Ohio Medicare-Medicaid 'dual eligible' pilot plan gets OK from feds

The federal Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that Ohio has been approved to undertake a pilot project to better coordinate care for 114,000 Ohioans who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (Source: "State gets OK to alter Medicare, Medicaid," Columbus Dispatch, Dec. 13, 2012).

Ohio's plan calls for the creation of an “Integrated Care Delivery System” to manage benefits and care for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The care includes long-term care, behavioral- and physical-health services such as doctor’s visits, prescription drugs and home-care services. 

Ohio is the third state behind Massachusetts and Washington to win approval to undertake a plan aimed at improving care for so-called "dual eligibles."

“This agreement puts Ohio at the cutting edge of care coordination in the country,” Gov. John Kasich said in a statement. “Better care coordination across the state means healthier Ohioans, and it will also help in driving down costs in the long run.”