news
Statement on Meeting with CMS Leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 2, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness; jvanness@communityplans.net, (202) 204-7515
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON MEETING WITH CMS LEADERSHIP
WASHINGTON—Today, Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), issued the following statement after a meeting between leadership of health insurance plans, select trade associations and leadership of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
“We were pleased to have the opportunity today to engage in dialog with Administrator Brooks-LaSure and hold productive discussions around the best way forward to preserve critical health coverage programs.”
“We were happy to discuss our shared interests in finding ways to protect and strengthen coverage programs for people with low incomes–including a deliberate, orderly unwinding of the Medicaid maintenance-of-effort provisions and 12-month continuous eligibility for children and new moms. ACAP applauds, and strongly supports, the Administration’s leadership in keeping the Medicaid and CHIP programs strong and vibrant for the people who rely on them for coverage.
“At the same time, we were also appreciative of Administrator Brooks-LaSure’s willingness to hear some of our concerns, especially around some of CMS’s proposed changes to Medicare Advantage. We appreciate the need to improve the program, but believe that some of the changes the agency has put forward for 2024 may have unintended, adverse consequences for ACAP’s Special Needs Plans which serve people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. We noted the need to protect the 5 million-plus people who are dually eligible.
“Clear, frank avenues of communication are essential to an effective partnership, and we’re appreciative of Administrator Brooks-LaSure’s time and efforts to keep those avenues open today. We look forward to continued dialogue in the future.”
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 79 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 25 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
# # #