14 Mar BPC Action Commends Bipartisan DUALS Act in Health
Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action) commends Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Tim Scott (R-SC) for their leadership in introducing the Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services (DUALS) Act of 2024. This legislation will aid states in establishing fully integrated care programs for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
For years, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has focused on promoting policies that increase access to fully integrated care for dually eligible beneficiaries and strengthen care coordination to support individuals with complex medical and nonmedical needs. This two-part approach aims to improve health outcomes while simultaneously reducing potentially avoidable health care expenditures.
BPC Action supports many of the reforms included in this bill, including:
- Improved access to fully integrated care models and enhanced consumer experience for dually eligible beneficiaries;
- Increased access to the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for Medicare-only beneficiaries and people under the age of 55;
- Improved information on models that integrate care for dually eligible beneficiaries, including outreach and education to promote beneficiary choice;
- Expanded Medicare expertise at state Medicaid agencies; and
- Bolstered accountability and transparency in broker enrollment processes.
It is critical that Congress capitalize on this opportunity as a starting point for further advancing and refining legislation that will improve access to high-value, integrated care for Americans nationwide. BPC Action stands ready to assist Congress in achieving this goal.
