This brief explores the experience of six states that have achieved varying levels of behavioral health and physical health integration or collaboration for dually eligible beneficiaries within a managed care environment. It describes: (1) opportunities for explicit state action and requirements to push development of integration components; and (2) opportunities for states to signal the importance of integration elements while providing flexibility to allow plans to innovate. (Integrated Care Resource Center)

This brief examines the approaches used by three states – Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee – to develop and implement information-sharing processes for their Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) that support care transitions. The brief includes examples of contract language and strategies to encourage plan collaboration and problem solving around information sharing. It can help states, D-SNPs, and other stakeholders assess how to meet the new D-SNP contracting requirements and improve the care of dually eligible individuals. (Integrated Care Resource Center)

New federal rules released in April 2019 require that Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) must, at a minimum, coordinate the delivery of Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The final rule includes new regulatory language effective January 1, 2020 and provides examples of ways that D-SNPs should coordinate their members’ Medicare and Medicaid services. This technical assistance brief discusses issues and options for states to support D-SNPs in meeting this requirement. In particular, this brief describes four options that states can use, individually or concurrently, to provide information to D-SNPs on their dually eligible members’ Medicaid plan enrollment and/or service use. (Integrated Care Resource Center)