Award honors recipients’ commitment to high-quality, affordable health coverage and care
Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2023) – The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) is pleased to present its 2023 Legislative Champion awards for visionary leadership to expand access to high-quality health coverage and care. The 2023 recipients — Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT)— are honored as partners in the mission to improve affordability and outcomes in the U.S. health care system.
“We applaud Senator Wyden and Congressman Moore for championing sensible, bipartisan reforms that protect seniors and prioritize higher quality coverage and care at a better price,” said ACHP President and CEO Ceci Connolly. “Both recipients have risen above the partisan divide in D.C. to lead the charge to improve value, equity and accessibility in Medicare Advantage, and we are grateful for their commitment to improving the lives of seniors in the communities they serve.”
ACHP honors Senator Ron Wyden for his leadership as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee – leading the investigation into misleading tactics used by third-party marketing organizations in Medicare Advantage (MA). Senator Wyden has also been instrumental in championing efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs, including the passage of an overwhelming bipartisan proposal to require transparency in the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry.
“ACHP is a leader when it comes to sound health care policy that lowers costs and improves outcomes for Americans of all stripes,” Wyden said. “I’m proud to accept this award, and I will continue fighting for reforms that will improve health care for seniors and families across the country.”
“Oregonians are fortunate to have Senator Wyden in their backyard, fighting for lower drug prices and fair practices in Medicare Advantage marketing to seniors in our state and across the country,” remarked Dr. John “Espi” Espinola, President and CEO of PacificSource. “We are grateful for his efforts to shine a light on some of the unscrupulous methods bad actors use to target Medicare beneficiaries. PacificSource supports his work to modernize the ways brokers are compensated. We are proud to see him recognized with ACHP’s Legislative Champion Award.”
ACHP honors Congressman Blake Moore for his support for the MA program. Since the launch of ACHP’s MA for Tomorrow initiative, Congressman Moore has been a committed partner in elevating quality in the MA program.
“I am honored to be named an Alliance of Community Health Plans Legislative Champion for 2023 for my support of the popular Medicare Advantage (MA) program,” said Congressman Moore. “Nearly 50 percent of Utah’s seniors are now enrolled in MA plans because they offer access to high quality and affordable care, empowering Medicare beneficiaries to better manage their health. It is critical that Congress improves on MA’s success to ensure our nation’s seniors receive the care they need, while protecting the long-term sustainability of the Medicare program.”
“It was an honor to present Representative Blake Moore with ACHP’s Legislative Champion Award,” commented Rob Hitchcock, President and CEO of Select Health. “Representative Moore’s unwavering dedication to seniors’ health care needs and his commitment to strengthening Medicare Advantage exemplify true leadership. His eagerness to collaborate and support commonsense recommendations for the program’s future is a testament to his vision for a stronger tomorrow in health care. By connecting with member organizations at ACHP, these actions reflect a commitment to advance the recommendations within MA for Tomorrow to secure better health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.”
ACHP is pleased to recognize Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Moore for their commitment to transforming health care delivery and the health of the nation. The recipients were presented with the awards during ACHP events during the Annual Symposium held on September 27-29.
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About ACHP
The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) represents the nation’s top-performing nonprofit health companies, which serve tens of millions of Americans across nearly 40 states and D.C. ACHP member plans collaborate with providers on high-quality coverage and care — leading the industry in practical reforms, including MA for Tomorrow, our vision for the future of Medicare Advantage.
ACHP is the voice of a unique payer-provider partnership model advancing proven solutions that deliver better value for patients, employers and taxpayers. Contact us for case studies and data about member innovations and results.
