MedPAC calls for 'major overhaul' of Medicare Advantage policies

The Medicare Payment and Advisory Commission has called for a "major overhaul" of Medicare Advantage policies, according to its annual report to Congress, Becker’s Payer Issues reports. MedPAC predicts that by 2024, the government will spend $83 billion more on Medicare Advantage beneficiaries than if they were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, increasing Medicare premiums by $13 billion. The commission has recommended addressing coding intensity, overhauling the star ratings program, and updating benchmark payments, while expressing skepticism about the value of supplemental benefits funded by federal payments.