<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4B1BMJ_0vYiL6NI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4B1BMJ_0vYiL6NI00" width="1440" height="810" ><figcaption>Credit: Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Medicare Advantage plans’ support for patients aging in place saw significant growth last year, according to the Better Medicare Alliance’s “State of Medicare Advantage” report for 2024.From 2023 to 2024, the share of MA plans offering in-home support services increased by 50%, according to the report. The prevalence of benefits providing resources for MA members’ caregivers increased by 83%, and the share of MA offerings for bathroom safety devices increased by 25%.Meanwhile, the availability of Special Supplemental Services for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI), which often address social determinants of health such as nutrition or transportation, also saw improvement in 2024. Food and produce benefit offerings increased by 20%, while non-medical transportation services increased by 11%. The total number of SSBCI offerings across the MA program grew by 10% from 2023 to 2024, and roughly 99% of all MA enrollees now have access to some kind of wellness, nutrition or telehealth benefit.MA plans’ growing support for patients at home coincides with a rising share of eligible seniors choosing MA over traditional Medicare. As of this year, 33.8 million seniors and people with disabilities are enrolled in MA, which is 55% of the Medicare-eligible population, according to the report. MA also serves a growing share of Black, Latino and Asian beneficiaries, as well as patients with end-stage renal disease. Care quality and patient satisfaction also remained high in 2024 for MA insurers. Plans nationwide had an average star rating of 4.04 last year, and 95% of beneficiaries or more report satisfaction with their healthcare quality and access, the Better Medicare Alliance found.However, home care providers’ satisfaction with MA may not be so high. MA payers typically pay far less for home health services than traditional Medicare does, and many providers report taking a 60% to 80% discount for services for MA-enrolled patients. Enhabit Home Health &amp; Hospice recently terminated its contract with UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest MA insurers in the US, following unsuccessful rate renegotiations.</div></body>

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Home-based supports on the rise for MA beneficiaries: report

Medicare Advantage plans’ support for patients aging in place saw significant growth last year, according to the Better Medicare Alliance’s “State of Medicare Advantage” report for 2024. From 2023 to 2024, the share of MA plans offering in-home support services increased by 50%, according to the...