In 2014 and 2015, MACPAC conducted focus groups in Boston, Massachusetts and Worcester, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio and Cincinnati, Ohio; and San Diego, California and San Mateo, California, to gain insight into beneficiaries’ early experiences with the Financial Alignment Initiative demonstrations. We asked about participants’ views of the enrollment process; their knowledge of the program; communication issues; and if they saw an improvement in care coordination and access to services since joining their new plans. The 55 participants ranged in age from 33 to 89 years old, and included people with significant disabilities. PerryUndem Research/Communications was the contractor for this project.
The Financial Alignment Initiative is a three-year demonstration project of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services designed to allow states to test models of integrated care that have the potential to improve quality and reduce costs for beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.