For over a decade, state and federal policymakers have worked to better integrate Medicare and Medicaid benefits, financing, and administration to improve care for the more than 12 million people in the U.S. who are dually eligible for these programs. These efforts have spawned innovative integrated models like state-based demonstrations under the federal Financial Alignment Initiative, and programs in which Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans are closely aligned with Medicaid managed care plans.

Recent federal policies to promote integration, lessons from early innovators, financial imperatives, and novel funding opportunities are furthering states’ ability to advance integrated models. During this webinar participants heard from representatives in two states, Washington State and Indiana, who described new efforts in their states to further Medicare-Medicaid integration. The states highlighted how funding under Advancing Medicare & Medicaid Integration, a national initiative coordinated by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and made possible by Arnold Ventures, has enabled them to increase integration between Medicare and Medicaid, improve beneficiary access to integrated models, and ensure better patient experiences, higher quality of care, and reduced health care costs.

Agenda

I. Welcome and Introductions

Speaker: Molly Knowles, Senior Program Officer, CHCS

Ms. Knowles welcomed participants, provided an overview of the webinar, and introduced the speakers.

II. Overview of Advancing Medicare & Medicaid Integration

Speaker: Arielle Mir, Vice President of Health Care (Complex Care), Arnold Ventures

Ms. Mir discussed the importance and timeliness of integrating care for dual-eligible individuals and Arnold Ventures’ commitment to supporting better care for this population. She also provided an overview of the Advancing Medicare & Medicaid Integration funding opportunity for states.

III. Integration in Action: Washington State and Indiana

Speakers: Kelli Emans, Integration Manager, Washington State Department of Social & Health Services and Andrew Bean, Medicare and Medicaid Coordination Manager, Indiana Family & Social Services Administration

Ms. Emans and Mr. Bean each described new efforts in their states to advance Medicare-Medicaid integration and how Advancing Medicare & Medicaid Integration funding is supporting their efforts. Ms. Emans shared how Washington State, an early integrated care innovator, is applying lessons from its demonstration under the federal Financial Alignment Initiative to increase enrollment in its Medicare-Medicaid integrated care programs. Mr. Bean described how Indiana is working to design a Medicare-Medicaid integration strategy for dual-eligible individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed long-term services and supports and is seeking to build on lessons from other states that have advanced integrated models. 

Ms. Knowles moderated a panel discussion to share more about the states’ experiences as they pursue improvements in Medicare and Medicaid integration, including state processes for seeking and accessing funding, approaches to planning their projects, working with technical assistance partners, and how this effort connects with their broader policy strategy.

IV. Questions and Answers

Moderator: Molly Knowles, CHCS

Ms. Knowles moderated questions from the audience.