The federal agency created by the Affordable Care Act to facilitate better coordination of federal benefits for those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid has issued its annual report on its activities to Congress along with a number of recommendations for future policy changes.

cmsIn addition to reporting on its work over the past year, the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office recommended that Congress consider legislation to:

  • Create a pilot to expand the PACE program (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) to people between the ages of 21 and 55.
  • Ensure retroactive Medicare Part D coverage for newly eligible low-income beneficiaries.
  • Establish an integrated appeals process for dually eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) enrollees.
  • Allow for federal/state coordinated review of duals special need plan marketing materials.

The report also identified three areas the agency intends to explore further in the coming year:

  • Coverage standards for overlapping Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
  • Cost-sharing rules for qualified Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Quality measures and Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.

Because they serve so many low-income, dually eligible patients, private safety-net hospitals often have a considerable stake in this office’s efforts.

Find the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office’s complete report to Congress here.