Leading Managed Care Plans Announce New Association on Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Eight of the leading managed care companies in the U.S. announced today the formation of a new association to promote the common business goals of plans that specialize in managing long-term services and supports (LTSS) for State Medicaid programs.    MLTSS plans assist States in delivering high quality services with a particular focus on ensuring beneficiary quality of life and ability to live in the community instead of an institution.   

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Managed LTSS plans have emerged in the last few years as a major growth segment in the managed care market.  Over 26 states have adopted some form of managed LTSS and the trend is escalating.   Today managed LTSS plans account for nearly 20 percent of all spending on LTSS and this number is growing as more states move to this model.

"As an industry, MLTSS health plans manage an array of specialized services and supports that enable people who need assistance with the essential activities of daily living, across the age spectrum, to live in the least restrictive setting," said Association Chairman Michael Monson.  LTSS services include all home and community based services (HCBS) such as personal care, adult day, home delivered meals, and transportation services as well as institutional services such as nursing homes. 

MLTSS plans understand that these services are very different than traditional health insurance and have a significant impact on a person's independence, health, and quality of life. As LTSS continues to move into a managed environment, the industry needs an Association that understands the unique needs of this program. The National MLTSS Health Plan Association will provide the know-how and experience needed to pursue legislative and regulatory changes in Medicare and Medicaid that enable health plans to better serve their members.

Members of the National MLTSS Health Plan Association will also be members of the Long-Term Quality Alliance  (LTQA) where they will be able to engage with a broad array of LTSS stakeholders, including consumers, LTSS providers, and managed care organizations, to advance high-quality person- and family-centered integrated LTSS.

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The National MLTSS Health Plan Association is a business association dedicated to:  promoting the interests of plans that contract with state Medicaid programs to take risk for the cost of providing managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) to Medicaid beneficiaries; advocating for public policy that will improve the quality and cost outcomes of MLTSS plans; and increasing public understanding of the benefits of MLTSS.  Member organizations are:  AmeriHealth Caritas, Anthem, Centene Corporation, Commonwealth Care Alliance, Humana, L.A. Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, and WellCare.   For more information, visit www.mltss.org.                

The Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) is a community of organizations aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for persons and their families who are managing functional limitations due to chronic health conditions. It draws member organizations from the full range of health care and social services delivery systems involved in provision, administration, innovation, policymaking, and advocacy for quality long-term services and supports (LTSS).  LTQA serves as a convener of disparate private-sector and governmental organizations, with an eye to identifying and resolving the most significant challenges and advancing the replication of successful models that demonstrate the potential for more widespread adoption of person-centered LTSS integration.  For more information, visit www.ltqa.org    

Media Contact: Larry Atkins, National MLTSS Health Plan Association, (202) 452-9217, [email protected]

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SOURCE National MLTSS Health Plan Association