WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, introduced the Advancing Integration in Medicare and Medicaid (AIM) Act, along with Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.), the committee’s ranking member, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The AIM Act would require states to develop strategies to integrate and coordinate care for “dual eligibles,” people who receive both Medicare and Medicaid.

“Many states lack fully integrated care between Medicare and Medicaid, leaving dually eligible individuals with fragmented care and confusing bureaucracy. We can and must do better for this vulnerable population,” said Ranking Member Scott. “Our bill will help ensure these programs work together so that individuals in all states can access the health care they deserve.”

“So many older adults and people with disabilities face fragmented systems and roadblocks that prevent them from accessing the support they need,” said Chairman Casey. “My bipartisan legislation with Senator Scott would require states to develop a plan to address fragmentation in Medicare and Medicaid, the very programs which so many older adults and people with disabilities rely on for their mental health. We must make mental health care a priority and do more to ensure our Nation’s seniors and people with disabilities have meaningful access to all their health care needs.”

“Americans on both Medicare and Medicaid should not have worse health outcomes than other Americans. We need to do more to ensure these patients receive the high-quality care they need,” said Senator Cassidy.

The AIM Act would:

• Require states, in consultation with stakeholders, to develop a strategy for integrating and coordinating health benefits for dual eligibles;
• Include in the strategy the main integration approach, eligibility requirements, patient education and enrollment plan, patient choice protections, mental health benefit coordination, and data collection and measurement; and
• Have states submit the plan to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for review, approval, and continued evaluation over time.

Original source can be found here.