Aligning Incentives Between Medicare and Medicaid for Dual Eligibles

1. Aligning Incentives Between Medicare and Medicaid for Dual Eligibles February 2009 Pamela Parker Special Needs Purchasing Minnesota Department of Human Services pam.parker@state.mn.us

2. Systems for the Future • States have increasing proportions of people age 65 years and older and people with disabilities with chronic conditions. How can States prepare for this fiscal and care delivery challenge? • 95% of seniors and about 50% of adults with disabilities on Medicaid are dually eligible for Medicare. Current care for dual eligibles is clinically fragmented and confusing to beneficiaries. • States need to focus on building systems that can address chronic care management across both Medicaid and Medicare including primary, acute, drug coverage, home and community services and other LTC. • The Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP) option provides a vehicle for integrating Medicare and Medicaid benefits to develop clinical systems that manage underlying chronic conditions across primary, pharmacy, acute and long term care. • But barriers still remain for many States in contracting with SNPs, and stronger fiscal incentives are needed for more States to move forward with integrated arrangements.

3. MA-SNP Snapshot • 769 Medicare Advantage SNPs operating in 2008: 1.1 million enrollees • Dual Eligible • Chronic and Disabling • Institutional • 439 DE SNPs: 844,000 enrollees • Coordinated dual eligible programs exist in MN, MA, WI, NY, FL, TX, WA, AZ, CA, KY, OR, UT. • VA, PA, MI, NM among States working on new programs • Other States contracting with SNPs or MA plans for cost sharing wrap • Moratorium still in place for expansion of current DE SNPs and for new SNPs for 2010 unless a state contract is in place • Current DE SNPs encouraged but not required to have a state contract • CMS support for SNP/State relationships, tools and resources: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/IntegratedCareInt/

4. Congress and CMS are Making SNPs “More Special” • MIPPA and new SNP rules (9-15-08)hold SNPs to additional standards: • Clinical model of care designed for needs of enrolled population • Network appropriate for population served • Use of care plans, interdisciplinary teams, comprehensive initial and annual assessments • Use of nationally recognized clinical protocols • Ongoing measurement of quality and health status improvement indicators • Dual SNPs to have relationship to State, • Medicaid contracts required for new SNPs, States not required to contract • Cost sharing and Medicare coverage information to prospective dually eligible enrollees • MIPPA extends SNP authority through 2010 • MIPPA also provides stricter marketing requirements • CMS has directed NCQA to develop additional Structure and Process measures including new measures on Medicare and Medicaid Integration

5. Opportunities for Aligning Incentives • SNP/State contracting with comprehensive Medicare/Medicaid capitations can align fiscal incentives and reduce cost shifting between acute and long term care: • Reduce fragmentation of delivery and coverage and simplify access (all drugs and medical services provided under the same plan) • Align incentives for assessment, early intervention and management of chronic conditions which cause hospitalizations and lead to additional Medicaid LTC placements • Support clinical systems improvement of outcomes, prevention, and chronic care management • Increase accountability for controlling total costs and tracking outcomes of care across payers and providers

6. Opportunities for Aligning Incentives • Access to primary care management and Medical Home models for duals not otherwise possible in FFS Medicare • State contracts can be used to leverage additional Medicare benefits, Medicare encounter data, information sharing about Part D, appropriate formularies, care coordination, etc. • Simplified enrollment, integrated member materials, clarify total benefits for duals available across both Medicare and Medicaid • Manage capitated long term care benefits to assist state with “rebalancing” goals (align SNP and State interests in managing risk for placement of community members in NFs)

7. Barriers to Aligning Incentives • Lack of clear financial incentives for States, such as sharing in Medicare savings • Uncertainty about future of SNPs, evolving SNP policy at CMS, not clear what authority exists after 2010. • Uncertainty about new administration plans for health reform, and impact on Medicare and Medicaid and roles for current DE SNPs • Uncertainty about future Medicare base rates, Medicare cuts and impact of changes in bid processes • Conflicts between mandatory Medicaid enrollment and voluntary Medicare enrollment • Difficult to align Medicaid and Medicare procurement and contracting processes and timing • Misaligned SNPs (may be different entities from established Medicaid managed care MCOs) • Conflicts or duplication between Medicare and Medicaid requirements may add complications • Very difficult to measure results, may take years to demonstrate change

