Targeted for cuts in ongoing discussions on health reform, seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage are receiving higher quality health care, according to new data released by America’s Health Insurance Plans.

The analysis found that these seniors spent fewer days in a hospital, were subject to fewer hospital re-admissions and were less likely to have “potentially avoidable” admissions for a range of common conditions, according to the group representing nearly 1,300 insurers.

AHIP said the new study mirrors findings of an earlier analysis of AHIP member data showing seniors in Medicare advantage plans can receive higher quality care versus those in fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare.

Karen Ignagni

The Medicare Advantage program has been under scrutiny by Congress and federal officials, as concerns have been raised about the quality of care people who sign up for the voluntary offering receive.

“Medicare Advantage plans coordinate care, help seniors manage chronic conditions, and focus on prevention to help seniors stay healthy in the first place,” said Karen Ignagni, AHIP’s president and CEO, in a statement.

The organization noted Medicare Advantage’s strong emphasis on preventative health care services, that detect disease at an early stage as well as disease management programs for seniors as a plus for the program, rather than focusing almost exclusively on treating beneficiaries when they are sick.

“These programs are working to help keep patients out of the hospital and avoid potentially harmful complications,” AHIP said.

The new study relied on data from hospital admissions in California and Nevada, compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, allowing for direct comparisons of utilization rates among enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans and in FFS Medicare, AHIP said.

Among the findings were that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in California spent 30% fewer days in hospitals than those with FFS Medicare and in Nevada, 23% fewer days. Medicare Advantage enrollees were re-admitted to the hospital in the same quarter for the same condition 15% less often in California and 33% less often in Nevada versus FFS Medicare enrollees as well, according to the data.

In both states, seniors in Medicare Advantage were 6% less likely than seniors in FFS Medicare to be admitted to the hospital for “potentially avoidable” conditions as defined by AHRQ, including dehydration, urinary tract infection or uncontrolled diabetes.

These results, AHIP said, mirror a previous study on seniors with certain chronic conditions that also found Medicare Advantage enrollees fared better than their FFS Medicare counterparts.

“Policymakers and stakeholders recognize that reducing preventable hospital admissions and readmissions are important steps towards improving the quality and safety of patient care and helping to put our health care system on a more sustainable path,” AHIP said. “These studies demonstrate that the programs Medicare Advantage plans have implemented provide a model for how this can be accomplished.”

The organization also said proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage could “risk the health security of millions of seniors across the country,” through higher premiums, reduced benefits and, in some parts of the nation, reduced access to the plan altogether.

“The entire Medicare program, including Medicare Advantage, should be carefully evaluated as part of comprehensive health care reform.  However, seniors in Medicare Advantage should not be forced to fund a disproportionate share of the costs to reform the health care system,” said Ignagni.