Payers and providers across the country are looking for ways to deliver better care to people with disabilities, including those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. A 2020 study, developed and led by people with disabilities, examined member engagement and outcomes in the Massachusetts One Care Program, which provides comprehensive, integrated, coordinated care for dually eligible individuals under 65. The study found that by including members in care planning and team design, focusing on member needs and desires, and enabling access to long-term services and supports, One Care members perceived improved control over their health decisions, quality of life, and hope for their future.

The Better Care Playbook recently spoke with Dennis Heaphy, MPH, MEd, MDiv, a policy analyst and health justice advocate at the Massachusetts Disability Policy Consortium and a One Care member, to learn more about the findings of the One Care study that he co-authored. The conversation highlights the impact of engaging members with disabilities in care planning and strategies that health systems and payers can use to advance health equity through improved engagement with people with disabilities.