8. Barriers to Aligning Incentives • Advocacy concerns about medical model and health plan lack of knowledge of community based services • Political opposition from institutional and residential providers • Loss of role for entities currently in charge of managing HCBS (AAAs or counties, etc) • Requires robust managed care infrastructure • Takes planning, resources and many changes in operations to take full advantage of the opportunities • Easy to recreate all of the misaligned incentives by following FFS patterns even in managed care

9. Future of Integrated Programs • Better fiscal incentives needed to encourage more States to coordinate with SNPs, Congress reluctant to allow share of Medicare savings • Potential Medicare marketplace instability due to cuts in Medicare payments for “rural floor”, increased requirements, reauthorization needed prior to 2010 • MIPPA and SNP rules put pressure on SNPs to approach States for contracts, but States not required to contract • MIPPA requires CMS to provide support to States related to coordination of care for duals, but no money appropriated

10. Future of Integrated Programs • CMS supportive of concepts but siloed operations limit responsiveness • New State Plan Preprint on coordination with SNPs could be useful to States, SNPs and CMS in more formal recognition of integrated features • Models that integrate Medicare and Medicaid have made gains slowly but surely over the past 15 years • Bipartisan recognition of value of integrated SNP arrangements could be useful in any future health reform efforts • Demographics and fiscal crisis require change • Has anyone got a better idea?

11. Minnesota’s Managed Care Programs How Minnesota’s Programs Align Incentives Between Medicare and Medicaid

12. MN Managed Care • Mandatory statewide Medicaid managed care program since 1985: • PMAP/Minnesota Care: DHS contracts with 9 local non profit HMOs/CBPs to provide services to about 447,000 families, non-disabled adults and children • Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+): Most Medicaid seniors 65+ including dual eligible enrollees and NF residents required to enroll since 1985. Includes LTC services of PCA, home and community based and 180 days of nursing home services • Voluntary statewide integrated Medicare/Medicaid SNP programs, no special waivers required: • Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO): Began 1997, 83 counties, includes LTC services, contracts with 9 dual SNPs • Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO): Began 2001, includes LTC services, enrolls people with physical disabilities through contract with 1 SNP, operates in 7 county metro area only • SNBC: Began 2008, integrated Medicare/Medicaid for all people with disabilities, does NOT include PCA and most home and community based services, 83 counties, contracts with 7 SNPs

13. Seniors Managed Care Programs

15. Recent Program Developments • Original MSC (PMAP) program for seniors phased out effective 1/2009 • MSC+ now operates statewide, all 97 counties • Most Medicaid seniors now required to enrolled in managed long term care through MSC+ or may choose MSHO as voluntary alternative • RFP issued February to re-procure for MSHO and expand MSHO to remaining four uncovered counties in north (Hubbard, Beltrami, Clearwater and Lake of the Woods). • All plans must respond to RFP to remain in MSHO in existing counties • RFP also issued for SNBC for 7 county metro area to allow for additional SNPs to participate in metro area and to expand to the four additional northern counties. • Responses due in late April

16. MN Integrated Program Features • Coordinated access to ALL Medicare A,B, D and Medicaid drug benefits under one source • Integrated Medicare and Medicaid enrollment forms and process and member materials, State model materials for all plans • Initial and annual risk screening and follow up assessments for all members • Facilitation of physician relationship and annual primary care visits • Care Coordination: Each enrollee assigned a care coordinator or health service coordinator who assists with coordination of primary, acute and LTC services, or for SNBC, care navigation assistance • Coordinated authorization and approval for both benefit sets, providers bill one place for all services • PIP Collaboratives: SNPs collaborate on design of QI interventions to focus efforts on the same clinical topics • State led workgroups with all SNPs at the table on care coordination, audit requirements, best practices • State acts as TPA under contract with SNPs to process and submit Medicare enrollment, this enables enrollments to remain integrated

