“Medicare, Medicaid Spending Similar Among Dual Eligible Beneficiaries,” by Victoria Bailey, HealthPayerIntelligence

“Need-based subgroups of dual eligible beneficiaries utilized both Medicare- and Medicaid-funded services, identifying the need for an integration program that includes benefits from both payers, a study published in JAMA Health Forum found. Dual eligible beneficiaries typically have multiple chronic comorbidities, cognitive impairments, and mental health conditions, leading them to require more complex care than beneficiaries in only Medicare or Medicaid. A lack of coordination between the two programs creates misaligned incentives for payers and physicians, leading to higher costs, fragmented care, and poor health outcomes.”

LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:

Medicare and Medicaid are two very different programs. Most people age into Medicare at 65. Medicaid is needs-based public assistance. Rather than crush apples and oranges together, it would be much wiser to change Medicaid so people avoid depending on the welfare program. The key to doing that is to remove Medicaid’s perverse incentives that discourage planning for long-term care and allow people to qualify without spending down. More here.