Medicare Advantage Benefits Design and Access to Cardiovascular Care

Has the availability of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans with reduced cost-sharing for cardiologists changed over time, are plans offered to beneficiaries in communities with more or less cardiologist supply or cardiovascular care infrastructure, and are such benefits offered by high-quality plans?In this cross-sectional study of 2993 plans with reduced cost-sharing for cardiologists and 3143 counties, the number of MA plans with reduced cost-sharing for cardiologists varied considerably compared with cardiologist supply and cardiovascular care infrastructure. Reduced cost-sharing plans had greater care quality compared with other MA plans.Persistent geographic variability in the number of plans offered, cardiologist supply, and cardiovascular care infrastructure underscores the need for additional strategies to minimize financial and geographic barriers for cardiovascular care.

Corresponding Author: Jessica I. Billig, MD, MSc, Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 1801 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75390 (jessica.billig@utsouthwestern.edu).

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