ASE Joins Comments on the CY 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies Advance Notice

On February 20, ASE joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in submitting comments to CMS on the CY 2027 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice. The letter supports CMS’ proposal to exclude unlinked chart review diagnoses from risk score calculations, while urging continued oversight of MA plans that pressure specialty physicians to incorporate plan-identified diagnoses into medical records. It also calls for new Star Ratings measures addressing specialty network adequacy and physician experience, areas currently absent from the program despite significant access challenges facing beneficiaries.

These issues directly affect echocardiography practices, where pressure to incorporate plan-driven diagnoses undermines clinical integrity and administrative burdens strain already complex cardiovascular practices. Without Star measures incentivizing adequate specialty networks and reasonable utilization management, MA plans lack accountability for ensuring beneficiary access to essential cardiac imaging services. ASE strongly supports the Alliance’s recommendations as critical to protecting Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ access to echocardiography and specialized cardiovascular care.