Many states are developing Medicaid managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) programs to provide high-quality, person-centered, and cost-effective care to eligible beneficiaries in the settings of their choice. Some of these states are also seeking to better integrate care for their beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid by contracting with Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs).

This technical assistance brief, made possible through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, highlights opportunities for states to align their MLTSS programs with D-SNPs. The brief, originally developed to guide New Jersey’s Medicaid program, explores state considerations for requiring D-SNPs to become Fully Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (FIDE SNPs) and examines the varying levels of alignment possible through D-SNP contracting. It also details key features of MLTSS programs, D-SNPs, and FIDE-SNPs to offer insights for states contemplating integrated Medicare and Medicaid programs.