New York's Managed Long-Term Care Plans Demonstrate High-Quality Performance
Annual Report Shows High Marks in Consumer Satisfaction and Quality of Life Measures
ALBANY, N.Y. (January 25, 2013) – A new report issued by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) shows that managed long-term care (MLTC) plans in New York are providing high-quality services to consumers and helping them maintain or improve critical abilities associated with daily living.
MLTC plans provide long-term care services such as home care and adult day care to people who are chronically ill or have disabilities. This allows individuals to stay in their homes and communities as long as possible. An MLTC plan arranges and pays for a wide array of long-term care health and social services, including nursing home services when the enrollee is no longer able to stay in his/her home. More than 70,000 New Yorkers are currently enrolled in MLTC plans.
"As the Department moves forward in implementing Governor Cuomo's vision to redesign New York's Medicaid program, these results underscore the benefits of transferring certain populations into long-term managed care plans," said Commissioner Shah.
The Managed Long-Term Care Report (MLTC Report) includes: enrollees' experience as reported in a 2011 satisfaction survey; quality of life and care information, based on the January 2012 submission of semi-annual assessment of enrollees' functional and cognitive status; and quality performance over time (based on changes seen in assessments between 2010 and 2011). General information about the counties and populations served by individual plans is also included.
The MLTC Report shows that 90 percent of statewide enrollees' overall functional ability (Activities of Daily Living Composite, e.g. bathing, dressing, ambulatory ability) was stable or improved over the follow-up period. In addition, the report found:
- 87 percent of enrollees were stable or showed improvement in the ability to independently manage their oral medication;
- 72 percent of enrollees statewide received the influenza vaccination in the past year;
- 85 percent of those in MLTC plans rate the plan good or excellent; and
- 91 percent would recommend their MLTC plan to others.
Under Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) initiative adopted in 2010, dual eligible enrollees (those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare) over the age of 21 who are receiving 120 days of community-based long-term care services are required to enroll in a MLTC plan. This transition began in specific regions of New York City in spring 2012 and will be phased-in to cover enrollees in all areas of the state by summer 2014.
Since 2004, the number of enrollees in MLTC plans in New York has increased from 10,000 to more than 70,000. The number of registered MLTC plans has more than doubled from 16 to 38.
The MLTC Report and related consumer guides and reports are available on the DOH web site at: http://www. health.ny.gov/health_care/managed_care/mltc.
