Integrating Medicare and Medicaid Beyond the Financial Alignment Demonstration
Some states with well-established Medicare-Medicaid managed care programs chose not to participate in the Financial Alignment Initiative Demonstration, and other states may want to develop their own approaches. Building on the preceding session on early implementation of the dual demonstration, a national speaker will discuss state options for integration. Arizona will describe its plans to further integrate Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs) with Medicaid managed care, and Minnesota will discuss its concept for integrating SNPs with Medicaid ACOs.
Moderator
MaryAnne Lindeblad, Medicaid Director, Washington State Health Care Authority
Speakers
Kijuana Wright, Program Development Officer, Medicare Coordination and Integration, Division of Health Care Management, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Pam Parker, Policy Consultant, Office of the Assistant Commissioner-Health Care, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Michelle Herman Soper, Senior Program Officer, Center for Health Care Strategies
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
