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Because over seven million elderly and disabled individuals are entitled to benefits under both Medicare and Medicaid, policy changes in one program not only affect both coverage and spending in the other but also impact access to services by individuals eligible for both programs. This primer summarizes two key policy interactions and includes a quick reference table of the most significant linkages between the two programs. Issue Brief (.pdf)
This report, a companion piece to publication #2246, presents detailed case studies of the managed care programs that enroll dual eligibles in three states: Georgia, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Report
This Briefing Note explores the issues presented for the design and administration of a new Medicare drug benefit by dually eligible nursing facility residents. Issue Paper (.pdf)
The American Bar Association Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly explored the views of Medicare HMOs on enrolling and delivering services to Medicare beneficiaries with dementia. The Commission conducted detailed interviews with professionals at eight diverse Medicare+Choice organizations. Their report provides background information on health care decision-making law and the Medicare program's laws and regulations, and focuses on survey findings in six key areas: marketing, enrollment, health assessments, health care delivery, advance directives, and…
Medicaid's Role for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries An overview that identifies low-income Medicare beneficiaries (dual eligibles), how Medicaid can provide care for them, and the challenges to accessing care. Fact Sheet
This report is a case study of Washington's efforts to increase enrollment in their Medicare Savings Programs under Medicaid for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Background Paper
The Medicare Chartbook includes data and background information critical to understanding the Medicare program and the challenges it faces in keeping up with the rising costs of health care and in ensuring the program s future financial security.
Medicaid Programs to Assist Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries: Outreach and Enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs A new study examines five states' efforts to bolster enrollment in their Medicare Savings Programs for Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for Medicaid assistance with their premiums and co-insurance. Through the Medicare Savings Programs, Medicaid plays an important role in assisting dual beneficiaries with their Medicare cost sharing requirements. However, they have historically failed to reach many persons eligible for assistance. The…
The Medicare beneficiary population is often described in homogenous terms, yet those covered by the program vary significantly in terms of their health, income, supplemental insurance status, and medical service use. profiles the following six groups within the Medicare population, providing basic information, trends and data: Healthy retirees, who represent less than 10 percent of the total Medicare population, but sometimes are portrayed as typical of all seniors, Under-65 disabled beneficiaries, whose disproportionately high rates…
The purpose of this issue paper is to explain Federal Medicaid eligibility policy for the low-income elderly population and discusses Federal and State policy options to improve coverage. Issue Paper
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