Tag: dual eligibles

Dual Eligible Services Demo RFR Now Available

The state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has released the Request for Responses relative to the demonstration project to integrate care for dually eligible individuals.

The RFR is a solicitation for potential Integrated Care Organizations, or ICO’s, that will manage the integration of services and payment for dual eligibles aged 21-64. The Home Care Alliance is holding a special event for all agencies interested in this initiative. Please see the event in our Calendar section titled “Building Partnerships with Managed Care Plans for Dual Eligible Care” where special guest speakers will educate attendees on the demonstration and how agencies can play a key role. Potential ICO’s have also been invited for discussion and networking.

For those interested in viewing the  solicitation and corresponding materials, the instructions are below:

1)  In your browser, enter the URL for the Commonwealth’s procurement web page: www.comm-pass.com.

2)  Near the bottom of the page, click on the hyperlink that reads: “Search for Solicitations.”

3)  When the Search page comes up, scroll down to the section that says “Search by Specific Criteria” and in the document number box, enter the following: 12CBEHSDUALSICORFR.

4)  The Search result will appear as a hyperlink at the top of the new page. It should read: “There is 1 solicitation(s) found that match your search criteria.”  Click on this sentence and it will take you to the Comm-PASS listing for this solicitation.

5)  Click on “view” (the eyeglasses on the right) and you will get the summary page for the Request for Responses for Integrated Care Organizations.

6)   Click on the blue folder-type tab called “Specifications” and you will see the RFR documents and appendices that have been posted for this topic. In addition, the required forms that Respondents to the RFR will need to provide are available under the “Forms and Terms” tab.  To view the documents, click on the eyeglasses to the right of the title of each document,  .

The documents will also be posted shortly on our duals demonstration website, www.mass.gov/masshealth/duals, under “Information for Organizations Interested in Serving as ICOs.”

Responses to the RFR will be due to MassHealth by 4:00 PM (EDT), July 30, 2012.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

New Web Resource Available on Dual Eligible Demonstration Projects

Massachusetts is leading the charge with a plan to integrate care for dually eligible individuals and most other states have plans to improve care for that population under an Affordable Care Act Program.

A new web resource has been made available from the National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) that is a one-stop shop for all information about all the states involved in creating a new service delivery plan for the dually eligible.

The new website is dualdemoadvocacy.org and it consists of recommended background reading, state profiles, and advocacy tools. All of these resources are meant to promote the position of NSCLC, but they are general views that are in the best interests of the individual receiving services. Additionally, those views are in line with preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and keeping people in the community whenever possible.

The site also allows people to comment on NSCLC’s specific recommendations.

The Home Care Alliance is continuing its advocacy on the Massachusetts proposal and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

Comments Due on Dual Eligible Services Proposal

MassHealth’s final proposal for a State Demonstration to Integrate Care for Dual Eligible Individuals was submitted to CMS on February 16, 2012.  The final Demonstration Proposal and accompanying documents are listed on the demonstration’s webpage.

CMS is seeking public comment through a 30-day notice period.  During this time interested individuals or groups may submit comments to help inform CMS’ review of the proposal.   To be assured consideration, please submit comments by 5 p.m. EST, March 19. You may submit comments on this proposal to MedicareMedicaidCoordination@cms.hhs.gov.

The Home Care Alliance has offered formal suggestions prior to MassHealth’s submission of the proposal to CMS and will be submitting comments at this stage as well.  Any members interested in commenting can contact James Fuccione at the Alliance for guidance.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

MassHealth Releases Dual Eligible Demo Proposal for Public Comment

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

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

Alliance Meets with New Medicaid Director

photo of Julian HarrisThe Governor appointed a new Director of Medicaid in June and the Alliance has had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Julian Harris (pictured left) twice since he began acclimating to his new role.

HCA staff joined other advocates in a meeting that involved personal and organizational introductions to the new Director as well as a mention of a few top issues for each organization as it pertains to MassHealth activity. Prior to that, Alliance staff was among a small group of providers meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby and other officials on the Dual Eligibles Care Integration Project, which Dr. Harris sat in on.

According to a press release issued by the Governor’s office, Dr. Harris currently practices primary care at the Southern Jamaica Plain Community Health Center and hospitalist medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance, both of which serve populations with high levels of participation in MassHealth and other state health programs. He is a clinical fellow on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and a senior resident in internal medicine and primary care at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and its affiliated Southern Jamaica Plain Community Health Center. He formerly served at the World Bank, where he was charged with day-to-day management of the World Bank Institute’s AIDS program. He also worked on national health payment and delivery system reform for an international client at McKinsey & Company.

The Alliance looks forward to working with Dr. Harris on the challenges and opportunities for home care and MassHealth members.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

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