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| The Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) is a health care program that combines separate health programs and support systems into one health care package. It is for people ages 65 and older who are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) and enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B or who have MA only. People can choose to join MSHO or stay in their current MA program. MSHO enrollees are assigned a care coordinator who will help them get their heath care and related support services. |
| MSHO is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and nine health maintenance organizations: Blue Plan, First Plan Blue, HealthPartners, Itasca Medical Care, Medica, Metropolitan Health Plan, PrimeWest Health System, South Country Health Alliance and UCare Minnesota. |
| Larry is a 75-year-old man with health problems. His health problems have made it hard for him to take care of his home and his personal hygiene. In one year, he was in the hospital four times for dehydration. His meals often include canned foods, cheese, lunch meat and soda. Larry is very independent and doesnt like to ask for help. |
| After joining MSHO, Larry met with a care coordinator. His care coordinator helped him get the health care services he needed. Now, Meals-on-Wheels brings him a daily meal. A nurse visits him every two weeks to help him manage his diabetes and medication. A home health aide visits him three times a week to help him with hygiene and personal care and he gets weekly homemaking services and chore services. The care coordinator also helped him schedule regular doctors appointments. During the first six months of joining MSHO, Larry was not hospitalized once. He even told his care coordinator that she is his "ray of sunshine." |
| are eligible for Medical Assistance and enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B or |
| are eligible for only Medical Assistance |
| MSHO offers the same services as Medical Assistance and Medicare: |
| durable medical equipment |
| personal care attendant services |
| home and community-based services (Elderly Waiver) |
| An MSHO health plan may offer additional services. |
| To enroll in MSHO, you must be eligible for MA or already have Medicare coverage. If you have questions about health care programs, contact the county human services agency in which you live. If you have questions about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov or call the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433. |
| If you are already on MA and want to enroll in MSHO, contact one of the MSHO health plans. |
| You can choose an MSHO health plan or stay with your current health plan if it offers the MSHO program. |
| Blue Plus (651) 662-3584 or (888) 878-0137 (TTY/TDD) (toll free) |
| HealthPartners (952) 883-5050 or (877) 713-8215 (toll free) or (800) 443-0156 (TTY/TDD) |
| Medica (952) 992-2345 or (800) 234-8755 (toll free) or (800) 234-8819 (TTY/TDD) |
| Minnesotans who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid have a special opportunity to receive a new federal prescription drug benefit and improve coordination of all of their health care services through MSHO. More information is available in a news release. |
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