Abstract
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 expands the role of private health plans in Medicare through prescription drug plans and a revised Medicare+Choice (M+C), renamed Medicare Advantage, program. This paper discusses the factors responsible for the failure of M+C to develop as intended in 1997 and analyzes the challenges for MMA implementation in light of these factors. They include making a complex program understandable to beneficiaries; addressing plans' efforts to avoid enrolling high-cost beneficiaries; ensuring stability of benefits, providers, and plans; dealing with beneficiaries enrolled in unsuitable plans; providing equity of health benefits throughout the country; and controlling overall Medicare costs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | W4-586-W4-597 |
Journal | Health Affairs |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | SUPPL. 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)