Issue Briefs | Jan 5, 2015

Approaches to the Integration of Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities

Brendan Hogan, Kate Bazinsky, and Beth Waldman, Bailit Health Purchasing

Today, there is a great deal of focus on integration of physical and behavioral health care services within the health care system overall, as well as within state Medicaid programs. Individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) often have multiple physical, behavioral, and long-term services and support (LTSS) needs. Many advocates of integration suggest that the consolidation of these services can provide an opportunity to improve care for individuals with I/DD. Based on interviews conducted with I/DD staff in six states (Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, and Vermont), this paper highlights approaches to integrating services within the Medicaid program for individuals with I/DD, and lessons learned from states with integration activities underway.


Expert Perspectives

CMS Offers New Details on Account Transfer 2.0

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) explained the transition to “Account Transfer 2.0” (AT 2.0) in a CMCS Informational Bulletin (CIB) released on October 10, 2024. The CIB indicates significant federal investment in improving the process of transferring consumer application information between state Medicaid and CHIP agencies and the Marketplace in the states using the federal platform. This expert perspective reviews the CIB and highlights opportunities for states to improve account transfer data under the CIB.

CMS Solicits Comments on Medicaid/CHIP Reporting Templates for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity

On September 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new collection of federal Medicaid and CHIP reporting templates designed to assist states in monitoring Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) compliance in Medicaid and CHIP. Informal public comment is requested by December 2, 2024. This expert perspective reviews the reporting templates to highlight considerations for states and support the formulation of comment submissions.