Industry Groups Get in Front of Potential Medicare Advantage Cuts

Nov 04
Nov 04, 2021

As progressives seek to keep some expansion of Medicare benefits in the president’s shrinking budget reconciliation package, industry-allied organizations have been building public-facing campaigns to protect Medicare Advantage from any “cuts.” Provisions to add dental and vision benefits to Medicare were removed from the latest text of the Build Back Better Act — likely giving MA plans less to worry about — while progressive lawmakers at press time were intent on getting drug pricing provisions into a final measure.

In a move that was questioned by Kaiser Health News for being vague, Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) has been running a television commercial urging seniors to call their Congress members and ask them not to cut MA. KHN reported that the MA-focused research and advocacy organization has launched a $3 million TV, radio and online advertising campaign, citing advertising tracker AdImpact.
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Lauren Flynn Kelly

Lauren has been covering health business issues since the early 2000s and specializes in in-depth reporting on Medicare Advantage, managed Medicaid and Medicare Part D. She also possesses a deep understanding of the complex world of pharmacy benefit management, having written AIS Health’s Radar on Drug Benefits from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2016. In addition to her role as managing editor of Radar on Medicare Advantage, she oversees AIS Health’s publications and manages the health editorial staff. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English.