REPS. PANETTA, JOYCE INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IMPROVEMENT ACT

The following information was released by the office of California Rep. Jimmy Panetta:

United States Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) introduced the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act(MAIA), legislation aimed at reforming the Medicare Advantage program and ensuring seniors receive timely, reliable access to the care they have earned and deserve.

"Medicare Advantage plans too often leave seniors fighting their health insurance companies to obtain lifesaving care in a timely manner," said Rep. Panetta."Our bipartisan bill would make critical reforms to avoid lengthy prior authorization delays and opaque denials of coverage, while improving transparency, expediting payments for previously authorized services, and holding irresponsible actors accountable. I'll always work with my colleagues across the aisle to make sure Congress does its part to get working families in the 19th Congressional District the affordable, accessible healthcare they need when they need it."

"Medicare is a promise to America's seniors that they will have dependable access to quality healthcare in their later years. However, that promise has been undermined by unnecessary barriers to careparticularly through excessive use of prior authorization and inappropriate coverage denials in Medicare Advantage," saidRep. Joyce."As a physician, I have seen firsthand how these delays harm patients and take valuable time away from the doctor-patient relationship. The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act will restore accountability, reduce unnecessary barriers, and ensure that seniors receive timely, high-quality care."

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act would implement sweeping reforms aimed at:

Protecting patients from unnecessary delays and denials.

Standardizing coverage criteria between MA and traditional Medicare.

Increasing transparency in prior authorization and compliance.

Penalizing plans that fail to meet oversight and compliance benchmarks.

Reducing administrative burdens through real-time and automated systems.

Strengthening patient access to post-acute care providers.

In short, the bill would make Medicare Advantage faster, more transparent, and more patient-friendly, while curbing cost-cutting practices that have drawn scrutiny from regulators and providers.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act is cosponsored by: Representatives Kim Schrier (WA-08), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), and Beth Van Duyne (TX-24).

Full text of the bill is availablehere.

A section-by-section is availablehere.