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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 127
BY SENATOR MORRELL
HEALTH CARE. Requests DHH to develop a plan for the creation of a demonstration
program to coordinate and integrate the health care for an individual eligible for both
Medicare and Medicaid.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to develop a plan for the2
creation of a demonstration program to coordinate and integrate the health care for3
persons eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.4
WHEREAS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports the5
development of innovative health care payment and service delivery model reforms; and6
WHEREAS, CMS has established a Federal Coordinated Health Care Office7
(Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office); and8
WHEREAS, twenty states are pursuing state demonstration projects to integrate the9
care of individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (Medicare-Medicaid dual10
eligibles or dual eligibles); and11
WHEREAS, the coordination of the delivery of Medicare and Medicaid benefits has12
been shown to improve health outcomes and lead to cost benefits for both programs; and13
WHEREAS, Medicare Advantage plans have been shown to be effective in14
managing and coordinating Medicare services in dual special needs plans (D-SNPs); and15
WHEREAS, federal law has created Medicare Advantage fully integrated dual16
eligible special needs plans (FIDE-SNPs) that allow a state to contract with special needs17
plans to cover all or most of a state's Medicaid benefits; and18 SCR NO. 127
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WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes and commends the role of1
Medicare managed care plans that have served the highly vulnerable, at-risk Medicare2
population in Louisiana, including dual eligibles, over the decades and have maintained3
superior quality star ratings for their health plan services; and4
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana directs the department in designing a5
program to better coordinate the care of Louisiana's dual eligible population, while not6
sacrificing the progress and quality of care already achieved by these existing Medicare7
managed care plans.8
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby9
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to develop a plan by October 1,10
2014, for the creation of a demonstration program to coordinate and integrate the health care11
of Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibles with a Medicare managed care plan, as follows:12
(1) The department is directed to consider any federal authority deemed most13
appropriate to develop this pilot program.14
(2) In developing the pilot program, the department shall consider the success of15
Medicare managed care plans to provide effective and quality care to Louisianians and shall16
not, in developing the plan, sacrifice the progress, quality, and enrollment already achieved17
by all Medicare managed care companies presently operating in Louisiana.18
(3) In developing the plan for the Medicare-Medicaid pilot program, the department19
shall solicit and consider the comments and views of existing Medicare managed care plans.20
(4) In developing the plan for the pilot program, the department shall take into21
account those regions served by existing Medicare managed care plans with populations that22
have a significant percentage of dual eligibles.23
(5) In designing programs to better coordinate the care of Louisiana's dual eligible24
population, the department shall not impair the right of its citizens to choose and retain25
existing Medicare plans, that could result in the disruption of the care continuum, and the26
reduction of health care choice and access for the citizens of Louisiana.27
(6) The Legislature of Louisiana directs the department to provide dual eligible28
individuals the opportunity to choose the demonstration program in lieu of any existing29
Medicaid program or any future Medicaid program to be developed by the state of30 SCR NO. 127
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Louisiana.1
(7) No later than October 1, 2014, the secretary of the department shall submit a2
written report regarding the plan for developing the demonstration program to the Senate3
Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare,4
including but not limited to the following:5
(a) The extent to which the department considers any federal authority deemed most6
appropriate to develop this demonstration program.7
(b) The extent to which the department considers the views and comments of8
existing Medicare managed care plans.9
(c) Steps taken by the department to ensure a beneficiary affected by the10
department's plans to better coordinate the care of Louisiana's dual eligible population while11
maintaining the right to choose and retain existing Medicare health care plans.12
(d) Steps taken by the department to ensure that the plan includes those regions of13
the state served by existing Medicare managed care plans with populations that have a14
significant percentage of dual eligibles.15
(e) Steps taken by the department to protect the freedom of choice for a dual eligible16
individual.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be included on18
the official website of Department of Health and Hospitals.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the20
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.21
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Morrell SCR No. 127
Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals develop a plan for the creation of a
demonstration program to coordinate and integrate the health care for persons eligible for
both Medicare and Medicaid.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Changes the type of Medicare managed care plans DHH shall consider to be SCR NO. 127
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successful in providing effective and quality care to Louisiana residents from
"existing Louisiana managed care plans" to "all Medicare managed care
companies presently operating in Louisiana".