Jenniffer González expresses importance of approving the measure H.R. 6809 Integrity in Medicare Advantage known as PRIMA

Washington, D.C.- The resident commissioner, Jenniffer González-Colón, received forceful support from various sectors to make way for her bill H.R. 6809, Puerto Rico Integrity in Medicare Advantage Act (PRIMA), that addresses the crisis of medical care in Puerto Rico.

In front of the United States Capitol building, the Congresswoman pleaded for the approval of her bill along with Republican Congressmen and co-authors. Co-authors Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Pete King (NY), and former Congresswoman Pedro Pierluisi were in attendance with a large group of representatives of the health sector of Puerto Rico.

The H.R. 6809, authorship of the Resident Commissioner, would address the continuing crisis of access to health care in Puerto Rico by eliminating disparities in Medicare Advantage (MA) payments. As a result, this will reassure doctors to remain on the island and encouraging those who left to return.

"HR 6809, PRIMA, seeks to stabilize MA payments. The reimbursement formula is not working. Hurricanes last year have accelerated the decline in Medicare coverage and medical care in Puerto Rico. A solution is needed to remedy this problem and direct the island to its recovery, " said González Colón.

HR 6809 is co-sponsored by José Serrano (D-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Darren Soto (D-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Peter King (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) and seeks to stabilize the MA rates in Puerto Rico for a period of three years as part of the reconstruction for the health infrastructure which was affected after the passage of Hurricanes Irma and María.

The bill proposes to review MA payments for three years by establishing a 0.70 adjusted general average (AGA) to any county in the nation that exceeds this benchmark; strengthen support for health service providers in Puerto Rico; support to the MA's coordinated care platform, quality and performance-based standards that provide care to the more than 280,000 patients of the most fragile and needy population on the island, which serves as the backbone of the medical care system in Puerto Rico.

At present, the MA payment rates in Puerto Rico are the lowest in the nation: 25% lower than in the Virgin Islands and 43% lower than the national average. If this measure is approved, Puerto Rico would receive an influx of more than an additional $ 3 billion in MA funds over the next three years. The project also requires that no less than 50% of these funds must be passed on to health providers, such as doctors, hospitals, among others.

The primary doctors have been committed and have supported the measures of the congresswoman to continue advancing primary medicine on the Island.

"The primary medical groups and the specialists of Puerto Rico will continue to serve and fight for our patients until we achieve recognition of the value of our services and that a doctor does not go away seeking better living conditions. We must unite all sectors to carry a strong message that we will fulfill our fiscal and moral responsibility in favor of our patients. Without doubt, in health there can be no disparity of funds because we pay with life- that has no price. We must continue fighting because after all we are American citizens with equal conditions. " said Dr. Jose J. Vargas de León, president of IPA.

The Congresswoman ‘s legislation has the endorsement of several entities in Puerto Rico, public and private. For example, the Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico, which wrote a letter addressed to the majority and minority leaders of Congress, in gratitude for the recovery assistance provided to the island from the devastation left by the hurricanes Irma and María as well as to advocate that the bill of the Commissioner be approved as a mechanism against the disparity of the payments of the MA rates in comparison with the states of the nation. The letter has 115 signatures from representatives of the health sector.

The Senate of Puerto Rico approved the Concurrent Resolution 64, authored by Senator Angel "Chayanne" Martinez, where they join the claim of Resident Commissioner to eliminate part of the disparity in Medicare Advantage funds on the Island, expressing their full support for the HR 6809.

Additionally, the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico sent a letter today to the majority and minority leadership of the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives where they also advocated for the approval of the bill of the Resident Commissioner and identify it as "a significant step in the right direction for Puerto Rico to return to the path of stability and economic growth."

The press conference brought together members of the health industry of Puerto Rico, executives from private companies; the media; Congressmen; the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico, CPA Kenneth Rivera, representatives of the United Center of Retailers of Puerto Rico; Dr. José Joaquín Vargas, President of the IPA Association; Orlando González, President of MMM; Ruby Harford, President and CEO of Atlantic Healthcare; representatives of Triple-S Advantage; and MCS.