Protecting the Integrity and Quality of the Medicare Advantage Program: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians

Medicare Advantage (MA), the private plan option within Medicare, now enrolls more than half of all beneficiaries and is projected to keep expanding. The American College of Physicians (ACP) assesses the ethical and policy dimensions of this growth and its implications for the delivery of fair, high-quality, and fiscally responsible care to older adults and persons with disabilities. Payment and risk adjustment policies have created vulnerabilities to overpayment and favorable risk selection, whereas quality measurement remains fragmented and overly complex. Beneficiaries often face challenges in navigating plan choice, marketing practices, prior authorization, and access to clinicians and postacute services, with these barriers disproportionately affecting persons with low income, persons with several chronic conditions, or persons who live in rural communities. Limited transparency about ownership structures and relationships between insurers, "provider" networks, and investors complicates accountability and public oversight. ACP calls for reforms to ensure accurate payment, streamline and strengthen quality metrics, and protect enrollees from inappropriate utilization controls while supporting innovations that promote coordinated, patient-centered care. Collaborative engagement among policymakers, clinicians, health systems, insurers, and beneficiaries is essential to align MA with its original purpose and ensure that it complements traditional Medicare while providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality coverage for all who depend on it.