Medicare-Medicaid Coordination for Dual Eligibles: What’s it All About?

Over nine million Americans receive benefits from both Medicare and Medicaid costing over $315 billion in health care services in the two programs combined.  The dual eligibles account for 15 percent of the Medicaid population and almost 40 percent of all Medicaid expenditures for medical services; and 20 percent of the enrollees in Medicare, but 30 percent of the expenditures.

Who are the dual eligibles?  How does the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) address cost and quality of health care issues for this population? What is the office of duals?  What federal initiatives are helping to improve quality, integrate care and align financing?  How are the states involved in serving dual eligibles? In improving their care and coping with the high cost of care?  What do the demos hope to show?
A distinguished panel of experts addressed these and related questions.

Michelle Herman, Center for Healthcare Strategies, provided an overview of the dually eligible population and the major ACA provisions addressing their health care needs.

Greg Moody, Ohio governor’s Office of Health Transformation, highlighted the challenges in Ohio to providing quality care to dual eligibles while managing state budget issues.

Aileen Mc Cormick, WellPoint, discussed the WellPoint care model emphasizing the importance of experience in home and community-based services for care coordination.

Rodney Whitlock, health policy director for Senator Charles Grassley, brought his experience on the Hill to assess the challenges and opportunities to achieve policy solutions.

Lynda Flowers, AARP Public Policy Institute, provided a consumer perspective on essential consumer protections for people with disabilities and seniors.

Ed Howard of the Alliance moderated the discussion.

This forum took place on Monday, May 13 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The event was sponsored by the nonpartisan Alliance for Health Reform and WellPoint.

Transcript

Full Transcript (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Speaker Presentations

Michelle Herman Soper Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Greg Moody Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Aileen McCormick Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Lynda Flowers Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Event Details

Agenda (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Speaker Biographies (Adobe Acrobat PDF)