What are known as Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans are for older adults or people with disabilities and limited income. They coordinate doctor, hospital and prescription drug coverage with Medicaid benefits, with the goal of making care easier to manage and more affordable.
Hannah Diamond, senior policy advocate for the advocacy group Justice in Aging, said it is important to understand how the plans are changing and what new federal policies could mean for their care.
"The bigger-picture takeaway here is that there is movement from the federal government to try to encourage enrollment into these D-SNPs that are offering the highest level of integration and alignment," Diamond observed.
Diamond added it is part of states adjusting to the new federal tax cut and spending law passed this summer, which shifts some Medicaid costs to states and could threaten optional services, like home- and community-based care. She noted it will take continued advocacy and collaboration with state agencies to protect coverage for older adults and people with disabilities.
