« The Dual Agenda: April 2, 2015 Issue

State Highlights

California

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released the latest enrollment numbers which show that 124,239 beneficiaries were enrolled in the Cal MediConnect program as of March 1, with 178,701 beneficiaries opting-out of the program.

Massachusetts

MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, recently hosted an open meeting to discuss the One Care demonstration. Among the key updates were:

• The most recent enrollment numbers. As of March 1, the total number of enrollees is17,797. MassHealth also requested feedback from the audience on future outreach and enrollment.
• Upcoming community events and a paid media campaign that MassHealth is leading to raise awareness about One Care.
• New provider training opportunities for One Care plans and their staff.
• Updates on demonstration spending and financing; notably in January 2015, CMS, MassHealth, and the three One Care plans amended the One Care three-way contract through a second addendum to reflect changes in savings targets and risk corridors.
• Preliminary survey results conducted as a part of the Early Indicators Project

Also, Health Management Associates reports on the status of the One Care demonstration in its April 1 HMA Weekly Roundup e-newsletter.  

Michigan

The Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office posted a new MI Health Link frequently asked questions sheet for providers.

New York

On April 1, the New York Fully Integrated Duals Advantage demonstration project began passive enrollment for beneficiaries in Region I, which covers New York City and Nassau County. Passive enrollment will be phased in over the course of the next few months until all eligible individuals are enrolled or have opted out.

Ohio

The Ohio Consumer Voice for Integrated Care (OCVIC) coalition and its allies have been working to oppose Governor Kasich’s budget proposal which would eliminate independent home health providers (IPs) from Medicaid, with only limited access to their services through self-direction. Under the proposal, people working as independent providers would still be paid directly through 2016, but by 2019, would have to be paid through a home health agency. The elimination of this vital role would significantly impact  individuals with disabilities, including those in the MyCare Ohio duals demonstration. OCVIC worked tirelessly, along with disability and developmental disability advocates, to demand an expansion of consumer direction to all people using home care. Their hard work paid off and after testimony by OCVIC, the Ohio Office of Health Transformation (OHT) clarified that IPs would not be eliminated. OHT then hosted a stakeholder meeting at which they agreed to change the transition timetable and create a stakeholder workgroup, with consumer representation, to transition Ohio to robust consumer direction.

Rhode Island

Martha Watson, Advanced Nurse Practice Manager at Miriam Hospital and Geriatric Provider Advocate for the Rhode Island Voices for Better Health  program, conducted the final of three  training sessions with a group of nurse case managers at the Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (NHPRI) on topics in care for the older adult population. This session was on “Delirium, Depression and Dementia” in older adults. NHPRI is currently serving the long-term care needs of dual eligibles, and is expected to be part of Rhode Island’s forthcoming duals demonstration project. Other relevant resources that were shared at this training are: The Mini-Cog tool and the Geriatric Depression Scale.