Katherine Baicker, PhD, Comments on Medicare Advantage Plans

Katherine Baicker, PhD, professor of health economics, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, says that Medicare Advantage Plans still hold promise to deliver high-value, better-tailored care to beneficiaries. Additionally, other care models like the Accountable Care Organization are showing potential to improve care as they give providers incentive to guide beneficiaries to higher-value services.

Dr Baicker further suggests that the Affordable Care Act will impact Medicare Advantage Plans in a number of ways. Several ongoing demonstration projects are improving the efficiency of care delivery on both the provider and enrollee sides. These projects include different care coordination mechanisms such as bundled payments and the patient-centered medical home.