In the world of long-term care, there's a big chance to make things better for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. These people, known as dual eligibles, often live in nursing homes and could benefit a lot if we made it easier for them to use both Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
A recent study by ATI Advisory, a group that helps with healthcare research and advice, talks about how we can change government rules to make care better for these dual-eligible residents.
Understanding Dual Eligibility
Most folks living in nursing homes can use both Medicare and Medicaid. It's a big group of people, and it's essential to make sure they get the best care possible. However, we haven't really looked closely at how we can make Medicare and Medicaid work together for them.
Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Plans (D-SNPs) Can Help
Some Medicare plans called D-SNPs can be beneficial for dual-eligible nursing home residents. They can help coordinate care and make sure these residents get what they need.
Making D-SNPs Better for Long-Term Residents
Right now, D-SNPs don't focus on the needs of people who stay in nursing homes for a long time. We need to change that by making sure Medicare and Medicaid rules work well together. Nursing homes and Medicare plans need to work closely together to improve care.
Policy Ideas to Make Things Better
To make Medicare and Medicaid work better together, the government can do a few things. They can make it easier to understand how nursing homes get paid, improve healthcare practices, and reduce the paperwork that gets in the way of reasonable care.
Nursing Homes and Medicare Plans Working Together
Nursing homes and Medicare plans can also do their part to improve care. They can try new ways of working together and focus more on what residents really need.
Working Together for Better Care
The ATI Advisory report shows that we need to work together to improve care for people in nursing homes who can use both Medicare and Medicaid. By talking and sharing ideas, we can make sure these residents get the best care possible.
In summary, we have a significant opportunity to improve care for dual-eligible nursing home residents. By making changes to rules and working together, we can make sure these residents get the care and support they need to live well in nursing homes.
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