About the NCCC:
MSHO Technical and Educational Assistance Program

A Dually Eligible Demonstration: Minnesota Senior Health Options

Minnesota is well known for its innovative efforts to provide an array of chronic care services to vulnerable populations. It comes as no surprise, then, that the NCCC and the State of Minnesota have teamed up to improve the ways chronic care services are delivered to older Minnesotans. This new model of care provision is benefiting Minnesotans and providing valuable information for other states seeking to develop similar programs.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has developed Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO), which combines Medicare and Medicaid financing and acute and long-term care delivery systems. This demonstration facilitates the integration of primary, acute, and long-term care services for people ages 65 and older who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Minnesota has received federal Medicare 222 and Medicaid 1115 waivers from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to put this demonstration into practice. The waivers allow the State of Minnesota to combine the purchase of both Medicare and Medicaid services into one contract managed by the state. Minnesota is the first state ever to be granted such a combination of waivers. This demonstration will be implemented in the seven-country metropolitan area for a five-year period.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), which supported the planning stages for this demonstration, has provided a grant to cover the initial administration and implementation of the demonstration.

MSHO Contact at State of Minnesota:

Pam Parker, M.P.A.
Director, Minnesota Senior Health Options
State of Minnesota, Department of Human Services
444 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-3854
(651) 296-2140
Fax (651) 297-3230
pam.parker@state.mn.us

NCCC's Involvement in MSHO

The NCCC is working under a contractual agreement with the State of Minnesota to provide technical assistance, best practice tools, and resources to health plans and provider systems in support of MSHO. Specifically, the NCCC develops and implements the MSHO Technical and Educational Assistance Program (TEAP), under the oversight of State of Minnesota staff.

The focus of TEAP activities is on educational activities for clinical integration, care management, and coordination of services across providers and care systems. The NCCC works with the Department of Human Services and MSHO plans, practitioners, and providers to offer resources such as educational forums and discussion groups, issue briefs on relevant topics, and telephone assistance.

View list of MSHO Products to Download