A new peer-reviewed study published by The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) found that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans consistently delivered higher quality care than fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Findings:
- Compared to enrollees in FFS, MA beneficiaries were more likely to receive recommended screenings and testing, including for cancer, diabetes and bone mineral density.
- MA outperformed FFS on measures of medication adherence to the prescribed course of preventive pharmacological therapy, including for COVID-19-sensitive conditions.
- MA continues to outperform FFS across various preventive and chronic condition care measures, providing “greater value than [FFS] even during the public health emergency.”
Why It Matters: Nearly 35 million seniors and individuals with disabilities nationwide choose MA for their health coverage because it provides them with better care at lower costs than FFS. The new study’s findings add to a growing body of evidence that MA’s coordinated, value-based approach delivers superior quality and better health outcomes—while saving beneficiaries an average of more than $3,400 per year versus FFS.
Go Deeper: Read the full study at AJMC, and learn more about the superior value of MA.
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