The Times-Standard - 'Congressman Mike Thompson joins bipartisan effort on Medicare/Medicaid bill'
Currently, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) establish policy and provide recommendations for improving Medicare and Medicaid. Both boards have been instructed by Congress to balance the unique needs of urban and rural beneficiaries. But in practice, rural representation on the boards lags far behind the actual number of rural enrollees in Medicare and Medicaid.
A press release from Thompson's office said that about 26 percent of Medicare recipients are from rural America, yet according to the National Rural Health Association, just three of the 17 MedPAC board members have significant experience delivering health care in rural America and can adequately represent the interests of rural patients.
The release added that about 20 percent of Medicaid recipients are from rural America. The MACPAC board also has 17 members.
The Rural Representation and Accountability Act would ensure the proportion of members on MedPAC and MACPAC representing rural beneficiaries is no less than the proportion of the total number of Medicare and Medicaid patients residing in rural areas.
"Rural Americans deserve advocates who know the needs of rural patients," Thompson said. "Unfortunately, many of MedPAC and MACPAC's board members do not have experience delivering health care in rural areas. It's time to take action to ensure rural families in California and across the country have a voice at the table to ensure their unique health care challenges are being addressed."
The act would also create greater transparency in how MedPAC and MACPAC operate. The bill would require both boards to provide full and timely public disclosure of its proceedings on the Internet, post either audio or video coverage of its proceedings online and post transcripts of its proceedings online.