MedPAC Tackles Accuracy of Medicare Advantage Network Directories

MedPage Today November 8, 2024
Cheryl Clark

— Providers can change any time, leaving patients anxious and stranded, commissioners say

Inaccuracies in Medicare Advantage (MA) directories listing in-network providers — often criticized as being too “narrow” — and flaws in rules governing them need to be addressed to prevent situations that are “horrible,” “unfair,” and can harm beneficiaries, some members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) said during its public meeting Friday.

Problems that leave enrollees stranded and confused include:

• MA plans and their providers can terminate their contracts at any point in the year, leaving beneficiaries stranded, but beneficiaries can only change plans during open enrollment for the coming calendar year, leaving them anxious and fearful as they search for other network providers or...

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