AHIP is pushing back on claims that Medicare Advantage markets are uncompetitive, calling a recent report from the American Medical Association "simply false and wrong."
The AMA published a report Nov. 1 claiming most Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance markets lack competition. The AMA's report found 34 percent of metropolitan areas have one payer with more than a 50 percent share of the Medicare Advantage market.
AHIP disagreed with the AMA's conclusions. In a statement published Nov. 4, the trade association said Medicare Advantage markets have become more competitive over time.
The association said over the past 10 years, the average number of Medicare Advantage plans per county increased by 68 percent, and the number of companies offering Medicare Advantage plans increased by 15 percent.
AHIP also said commercial markets have grown more competitive.
"Here is the bottom-line truth: MA and the Exchange marketplaces are prime examples of the government and free market working together to deliver lower costs, more choices, and better outcomes for the American people," AHIP said in its rebuttal.