Headline

Study shows racial disparities in experience of care for individuals enrolled in Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP).

Context

Individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid have complex health and social risk factors, but their health coverage can be difficult to navigate due to the separate administration of Medicare and Medicaid. To address these issues, policymakers have developed programs that more fully integrate coverage for Medicare and Medicaid. One example of this is Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), which are a type of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. This study used national survey data to examine outcomes related to access to care, utilization, and patient satisfaction for individuals enrolled in D-SNPs, other MA plans, and traditional Medicare, including examining differences by race and ethnicity.

Findings

Dually eligible individuals enrolled in D-SNPs experienced greater access to care, preventive service use, and satisfaction compared to those in traditional Medicare. There were fewer differences between D-SNPs and other MA plans. Dually eligible individuals of color were less likely than white individuals to report better care in D-SNPs versus other coverage.

Takeaways

As the role of D-SNPs expands to cover additional dually eligible individuals, federal and state policymakers can monitor plan performance and develop contract provisions that incentivize more equitable care and outcomes.