AMAC Opposes Proposed CMS Rule Change Threatening Hospital Price Transparency for Medicare Advantage

AMAC believes that using actual Medicare Advantage prices from hospitals, rather than inaccurate and inflated hospital Chargemaster prices, allows CMS to calculate more precise payments and will likely result in better price disclosure. Accurate price transparency translates into increased competition which lowers healthcare prices for Medicare beneficiaries

June 28, 2021

Ms. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure
Administrator
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
Attention CMS-1752-P
P.O. Box 8013
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

Dear Ms. Brooks-LaSure:

I write to you on behalf of the 2.35 million members of AMAC – Association of Mature American Citizens to express our opposition to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposal to reverse the current rule that requires hospitals to report the median payer-specific rates they negotiated with Medicare Advantage plans.

As an organization representing Americans who are age 50+, we count many AMAC members who are among the Medicare-eligible demographic. As you can imagine, many must balance between paying for the necessities of life with their healthcare expenditures.

Using actual Medicare Advantage prices from hospitals, as opposed to reverting to inaccurate and inflated hospital Chargemaster prices, allows CMS to calculate more precise payments and will likely result in better price disclosure. AMAC believes that accurate hospital price transparency leads to increased competition which will lower healthcare prices that benefits consumers, particularly those living on a fixed income.

America’s seniors are more than capable of managing their own healthcare. All they ask is access to accurate information to assist them in making important medical decisions to maintain their quality of life. Please allow the current rule in place, which discloses real pricing, the opportunity to work for them.

Sincerely,
Bob Carlstrom
President, AMAC Action

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