Effects of Integrating Care for Medicare-Medicaid Dually Eligible Seniors in Minnesota

Authors
Wayne L. Anderson
Sharon K. Long
Zhanlian Feng
Peer-Reviewed Article
July 2018

Individuals who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid often run into barriers to receive coordinated and effective care. Minnesota developed one of the first statewide, fully integrated Medicare-Medicaid models in the country, known as Minnesota Senior Health Option (MSHO), that is based on a fully-integrated dual eligible special needs plan model. This study uses data from 2010-2012 to assess the likely impact of the Medicare-Medicaid MSHO program for dually eligible older adults relative to those enrolled in a non-integrated, Medicaid-only managed care plan with Medicare fee for service.

The study found a shift in MSHO enrollees’ service use away from hospital-based care and toward primary care and community-based services, which was consistent with the goals of the MSHO model. The MSHO model may have replicability in other states that are considering strategies to improve care delivery for dually eligible older adults. 

Posted to The Playbook on