Tell HHS How to Protect and Strengthen Medicare

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an informal request for information (RFI) on December 26, with significant implications for Medicare and Medicaid. Comments are due January 25. The Medicare Rights Center will be providing input, and we encourage all stakeholders to use our template comments (link) to weigh in as well. Read below to learn what’s in the RFI, and what you can do to respond today!

HHS RFI Targets Medicare, Medicaid

The ASPE RFI was issued to gather information that would “lay the groundwork for future action” arising out of an October 2017 Executive Order (EO). That EO directed HHS to produce a report identifying “the extent to which existing State and Federal laws, regulations, guidance, requirements, and policies” limit choice and competition in the health care system.

While the EO largely focused on the private commercial insurance market, the RFI widens this scope dramatically by specifically focusing on “barriers to choice and competition” within Medicare and Medicaid. This is a troubling shift that could put Medicare and Medicaid—as well as those who rely on these programs—at risk.

Act Now!

Comments are due THIS WEEK, but Medicare Rights has made it easy for you to respond to questions about Medicare. Here’s what you can do to weigh in and raise awareness:

• Submit Comments: Use Medicare Rights’ template comments (link) to respond by the January 25 deadline. Just download our template (link), personalize the comments, and submit them via email to CompetitionRFI@hhs.gov. More information on the submission process is available here.
• Spread the Word: Amplify your voice, and share this alert widely! Let your friends, colleagues, and networks know you’ve taken action, and encourage them to do the same.