MedPAC’s commissioners held their latest public meeting on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 11. The subjects on the meeting’s agenda were:
- improving payment incentives in Medicare
- analysis of regional benchmarks and benchmark-plan availability in the Part D prescription drug plan market
- preferred networks and pharmacy access in Part D
- estimated association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospitals’ and post-acute care providers’ finances
- information sources that beneficiaries use to make Medicare enrollment decisions
- institutional special-needs plans: provision of services, network-adequacy requirements, and star ratings
- mandated report: assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system
Go here for summaries of the issues and key points and links to the presentations delivered by MedPAC staff and go here for a transcript of the two-day session.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues involving Medicare. While its recommendations are not binding on either Congress or the administration, MedPAC is highly influential in governing circles and its recommendations often find their way into legislation, regulations, and new public policy. Find its web page here.