Scott, Cassidy unveil bipartisan bill to integrate care for dual eligible Americans

States would be required to develop strategies to integrate and coordinate care for dual eligibles — who are people receiving both Medicare and Medicaid — under bipartisan legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

“Americans on both Medicare and Medicaid should not have worse health outcomes than other Americans,” Sen. Cassidy said. “We need to do more to ensure these patients receive the high-quality care they need.”

The Advancing Integration in Medicare and Medicaid (AIM) Act, S. 4264, which Sen. Scott sponsored on May 19 with original cosponsors Sen. Cassidy and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), would require the strategies from states specifically to be designed for full-benefit dual eligible individuals, according to the text of the bill.

“Many states lack fully integrated care between Medicare and Medicaid, leaving dually eligible individuals with fragmented care and confusing bureaucracy. We can and must do better for this vulnerable population,” said Sen. Scott. “Our bill will help ensure these programs work together so that individuals in all states can access the health care they deserve.”

If enacted, S. 4264 would require states’ strategies to include the main integration approach, eligibility requirements, patient education and enrollment plan, patient choice protections, mental health benefit coordination, and data collection and measurement, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

Additionally, the bill would require states to submit the plan to the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services for review, approval and continued evaluation over time, the summary says.

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has received the bill for consideration.