Good health is important to everyone, but with skyrocketing medical costs and a slumping economy now is harder than ever to pay for good quality Health Care. If you can't afford to pay for medical care right now, Medicaid can help provide the resources necessary to ensure you and your family have a long and healthy life
Medicaid is a state run program for low-income individuals and families. Many groups of people can gain access to Medicaid as long as they meet certain requirements set forth by their State's Medicaid administration. Medicaid requirements can include age, whether or not you are pregnant, disabled, your financial standing or if you are a US citizen.
Improved Special Needs From Medicaid By 2013
September 22, 2011
Over the next few years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be developing effective strategies to improve the quality of the Special Needs Plans (SNP’s). By 2013, private Medicare plans for high-cost patients who belong to low-income households must enter into contracts with states.
The Medicare Special Needs Plans aims to provide healthcare coverage to institutionalized, severely ill patients who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Last August 26, CMS Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum said, “Under these rules, SNP’s must develop a model of care that ensures your health care needs are assessed, a plan of care is developed specifically for you, and a team of health care providers manages your care. SNP’s must also have a quality improvement program that measures whether the care being provided is actually making you healthier.”
The CMS will be requiring all SNP providers to submit their proposals to improve their services for approval by the National Committee on Quality Assurance starting next year.
Among the changes being proposed are the following:
- Part D late enrollment penalties for low-income patients will no longer apply
- Delayed Medicare drug plan enrollees will pay higher premiums
- Medicare agencies will no longer charge late fees to those eligible for additional government subsidies.
“Under these rules, SNP’s must develop a model of care that ensures your health care needs are assessed, a plan of care is developed specifically for you, and a team of health care providers manages your care,” said Blum.