What’s new for: Health Care

Court reaffirms: Funds won’t impact eligibility for benefits, programs

A court order issued April 23 reaffirms that settlement funds received by clients under an agreement on a class action related to treatment at Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) will not count as resources for purposes of the clients’ eligibility for disability benefits or programs. The class action was filed on behalf of residents with developmental disabilities who were restrained or secluded at METO, a department-operated facility in Cambridge. More detailed information and copies of the court orders, including the April 23 order, are online. All clients in the class action received a copy of the April 23 order from the court. DHS also sent information about the latest court order to county staff statewide including county directors, supervisors, attorneys, health care liaisons and financial workers. The METO program closed July 1, 2011.

CMS taking comments on proposal for integrating Medicare and Medicaid

DHS has submitted a final proposal for further integrating Medicare and Medicaid coverage to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is accepting public comments until 5 p.m. EST May 31 to inform its review of the proposal. The proposal seeks more administrative integration and greater accountability among providers and payers for total cost of care and health outcomes for people with both types of coverage. A copy of the proposal and information on submitting comments to CMS is online at www.dhs.state.mn.us/dualdemo.

Health plan caps save taxpayers $73 million

A voluntary 1 percent cap on health plan profits negotiated by Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson will result in $73 million in savings for federal and state taxpayers. The health care savings announced by Gov. Mark Dayton were agreed to in 2011 by Commissioner Jesson and the four health plans that contract with the state to provide managed care services for people enrolled in Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. Health care reforms will save taxpayers more than $600 million. More information is in a news release.

Rx rebates grow by $80 million per year with addition of managed care

The work of numerous Health Care Administration staff, led by the pharmacy rebate team, is responsible for an estimated $80 million decrease in spending per year for Medical Assistance (MA). The savings come from rebates the state is collecting from manufacturers for drugs provided to MA enrollees through managed care plans. These significant savings contributed to lowering projected health costs in the state’s November budget forecast. More information is in a story about the rebates.

Report outlines Medicaid reform waiver development

A Medical Assistance Reform Report (PDF) recently submitted to the Minnesota Legislature discusses DHS progress redesigning Medical Assistance (MA) and coordinating with current and ongoing department initiatives. The 2011 Legislature directed DHS to reform MA, Minnesota’s Medicaid program, to achieve better outcomes for people with disabilities, seniors and other enrollees. The report contains detailed information on 12 separate initiatives, designated by the Legislature, including community integration and independence, improved health, reduced reliance on institutional care, attainment of housing and employment and reduced use of services that are less effective. More information is available at www.dhs.state.mn.us/MAreform.

Medicaid reform summit materials online

More than 100 people participated in a Medicaid reform summit led by Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson Nov. 18. Jesson hosted “Medicaid in an Era of Reform,” to discuss opportunities and challenges in reforming Medicaid to provide the best value for Minnesotans. The agenda and presentations, including a Medicaid and health care reform market analysis, are available at www.dhs.state.mn.us/MedicaidReform.

Task force to identify ways to provide better care at a lower cost

The Minnesota Health Care Reform Task Force, established by Gov. Mark Dayton in October 2011, is charged with developing strategies to improve access to health care, lower health care costs and improve the health status of all Minnesotans. The task force and various work groups are meeting regularly as they work toward developing recommendations for the governor and the Legislature by November 2012. Information about the task force, meeting schedules and materials is on the state’s Health Reform website. Interested parties may also sign up for email updates.

Self-sufficiency and health care statistics report is online

The Family Self Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics available through February 2012 (PDF) is available on the DHS public website. The report includes caseload numbers and expenditures for cash, emergency and food assistance programs and health care programs.

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