A group of national stakeholders has launched an advocacy group around the policies surrounding the more than 12 million people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
The Medicare-Medicaid Integration Alliance (MMIA) members say they have identified the fragmentation of Medicare and Medicaid as a key barrier to care for the Medicare-Medicaid population. Individuals eligible for both programs regularly say they are unable to access the care and services they need, because they are forced to navigate two insurance programs that do not work well together.
The launch announcement comes ahead of legislation expected in Congress to improve healthcare and services for dually eligible people. This population includes older adults, those less economically secure, and people with disabilities.
Founding members of MMIA include Arnold Ventures, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Community Catalyst, Justice in Aging, and the Medicare Rights Center.
Calling upon research and interviews with Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries, MMIA established three cornerstone principles intended to better support people dually eligible for the two programs, including:
1. Ensure people have access to meaningfully integrated coverage;
2. Support informed decision-making and easier enrollment in coverage by providing people with the necessary resources; and
3. Guarantee that integrated coverage is held accountable for meeting people’s needs and goals.
“Recent proposed updates to federal rules and the ongoing work of a working group in the Senate prove there is support amongst policymakers for bold action that advances integration, and it’s shared by leaders in both political parties,” said Mark Miller, executive vice president of healthcare at Arnold Ventures, a member of MMIA in a statement. “People who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid live in every community across the country. This coalition wants to elevate and amplify their concerns so that policymakers act. It's time to create a system of care that is cost-efficient, person-centered, and equitable for this important population.”
Congress and multiple administrations have taken steps to improve integration of Medicare and Medicaid, yet results are uneven across states, and too few people who are dually eligible get the key aspects of care coordination they need, according to the MMIA.
“Helping people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid receive the care and services they need is essential to ensuring they’re healthy and that they remain connected to their communities,” said Amber Christ, managing director of health advocacy at Justice in Aging, a MMIA member, in a statement. “It’s long past time to fix the inefficiencies inherent in dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid so we can focus on what really matters—the health and well-being of those dually enrolled in both programs.”
