Our perspective on modernizing and strengthening Medicare Advantage

UnitedHealth Group has long advocated for thoughtful, forward-looking solutions to modernize and strengthen Medicare Advantage, especially in the areas around accountability, transparency and clinical value. We look forward to partnering with policymakers and external stakeholders to develop solutions that reduce overall health care costs, provide stability for the MA program and promote access to high-quality, coordinated care for seniors.

We believe in-home clinical visits are a critical access point to the health care system that meets seniors where they are and supports a holistic understanding of their health care needs. UHG supports policies that hold in-home clinical visits to the highest standard and are supportive of a wide range of solutions that modernize in-home clinical assessments, such as:

• Ensuring beneficiaries who receive new diagnoses during an in-home clinical visit have follow-up care within specific timeframes and standards.  For instance, excluding new diagnoses identified during an in-home HRA unless a diagnosis has been reviewed by a provider within 18 months or the CMS data submission window. 
• Requiring health plans connect beneficiaries to care coordination programs and benefits.
• Standardizing in-home clinical assessments to adhere to CMS’ 2016 Best Practices.
• Strengthening program oversight and integrity through enhanced reporting and transparency.
• Deploying annual audits focused on in-home clinical visits.