Managed Care, Medicaid and the Elderly: Five State Case Studies
Increasingly, states are turning to managed care to deliver health services to Medicaid recipients. In a 1994 survey of states conducted by the National Academy for State Health Policy, 16 states reported that they enroll elders in Medicaid managed care programs. A few states (Arizona, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah) require mandatory enrollment and others allow elders to voluntarily select a managed care plan. Still other states plan to include mandatory enrollment of SSI recipients in a subsequent phase of their programs (eg., Hawaii, Ohio, Oklahoma). In addition, states are in various stages of including long term services as part of a benefit package available through managed care. A number of states have developed explicit managed care initiatives – Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Other states are planning similar initiatives for elders (eg., Colorado, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas).
| 1996.May_.managed.care_.medicaid.elderly.5.state_.case_.studies.pdf | 6.4 MB |
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. 
