NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) press release announcing an aggressive strategy to enhance and accelerate Medicare Advantage audits:

"NAIFA applauds recently announced plans by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to root out fraud and waste associated with Medicare Advantage, which serves more than half of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries. NAIFA encourages CMS to review Medicare Advantage plans to ensure they enable beneficiary access to professional guidance from licensed, ethical agents who are fairly compensated. CMS should not allow carriers to accept enrollments from an agent unless the agent receives consideration.
 
"Medicare Advantage provides affordable, high-quality medical care to 33 million Americans, most of whom are aged 65 and older. Agents work very hard to ensure these consumers get the best coverage to suit their needs. NAIFA looks forward to working with CMS to protect Medicare beneficiaries, support agents, and recognize the important and valuable role agents play in helping Americans make informed healthcare decisions."

Earlier this year, NAIFA launched the Medicare Collective, a part of the NAIFA Center for Lifetime Healthcare, to support insurance and financial professionals specializing in Medicare and healthcare solutions. The Collective provides resources, advocacy, and education to help members navigate the complexities of healthcare-related products and regulations.