Voices for Better Health (VBH) is a collaboration between three non-profit organizations working together to improve the health and economic security of older adults in Rhode Island: Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI), Rhode Island Organizing Project (RIOP), and Economic Progress Institute (EPI).
Voices for Better Health started in 2013 when five states (Michigan, New York, Ohio, Washington, and Rhode Island) pursued a federal demonstration initiative to address older adults eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Community Catalyst, a national non-profit advocacy organization working to build and transform the American health system, funded and helped to start Voices for Better Health.
Dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid recipients are some of the poorest and most vulnerable residents in Rhode Island and suffer from high levels of chronic health conditions compared to the general population. Ineffective care coordination between the Medicare and Medicaid programs had led to poor care and high costs for this population.
In Rhode Island, the (ICI) was developed to align financing and care delivery. To ensure that the voices of impacted consumers were heard in the design, promotion and ongoing implementation of the ICI, VBH collaborating partners led an effort to establish a Consumer ICI Implementation Advisory Council. This Council was composed of and governed by ICI consumers who met monthly to receive data reports on enrollment and disenrollment, call center metrics, complaints and other issues impacting the dual-eligible population such as transportation and benefit programs.
The ICI has a nine-year history of working to improve the health care outcomes of enrolled dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid recipients and the Consumer Advisory Implementation Council has been instrumental in its success at providing consumer-centric care..
The ICI, a temporary demonstration program of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), is scheduled to end in Rhode Island at the end of December 2025. CMS is transitioning to a new healthcare program for this population - Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (called D-SNPs). A feature of the new integrated program is that long-term services and supports (LTSS) will be an in-plan benefit for all populations through a comprehensive Medicaid managed care plan with Managed LTSS (MLTSS). A procurement process took place for interested healthcare insurers to submit proposals and responses to the RFP’s are under review. The continued advocacy work of VBH will be critical for consumers during the transition to the new D-SNP program.
Provide research and information to members of legislature on issues and policies concerning older adults to help craft bills.
Provide testimony on legislation that would have positive impact on older adults, especially low-income and marginalized groups.
Monitor the state Integrated Care Initiative (ICS) as it is being sunsetted and development of new managed care program for duals (D-SNP) to ensure the consumer voice is heard in roll out of the new program.
Lead effort to advocate to address inequity in Medicaid eligibility for persons age 65 and over and older adults with disabilities.
Monitor the Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation Program (NEMT) and Elderly Transportation (ET) metrics on usage and complaint investigations and recommend needed system improvements or service expansion.
Advocate for adequate state funding for public transportation for older persons and persons with disabilities including the Free/Reduced bus programs.
Lead effort to expand the Temporary Caregiver Insurance program to assist family caregivers.
Promote and engage community members in advocacy activities.
Provide public education and advocacy training to support policy issues and legislation important to older adults.
For Questions or to learn more, contact us at info@senioragenda.org
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