LeadingAge submitted a letter on October 15 with a variety of ideas for changes Congress might make to modernize and personalize the health care system including identifying barriers to achieving these goals. The U.S. House Budget Committee established a Health Care Task Force, led by Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX), which sought information from interested parties on how to “modernize and personalize the health care system, support innovation, and increase patient access to quality and affordable care.“

Our comments covered a large spectrum of comprehensive solutions, such as establishing a White House Office on Aging Policy to take an all-of-government approach to addressing health care solutions for an aging population. We also outlined programmatic impediments that if removed could reduce administrative burden on providers and the associated costs, such as prior authorizations; the Medicare Advantage non-interference clause which prevents adequate provider payments and will hinder beneficiary access; and the proposed nursing home staffing mandate, which has the potential to disrupt access to care throughout the health care system.

Read our letter here.