Both Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon and Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares noted Monday that the manager of the Medicaid and Medicare Services Centers (CMS), Seema Verma, Medicare Advantage extended rates to Puerto Rico thanks to their lobbying.

Both elected officials of the New Progressive Party (PNP) issued separate press releases in which they adjudge the move taken by the federal government with Medicare rates. The episode puts on the table what has been a growing trend in these first 100 days of the newgovernmentadministration: the competition between the Governor and the Resident Commissioner for the protagonism of the actions of Puerto Rico in the federal capital and for theattention of the media.

'I am grateful to Managing Director Verma for attending our claim to extend Medicare Advantage rates including the Zero Claims Adjustment, as well as to adopt the claims we make and which will benefit Puerto Rico. The economy in the health system of Puerto Rico that we did not have in February, and this adjustment helps mitigate the potential migration of doctors on the island,'said González Colon in written statements.

CMS published late Monday rates and final regulations for 2018 for MA and Part D programs.

'We were able to maintain the zero-claim adjustment in FFS (fee for service) as requested in January, February and March of this year in both written and verbal communications. We were able to adjust the GPCIs to the 2018 Traditional Medicare Rate. For this increase in the rate, it has not yet been calculated how much more money our doctors will receive in Puerto Rico For their services fee. This significant increase was part of my commitment to the people in November and today I thank President Trump, Secretary Price and Verma for making it a reality,'added the Resident Commissioner.

'We have also succeeded in re-evaluating the double bonus policy on the Medicare Advantage star program. This allows it to be the first time that CMS makes this adjustment for the island, which adds an additional $ 100 in estimated adjustment for Puerto Rico in 2018. The requirement for this is to have 4 stars or more or meet quality standards. This adjustment will be allowed in over 50 municipalities; Previously, Puerto Rico was considered ineligible for this,'Gonzalez said.

Rosselló Nevares announced that Puerto Rico will experience a 7% relief that mitigates the more than 20% cuts in Medicare Advantage base rates, which began with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) formula in 2012.

The governor said that although the regulation of these programs is complex and will take days for the technical experts to make a thorough evaluation of the changes and impacts to Puerto Rico, the initial evaluation of the change from one year to the next is positive for the first time since 2011.

'I am grateful for the collaboration of the Federal Secretary of Health, Tom Price, so that Puerto Rico will be considered and these cuts mitigated. Our team will continue to work hard in the federal capital to achieve equal treatment in the allocation of funds destined to health for American citizens residing in Puerto Rico,'said the First Executive.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), Carlos R. Mercader, said that the CMS Administrator stressed in a teleconference with his office that after the meeting of the governor with the secretary Price in February, the Federal Department of Health (HHS) and CMS acknowledged the importance of making adjustments. He added that the adjustments will represent for Puerto Rico an estimated more than $ 300 million in 2018.

He also noted that although the adjustment represents an improvement, Puerto Rico is still 26% below the Virgin Islands in the payment of tariffs and 39% below the lowest state in Hawaii.

As for doctors, the announced adjustment represents 4.4% in 2017 and by 2018 should have a similar positive impact. This adjustment represents an estimated $ 100 million for Puerto Rico in 2018.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Luis G. Rivera Marín, who also chairs the Multisectoral Working Group to achieve parity in health funds, ruled that 'this type of joint effort will be crucial to continue pushing for a permanent solution. Likewise, González's effort to lead a group of 16 members of Congress to request CMS action was recognized.

Subsequently, another letter focused on the zero-claimant adjustments was signed by the Commissioner and five other Republican members, including Senator Marco Rubio and Congressmen Carlos Curbelo and Sean Duffy, who helped mitigate the impact.

Gonzalez Colon mentioned that 'these achievements, are only the beginning of the road that we have to go yet. Even when we achieved the rate increase for 2018, we are still 26 percent below the states. The adjustments made today by CMS, take a step in the direction of equality towards Puerto Rico.'

In Puerto Rico, most Medicare beneficiaries receive benefits through Medicare Advantage at a much higher rate than in any state. Seventy-five percent of the Medicare population uses the Advantage program.