The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health recently discussed extending Special Needs Plans (SNPs) under Medicare Advantage, the committee said in a release.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Michael Burgress (R-TX) said at the July 26 hearing that Democrats and Republicans agree that SNPs are necessary and acknowledge that it provides "comprehensive, coordinated care to about 2 million Medicare beneficiaries," the release said. Additionally, he stressed that the subcommittee wants to improve SNPs for dual eligibles who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
“Duals often have multiple chronic conditions, physical disabilities, and cognitive impairments such as dementia, developmental disabilities, and mental illness,” Burgess said in the release. “Yet, too often, these very beneficiaries are forced to navigate two government programs with benefit structures, rules, and incentives that are often less than simple and intuitive.”
Others at the meeting, such as Dr. Lawrence Atkins, president of the National MLTSS Health Plan Association, also discussed the importance of making Medicare and Medicaid easier for those who are dually enrolled.
“We encourage the committee to further consider allowing states that enroll dually-eligible individuals in Medicaid managed care to require those dual members to receive all of their benefits from a plan that fully integrates Medicare and Medicaid services,” Atkins said in the release.
