National Policy Institute Announces Report Detailing Importance of Medicare Advantage in Employee Group Waiver Plans

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The National Institute for Public Employee Healthcare Policy released a report on the impact of Medicare Advantage employee group waiver plans (MA-EGWP). According to a press release,¹ MA-EGWPs play an important role in retiree benefits, especially for plans that include teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement. This is attributed to the rising costs of health care, which are partially mitigated by providing coverage through Medicare Advantage.

Marta Green is executive director and former chief of health plan research and administration at the California Public Employee’s Retirement System. In a press release issued by the National Institute for Public Employee Health Care Policy, she said, “MA-EGWPs provide employers with a coverage tool that delivers lower costs, flexible benefits, and protects retiree health and financial security. As policymakers continue to refine plans to address the long-term affordability and funding of Medicare, there is a pressing need for further research to comprehend the current role of MA-EGWPs and the potential ramifications of proposed policy changes."

The institute first launched in June of 2023.² Since then, it has worked to develop and disseminate research in support of public sector employees, retirees, and their dependents. In a press release issued at the time of the institute’s founding, it states that an estimated 15% of the American workforce are considered to be working in the public sector.

Green, who served as the senior policy advisor for the institute at the time, said in a press release issued at the time, “"Public sector purchasers have a fiduciary duty to offer comprehensive, high-quality benefits at an affordable cost. We look forward to collaborating on these important issues and developing stronger evidence-based research to achieve better health care value and outcomes for public sector employees, retirees, and their dependents and to educate the policymakers and national stakeholders alike."

In the same press release, Katrina Daniel, chief health care officer for the teacher retirement system of Texas and institute board chair, said, “Across the country, employees and retirees face rapidly rising health care costs. This is particularly challenging for public sector employees, who generally earn less than their private sector peers. Producing evidence-based research to better understand and safeguard their health benefits is critical to preserving their financial and retirement security."

In January of this year, Green was named as the institute’s executive director.³ In a press release issued at the time, she said, “I am honored by this opportunity to work alongside such a diverse set of state public sector entity leaders and allied organizations to safeguard the benefits of critical public servants. Together, we can achieve better health care value and outcomes for millions of public sector employees, retirees, and their families."

In the same press release, Daniel added, “We are thrilled to welcome Marta as the first Executive Director of the Institute. Her extensive leadership in public sector health care, most recently at the California Public Employees Retirement System, uniquely qualifies her to drive research and educate federal policymakers on key issues impacting public sector benefits."

Sources

1. National Policy Institute Releases Report on the Value of Medicare Advantage Employer Group Waiver Plans Within Public Sector. National Institute for Public Employee Health Care Policy. May 9, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-policy-institute-releases-report-on-the-value-of-medicare-advantage-employer-group-waiver-plans-within-public-sector-302141140.html
2. National Policy Institute Launches to Develop and Disseminate Research to Support State and Local Public Sector Employees and Retirees. National Institute for Public Employee Health Care Policy. June 29, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-policy-institute-launches-to-develop-and-disseminate-research-to-support-state-and-local-public-sector-employees-and-retirees-301867090.html
3. Former CalPERS Executive Named Executive Director of the National Institute for Public Employee Health Care Policy. National Institute for Public Employee Health Care Policy. January 30, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-calpers-executive-named-executive-director-of-the-national-institute-for-public-employee-health-care-policy-302047868.html