17. Typical Dual Eligible Drug Coverage

18. Integrated Drug Coverage

19. Care Management Strategies • Initial risk screening and assessment of members for early identification • Includes collection of ADLs/assessment info and direct entry to State system • Assigned follow up schedules for calls and home visits for members • All community members screened for community services with quick implementation • Care coordinators facilitation of annual primary care preventive visits • State provides performance incentive payments for certain types of visits • Care coordinator attendance at key physician visits • Nurse Practitioner models most effective for NF members • Requires cooperation of nursing facilities, monthly meetings with providers • Provider training and care coordinator back up • Immediate starting of IVs for infections • State sponsored workgroup on improved care management models for NF members with focus on issues for rural areas • Tiered subacute rates for certain SNF stays • Waiver of 3 day hospital stay requirement • Payment of in lieu of days or ISU in SNFs • Additional provider training on falls prevention, urinary incontinence management • Fast track intervention strategies/protocols on key chronic conditions

20. Case Study Example • MCO authorizes additional Intensive Service Day payment to nursing home for 70 year old resident who needs highly intensive rehabilitative care, wheel chair bound, ventilator dependent, and post polio with tracheotomy and wound care. This reduces need for additional hospitalizations. • MCO provides regular check in by Care Manager with nursing facility to monitor care. • At first resident is expected to remain in nursing home long term because of dependence on vent so after 100 day Medicare stay is over, MCO pays for nursing home care under Medicaid managed care custodial care benefit. • Resident becomes more motivated to wean from vent and return home. • Additional respiratory therapy provided reduces need for ventilator. • Care Coordinator develops Community Support Plan for return home. • Community based services are arranged (ramp, home health aide and RN visits, Lifeline). • About six months after entering nursing home, resident returns home with more control over managing health and independence. • This case study is courtesy of Blue Plus • Other health plans also have similar case studies

21. Participating MSHO SNPs and MSC+ Health Plans for Seniors • Blue Plus • First Plan • Health Partners • Itasca Medical Care • Medica • Metropolitan Health Plan • Prime West • South Country Health Alliance • UCare Minnesota

25. Disability Managed Care Programs

26. Summary of Key SNBC Contract Requirements • Risk screening within 30 days of enrollment • Medical home/Primary Care Clinic • Facilitation of annual physician visits • Broad availability and access to specialists, transportation and specialty DME suppliers • Additional case management or navigation assistance included. Some plans have contracted with counties to provide this assistance. • 24/7 RN call lines • Coordination of Medicare and Medicaid drug coverage • Simplified/integrated Medicare and Medicaid enrollments, materials and appeals processes • Disability training for member services • Survey and provide information to enrollees about clinic accessibility • Clinical measures appropriate to people with disabilities • Accessibility surveys of primary care clinics • Communication protocols for working with counties and providers who are highly involved (eg residential, home health) • Health plans will cover Medicaid co-pays for both duals and non duals. • Health plans required to provide provider training

27. Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO) • Enrollment voluntary, 1100 enrollees • Operating since 2001in 7 county metro only • Includes Medicare and Medicaid services including all drugs under one SNP • Includes most long term care services (SNF/NF, PCA, PDN and home and community based waivers including CADI andTBI services) • MnDHO-PD primarily enrolls people with physical disabilities but enrollees may have mental health needs as well • MnDHO payments for acute care through same CDPS risk adjustment system as for SNBC, LTC risk adjustment is through separately developed MN specific system.

28. Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO) • One SNP, UCare, “UCare Complete”: • Physical Disabilities Program: Axis HealthCare provides care management for people with physical disabilities • DD Pilot: Partners Choice Network for DD pilot (MORA, Fraser, LSS) limited to maximum of 120 enrollees, includes DD waiver services • Very intensive care management and comprehensive services provided to high needs group, strong focus on chronic care issues and prevention. • Good evaluation results, however costs difficult to manage. • Expansion on hold per legislation until after July 2009 • However, DHS does not plan any expansions for after 2009 at this time

29. Stakeholder Involvement • DHS developed SNBC with the assistance of a broad group of stakeholders, including disability advocates, consumers, counties, providers and health plan representatives. • This Statewide group will continue to meet to provide input to DHS in monitoring and oversight of SNBC. The group meets quarterly and meetings are open to the public. • Contact Cindy Czech 651-431-2514 to be added to the mailing list. • Each health plan participating in SNBC is required to have a similar local stakeholder’s group. • This is a great opportunity for consumers and health plans to work together to improve SNBC on an ongoing basis.

30. How Does SNBC Work? • There are no premiums or additional costs for enrolling in SNBC. • Members must volunteer to enroll by signing an enrollment form or having their guardians or authorized representatives sign it and sending it to the health plan. • Members can drop out in any month by sending a written request to the State or the health plan (effective the 1st of the next month) • Health plans and DHS are responsible for outreach and marketing to potential enrollees. • Health plans must follow all CMS and DHS marketing requirements. • All member materials must be reviewed and approved by CMS and DHS. • County staff are not responsible for enrollment and marketing but may be consulted by potential enrollees and may assist them if requested. • SNBC plans will waive Medical Assistance co-pays for all members (CMS will not allow plans to waive Part D co-pays) • People with medical spenddowns can enroll but must pay their spenddowns to a designated provider or to the State or be disenrolled • SNBC plans may offer additional Medicare benefits such as fitness programs, or home safety equipment, podiatry care, or extra dental care • The Disability Linkage Line is available for consultation for people seeking help with SNBC, MnDHO and other Part D choices. • 1-866-333-2466 • All current appeal rights are included as well as some additional protections including DHS Ombudsman for Managed Care services • 1-800-657-3729

31. SNBC Payments • Medicaid payments to the health plans are “risk adjusted” based on the diagnoses and costs of each individual enrollee through the Chronic Disability Payment System • Payments have been specially adjusted to include additional provisions for mental health services and needs • This system will provide higher payments to health plans who enroll high cost enrollees, and lower payments for those who enroll more low cost enrollees • Payments are designed to be budget neutral to current fee for service costs for enrollees • Medicare also provides a separate risk adjusted payment for dual eligible enrollees

32. 2008 SNBC Health Plans • Blue Plus • CareBlue Special Needs Basic Care • First Plan • First Plan Blue Basic • Medica • AccessAbility Solution • Metropolitan Health Plan • Cornerstone Solutions • Prime West • Prime West Special Needs BasicCare • South Country Health Alliance • Ability Care • UCare • UCare Connect

34. Results of Integrated Programs • Several evaluations prior to MSHO expansion show some positive utilization results, no harm being done • MSHO showed increased access to HCBS, increased caregiver support, and reductions in expected use of nursing home • MSHO satisfaction higher than MSC, low disenrollment • Care coordination studies of MSHO show value to members in a variety of care coordination models • MSHO costs have been under control

35. Results of Integrated Programs • Too soon after large 2006 expansion to have new evaluation of MSHO • Recent evaluation of care coordination models in MSHO is on DHS website • MnDHO evaluation shows dramatic changes in consumer access to preventive and primary care, but also higher costs • SNBC evaluation planned • Other States following MN in developing similar programs

36. Contact Information State Website:http://dhsinfo.dhsintra.net/main/groups/public/documents/pub/infolink_dhs_today.hcsp Pam Parker, Manager Special Needs Purchasing DHS Pam.parker@state.mn.us 651-431-2512 Sue Kvendru, Program Coordinator Sue.kvendru@state.mn.us 651-431-2517 Deb Maruska, Program Coordinator Deb.maruska@state.mn.us 651-431-2516 Cara Bailey, Policy Coordinator Cara.bailey@state.mn.us 651-431-2515

37. Special Needs PurchasingMinnesota Department of Human Services Pamela Parker pam.parker@state.mn.us651-431-2512