Dual-eligible clients in Texas’ most populous counties may soon have the chance to combine their Medicare and Medicaid services into one health plan.
On March 1, HHSC began enrolling people who get both Medicare and Medicaid benefits into a new STAR+PLUS Medicare-Medicaid demonstration program. Those who participate in the program will get their full array of Medicare and Medicaid services through a single health plan instead of two. The program is limited to 147,000 dual eligible clients in six Texas counties: Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, Hidalgo and Tarrant.
Over the summer, HHSC will be enrolling dual eligible clients in those six counties in a STAR+PLUS Medicare-Medicaid plan in their area.
“We’re excited about this project,” HHSC’s Gary Jessee said. “Dual eligible clients in these six counties should see improved coordination of services and quality of care due to the fact they’ll be getting their Medicare and Medicaid services from a single health plan.”
Both the state and federal governments hope to see cost savings from the program.
Acute care and long-term services providers who serve people with Medicare and Medicaid can participate in the dual eligible new project if they meet licensing standards and have a contract with a STAR+PLUS Medicaid-Medicare health plan, which requires meeting the plan’s credentialing standards.
For more information, including resources for providers interested in participating in the project, visit the Texas Dual Eligible Integrated Care Project page of the HHSC website.
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