Managed LTSS Health Plan Association Applauds Congress and President for Passage of Legislation to Improve Medicare-Medicaid Coordination

PR Newswire iReach

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The National MLTSS Health Plan Association, representing the leading plans that manage Medicaid long-term services and supports for beneficiaries, commends Congress and President Trump on passing and signing into law bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and promoting integration of Medicare with Medicaid services to improve the quality of services and supports for persons with functional limitations.

Special needs plans (SNPs), including dually-eligible special needs plans, were set to expire at the end of this year. Legislation put forth by the House Committee on Ways and Means and Committee on Energy and Commerce permanently authorized SNPs, will allow MA plans to provide benefits that are more responsive to the needs of chronically-ill enrollees, and will improve the coordination between Medicare and Medicaid for dually-eligible individuals.

Dr. Larry Atkins, Executive Director of the Association, stated, "As evidenced by the passage of this legislation, both Congress and the President are truly committed to improving the care experience and outcomes for persons with complex care needs and slowing the growth in medical spending. This legislation is a key step forward and will help advance models that fully integrate Medicare and Medicaid benefits by working to align coverage for persons eligible for both programs."

The 10 million individuals dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid account for a disproportionate share of the costs of these two programs. Within Medicare, 20 percent of the Medicare population that is dually-eligible accounts for 34 percent of all Medicare spending. In Medicaid, the 15 percent of beneficiaries who are dually-eligible accounts for 33 percent of all spending. Permanently authorizing these successful programs for high-risk, high-need beneficiaries and promoting more complete integration of the benefits is a big step forward for beneficiaries with the most complex care needs and their families.

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The National MLTSS Health Plan Association - The National MLTSS Health Plan Association is a national association of the leading managed care organizations that deliver high-value, quality managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) for state Medicaid programs and beneficiaries. The Association reflects the unique understanding of LTSS and of the variety of persons of all ages with disabilities and functional limitations who need these services. Member organizations include Aetna Inc., AmeriHealth Caritas, Anthem Inc., CareSource, Centene Corp., Commonwealth Care Alliance, Health Plan of San Mateo, L.A. Care Health Plan, Molina Health Care Inc., Tufts Health Plan, UPMC Health Plan, and WellCare Health Plan Inc. For more information, visit www.mltss.org.