« The Dual Agenda: September 17, 2014 Issue
State Highlights
California
On September 16, the Department of Health Care Services held a webinar offering a stakeholder update on the Coordinated Care Initiative. During the webinar, DHCS described proposed updates to the provider continuity of care requirements. Among the proposals is that providers can request continuity of care by phone within 30 days of service delivery.
Massachusetts
On September 12, the One Care Implementation Council held its monthly meeting at which a draft outline of quarterly reporting indicators for One Care plans was discussed. These indicators are aimed at increasing transparency around finances, enrollment numbers, LTSS spending and other plan performance indicators, identifying better ways of serving consumers and highlighting innovative practices.
In other news, MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, released the August One Care enrollment report. As of August 1, the total number of enrollees is 18,067. The total number that have opted out is 24,775. While the October 2014 planned passive enrollment has been canceled, MassHealth and CMS will look into the plans’ capacities to accept passive enrollees in 2015.
Michigan
On September 11, the Michigan Department of Community Health hosted a regional implementation forum on the state’s dual eligible demonstration project, now called MI Health LinkMI Health Link. Among the presenters was Michigan Voices for Better Health leadership team member, RoAnne Chaney, from the Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC). RoAnne presented on the consumer protections in the demonstration and how consumers can get involved in the Michigan Voices for Better Health project. Other key updates by the state were on:
- basic information about the demonstration
- what to expect after enrollment in the demonstration
- upcoming stakeholder involvement opportunities
New York
The transition to mandatory Medicaid managed long-term care has moved forward in Dutchess, Montgomery, Broome, Fulton and Schoharie counties. Announcement notices were mailed out the week of August 29, and the mailing of letters containing plan assignments will begin during the week of September 22.
Ohio
A new blog post by Cathy Levine, Executive Director of UHCAN Ohio, a lead organization in the Ohio Consumer Voices for Integrated Care (OCVIC) coalition, lays out recommendations to the state and managed care plans for fixing problems with MyCare Ohio and making it function effectively for enrollees.
The recommendations for the plans are to:
- Ensure a single point of contact – or care manager – for each enrollee
- Ensure that every care manager is adequately trained in care coordination across all settings
- Ensure that every MyCare Ohio enrollee receives a timely, thorough assessment
- Provide each enrollee under 60 with the choice of an Independent LTSS Coordinator
- Ensure continuity of care with all providers
- Establish Consumer Advisory Councils and other regular forms of consumer feedback and engagement, in collaboration with OCVIC and other stakeholders
The recommendations for the state are to:
- Reduce processing time for enrollee changes in plans
- Expand enrollee assistance capacity
- Develop an outreach strategy for current and potential MyCare Ohio providers
- Provide monthly reports on problems and complaints
- Develop mechanisms to involve enrollees and their families in policy discussions at the plan and state levels
- Work in conjunction with CMS on expanding and refining the evaluation process