-acute care were 16 times higher than its overall denial rates. UnitedHealthcare and CVS denials were three times higher. I agree with the insurers that the report is sensationalistic. The report argues that at least two companies used AI and technology in denials. I do think a qualified professional should make the final clinical decision to deny a service. But what is lost on

Biden Leaving His Mark On Medicare Advantage A very good article from Bridget Early in Modern Healthcare on the history of Medicare Advantage (MA) and how the Biden administration is leaving its mark on the program. I do take issue with the continual citing of what I think is a terribly biased overpayment figure (in this article $83 billion and I have seen even more ridiculous figures). But she has an extremely balanced approach and quotes both sides of the debate (some of the most qualified you can find) and reasonably speaks to the potential damage in the form of benefit reductions and geographic contraction that is occurring due to certain policies. It gives you a good feel for MA’s history and what is going on today. The article does a good job at inventorying changes, including health equity, risk adjustment changes, supplemental benefit changes, marketing reform, and prior authorization

Mixed Signals On Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment The Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment season officially kicked off today. While the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) finds that MA plans are largely stable, it does note that there are some reductions impacting consumers. Some beneficaries may be moved automatically to other plans by their current insurers. Others will have to make an affirmative choice. KFF promises to have a full review but appears to be putting the same spin on things as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Others are saying that as many as 2 million will be displaced compared with the usual 100,000 each year. We covered some of the displacement yesterday for both MA and standalone Part D (PDP) plans. CNN correctly notes the displacement, citing an Oliver Wyman analysis that comes close to the 2 million number above. Oliver Wyman says more than 1.8 million MA members,