WASHINGTON – Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy David Merritt issued the following statement in response to the Final Rate Announcement of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year 2024 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and D Payment Policies released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 
 
“Thirty-one million Americans rely on Medicare Advantage because it delivers better care, lower costs and more choices. And with more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries choosing Medicare Advantage, it’s clear that MA is Medicare—and we need to ensure that we protect their access to high-quality, affordable coverage, strong benefits and choice of plans. However, with the final rate notice, we are worried the modest increase in the growth rate may hinder the ability of health plans to fully protect beneficiaries from higher costs and support health care providers in delivering the best care possible. 
 
“While we examine the final rate notice in detail, we remain concerned that it could hurt the people who need MA the most, including patients who have chronic conditions, health-related social needs and are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Adequate growth rates and measured risk adjustment model changes are essential to ensure a strong MA program can meet the diverse needs of Medicare beneficiaries.”