The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 2015. Advocates serving low-income individuals-even if you do not normally work on Medicare issues-to help Medicare-eligible can clients understand what they need to do. Our Fact Sheet for Advocates provides five basic tips for questions to raise when talking with clients. We also have […]
The Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) is now underway in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. There are a number of evaluations being conducted to measure how well the CCI is working. Some beneficiaries will receive letters and phone calls requesting their participation in a focus group or […]
In 2014, dental benefits for Medi-Cal beneficiaries were restored. But how do dual eligibles enrolled in Cal MediConnect get their dental services? What about the Cal MediConnect plans you’ve been hearing about that have a “dental supplement”? How does this change which provider Ms. Smith sees for a teeth cleaning or for a porcelain crown? […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has established protections for Medicare Part D beneficiaries when they experience coverage transitions. To assist advocates with transition issues, Justice in Aging has released a paper that sets out the CMS minimum requirements for all plans. Beneficiaries in Medicare Part D drug plans can experience gaps in […]
For the past two years, Justice in Aging has provided ongoing assistance to advocates in Florida, Kansas and New Jersey as their states have implemented Medicaid managed care for long-term services and supports (LTSS). This issue brief provides short summaries of the managed care programs in each of those states, and then discusses four specific […]
Dual Eligibles in a number of California counties who are currently enrolled in either Medicare Advantage Plans or certain Duals Special Needs Plans (D-SNPS) may see their plans change and/or may be subject to passive enrollment in Cal MediConnect, depending on a number of factors. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released the […]
In early 2014, after a lengthy public process, CMS finalized new rules that define the characteristics of a Home & Community-based Services (HCBS) setting. The new standards aim to improve HCBS quality and ensure individuals who receive Medicaid HCBS services can engage and fully participate in community life, better control and coordinate their care, and […]
This December Fact Sheet provides a full explanation of newly-released guidance of states’ obligations under the ADA and Olmstead by The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, along with other advocate strategies and resources.
Can Joyce continue to see her out-of-network cardiologist after enrolling in Cal MediConnect? Will Karl have to move to a new nursing facility on the Cal MediConnect plan? How long can Cal MediConnect take to process a request for continuity of care? You might have questions like these. Dual eligible beneficiaries who enroll in Cal […]
In this October FACT SHEET, Justice in Aging summarizes the different populations subject to enrollment into Cal MediConnect plans in January. It also describes the unique issues these populations will face during enrollment and provides guidance to advocates to help beneficiaries through the January transition.
