Minnesota’s safety net for the poor, aging, and disabled is inefficient, often ineffective, and financially unsustainable. Our aging population will drive the costs even higher. Steps were taken last year to redesign Medical Assistance as we know it, but more progress is needed to preserve Minnesota’s commitment to its most vulnerable citizens. Opportunities for significant improvements include:
Payment Reform Without significant changes in how we pay for Medicaid services, we will continue to limit access to care and short change the providers trying to meet the complex needs of individuals with disabilities. Rewarding providers who can improve care will save money today. The Department of Human Services has begun pilot programs for those who are not disabled in its Health Care Delivery System demonstration. The time to include people with disabilities is now. Expand Care Coordination Options Minnesota’s health care home initiative (HCH) assists those with the most complex medical and social service needs in coordinating all their care needs. Courage Center data on more than 200 individuals now being seen in our HCH clinic shows a significant reduction in hospitalizations. Everyone with a disability should be connected to a HCH. Put Consumers in Control Today, a few thousand people take advantage of the consumer-directed community supports (CDCS) option, which grants people tremendous flexibility in what services they buy to meet their care needs. Expansion of this program, with appropriate fiscal oversight and accountability, would encourage service providers to compete on price and quality. Lutheran Social Services spent months engaging multiple stakeholders, including Courage Center, studying ways to improve the Medicaid system and save money in the long run. CDCS, which we strongly support, became the center of their reform proposal. Case Management Historically a county-administered service on behalf of Medicaid waiver recipients, private and nonprofit organizations can perform these services better and cheaper. A DHS study group (that included Courage Center representation) will soon release a report to recommend these changes. Personal Responsibility Individuals need to prepare and save for the day when they can no longer meet their health needs without the assistance of others. The Citizen’s League has recommended wise changes to the Medicaid program, including the development of a co-insurance model that provides incentives for middle-class wage earners to save. As a member of this study group, we strongly support its findings.
Without significant changes in how we pay for Medicaid services, we will continue to limit access to care and short change the providers trying to meet the complex needs of individuals with disabilities. Rewarding providers who can improve care will save money today. The Department of Human Services has begun pilot programs for those who are not disabled in its Health Care Delivery System demonstration. The time to include people with disabilities is now.
Minnesota’s health care home initiative (HCH) assists those with the most complex medical and social service needs in coordinating all their care needs. Courage Center data on more than 200 individuals now being seen in our HCH clinic shows a significant reduction in hospitalizations. Everyone with a disability should be connected to a HCH.
Today, a few thousand people take advantage of the consumer-directed community supports (CDCS) option, which grants people tremendous flexibility in what services they buy to meet their care needs. Expansion of this program, with appropriate fiscal oversight and accountability, would encourage service providers to compete on price and quality. Lutheran Social Services spent months engaging multiple stakeholders, including Courage Center, studying ways to improve the Medicaid system and save money in the long run. CDCS, which we strongly support, became the center of their reform proposal.
Historically a county-administered service on behalf of Medicaid waiver recipients, private and nonprofit organizations can perform these services better and cheaper. A DHS study group (that included Courage Center representation) will soon release a report to recommend these changes.
Individuals need to prepare and save for the day when they can no longer meet their health needs without the assistance of others. The Citizen’s League has recommended wise changes to the Medicaid program, including the development of a co-insurance model that provides incentives for middle-class wage earners to save. As a member of this study group, we strongly support its findings.
Without significant reform, high performing providers like Courage Center cannot continue to support Medicaid recipients at the level we do today. We lose $800, on average, for each Medicaid recipient we serve. Philanthropy comprises 30 percent of our budget today to compensate for these losses. This model is unsustainable.
Please call or email Christian Knights, 763-520-0725 or christian.knights@couragecenter.org with any questions.