Vallejo Times-Herald - Thompson Medicare Advantage bill passes House

Bipartisan legislation by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) meant to improve the Medicare Advantage program for seniors passed the House by voice vote, Thompson's office announced Thursday.

The Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (H.R. 2507), co-authored by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) would expand an annual comment period for proposed payment rates and regulatory changes for Medicare Advantage plans, according to the announcement.

"This legislation will double the time that stakeholders have to provide constructive feedback on Medicare Advantage rates and policy changes," Thompson said in the announcement. "As more Medicare beneficiaries sign up for Medicare Advantage, it is important that stakeholders have time to provide thoughtful input so that access to Medicare Advantage plans can keep pace with the growing number of enrollees."

Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publishes its Medicare Advantage call letter and rate notice, outlining payment rates and changes for the nearly 2,000 such plans.

A decade ago, the call letter and rate notice were less than 20 pages long, but since then, enrollment in Medicare Advantage has nearly tripled from 5.4 million to 16 million, Medicare Advantage has become more complex, and the call letter and rate notice has grown to more than 150 pages. At the same time, the 45 day period between the draft notice and the final notice, has remained unchanged.

During that period, there are only 15 days to comment on proposed changes, Thompson said.

"Stakeholders are expected to review 150 pages of regulatory changes, and understand the impacts of the proposed policy changes on a program that provides medical care to over a third of Medicare beneficiaries," he said. "The small time frame also deprives CMS of thoughtful, constructive feedback that is necessary to improve a program on which seniors rely."

H.R. 2507 will expand the current cycle from 45 days to 60 days, allowing for 30 days to analyze and provide feedback on the draft call letter and rate notice.

Thompson represents all or part of Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Lake and Sonoma counties.