[February 22, 2013]

Proposed Cuts to Medicare Advantage and Coordinated Care for Senior Population Threaten Health Outcomes, Warns California Physician Groups

California Association of Physician Groups:

Statement from Donald Crane
President and CEO
California Association of Physician Groups

"The California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG) is deeply concerned about proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage. These proposals are short-sighted and, if enacted, will have long term negative consequences for care delivery in California and across the country.

"Medicare Advantage has proven its popularity with California's seniors. Approximately 36% of California's Medicare population are receiving their coverage through the Medicare Advantage program and the benefits of the coordinated care delivery system within Medicare Advantage to our senior patients are undisputed. For example, seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage and receiving their care from a CAPG member medical group or independent practice association experience fewer preventable hospital admissions and fewer preventable emergency department visits than seniors in traditional Medicare.

"Under Medicare Advantage, incentives are aligned for physician groups to use a team-based approach to delivering health care with an intense focus on keeping seniors healthy, preventing disease, and managing chronic conditions. In contrast, the traditional Medicare program pays individual physicians for each service provided, incentivizing more care and not necessarily the right care.

"The proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage will erode the coordinated care delivery model and push seniors into the flawed traditional Medicare program. This is the wrong direction for the future of Medicare and the wrong direction for California's seniors."

About CAPG

The California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG) represents 150 groups that employ or contract with nearly 60,000 California doctors and provide care to 18 million Californians. CAPG is committed to improving healthcare for Californians and supports a progressive and organized system of healthcare delivery, which focuses on coordinated treatment plans and comprehensive coverage, including the most current preventive services and exams. This allows physicians to focus on illness prevention and proactive management of patients in order to maintain their optimum level of health. www.capg.org.

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