After months of stakeholder meetings and public presentations, MassHealth has released their official proposal for the “State Demonstration to Integrate Care for Dual Eligible Individuals” to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The initiative seeks to combine Medicare and Medicaid funding to contract with an Integrated Care Organization (ICO) that will pay for coordinated and comprehensive care for dually eligible individuals ages 21 to 64. Massachusetts was one of 15 states to be awarded a planning grant for the project and has been in contact with CMS on crafting benefit design, enrollment processes, and payment processes.
The release of the draft proposal initiates a 30-day public comment period that will remain open until 5:00 pm, January 10, 2012. Two public hearings are also planned at the following dates and locations:
- December 16, 2011, 1 pm – 4 pm, at the Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room, 3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA
- January 4, 2012, 9 am – 12 noon, at the State Transportation Building, Conference Rooms 2 & 3, 10 Park Place, Boston, MA
For any agencies caring for dually eligible patients, we strongly encourage you to look at the proposal and send in comments. The Home Care Alliance would also like any case studies of these patients that agencies have been successful in keeping in the community.
Agencies can send comments to: duals@state.ma.us, or mailed to:
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Attn: Lisa Wong
One Ashburton Place, Rm. 1109
Boston, MA 02108
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