The American Dental Association recently gave several suggestions to CMS to improve Medicare Advantage plans.
The comments were sent in response to CMS' request for information, according to a Sept. 1 news release from the ADA. The guidance addressed expanding access, collection and reporting of health equity data, medical loss ratios and collaboration.
Here are six ways CMS can improve Medicare Advantage plans, according to the ADA:
1. Collect and analyze data on supplemental benefits, including enrollee demographics, coverage and what benefits are being utilized.
2. Collect data on the number of enrollees receiving the different types of dental benefits under various Medicare Advantage plans and standardize dental benefits across the plans.
3. Programs should provide more transparency regarding dental benefits and plan design, including services covered and frequency limitations.
4. Require Medicare Advantage plans to report on provider participation, network adequacy, credentialing, claims administration and provider satisfaction.
5. Institute a dental loss ratio reporting requirement for the dental component of Medicare Advantage plans.
6. Work with the ADA Dental Quality Alliance on identification and endorsement of standardized tools used to beneficiary experience and oral health-related quality of life.