The Alliance of Specialty Medicine wrote a letter in support of the bipartisan No UPCODE Act (S. 1105), introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). This bill seeks to address systemic distortions in the Medicare Advantage (MA) risk adjustment system and fully account for any residual coding differences between MA and traditional Medicare.
Investigative reports reveal that MA plans inflate risk scores through excessive coding practices, leading to $84 billion in excess payments in 2025 and increased administrative burdens for specialty physicians. These practices harm patient care and create financial pressures on physicians. The No UPCODE Act aims to restore program integrity, align incentives with patient care, and reinvest savings to strengthen Medicare, extend its solvency, and update physician payments. The Alliance commends the Senators for their leadership in protecting Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers. You can access the full letter by clicking on the link below.
