For states looking to integrate care for duals, a robust stakeholder engagement process will provide invaluable feedback for shaping programs to best meet consumer needs. To help guide states in effectively engaging consumer stakeholders, this technical assistance brief outlines:

• Potential questions that should be addressed during the stakeholder engagement process;
• Benefits to integrated care approaches from the beneficiary perspective; and
• Advice from a national consumer advocacy expert on consumer engagement.

In sum, while involving consumers effectively will take extra effort and time in the short-term, doing so early on in the design planning process will result in more effective and more responsive program models in the long-run.

This technical assistance brief is a product of Transforming Care for Dual Eligibles, a national initiative made possible by The Commonwealth Fund. Through this initiative, CHCS is working with seven states — Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont — to develop and implement innovative strategies for integrating care. Participating states are receiving in-depth technical assistance covering program design, care models, financing mechanisms and contracting strategies and CHCS is also facilitating linkages with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify new avenues for Medicare-Medicaid integration