Families USA Submits Comments on Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for CY 2026 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies

Families USA submit comments on the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (i.e., the CY 2026 Advance Rate Notice). The high and rising cost of health care is a profound health problem and a significant economic burden on our nation’s families, including for people who rely on Medicare, and Medicare Advantage (MA) in particular, for their health coverage.

Harmful practices like predatory and deceptive marketing to prospective beneficiaries are harming the financial health and well-being of patients. These practices include the systematic upcoding of procedures (and therefore increased costs), as well as inappropriate and overly aggressive care denials.

As the MA program continues to experience record enrollment and now provides health care coverage to over half of all Medicare beneficiaries, it is critical that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) use all available and appropriate tools to ensure program integrity. That includes holding MA plans accountable for the fraud, waste, and abuse observed in the program — including upcoding.

To learn more, read the full comment letter.