Documents Examine Medicare Advantage Plans, CBO Releases Cost Estimate for Mental Health Parity Bill

• Medicare Advantage documents, CMS: CMS has released two reports about MA plans: "Overview of the Medicare Advantage Program" and "Medicare Advantage in 2007." The reports include a history of legislation affecting MA plans, enrollment information by state, data on MA plans' impact on low-income and minority beneficiaries, and the value and quality of care MA beneficiaries receive (CMS release, 3/16).
  
  
• Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 cost estimate, Congressional Budget Office: The CBO report examines the financial impact of legislation (S 558) that would require health plans to provide coverage for mental illnesses at the same level as they do for physical illnesses. CBO estimates the bill would increase federal spending for Medicaid by $280 million from 2009 to 2012 and reduce federal tax revenue by $1 billion during the same period (Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 cost estimate, 3/20).