Our Work
Advancing Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits in Medicare Advantage
First available in 2019 and 2020, Medicare Advantage (MA) non-medical supplemental benefits provide an unprecedented opportunity to deliver valuable non-medical services to Medicare beneficiaries to maintain or improve their health. ATI Advisory and the Long-Term Quality Alliance, with support from The SCAN Foundation, have developed a set of resources for plans, providers, and policymakers to advance the availability and implementation of these benefits and the Guiding Principles in practice. Learn more below.
NEW 2021 Research
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have faced an extraordinary year in healthcare amidst the continued Public Health Emergency. Despite these challenges, the sustained increase in the number of plans offering SSBCI and other new, non-medical supplemental benefits illustrates how plans value these authorities and remain committed to offering benefits of value to Medicare beneficiaries.
Building off of research and insights gathered from our 2020 Research (see below), for 2021, we interviewed more than 30 MA plans, providers, and beneficiary advocates to assess whether they have made progress planning, implementing, and delivering these new benefits, as well as what roadblocks remain.
While we have observed improvement on many fronts in the delivery of these benefits, there is substantial room for improvement in raising awareness and use of benefits and in assessing the impact of benefits offered. This work provides the latest research on the landscape of these benefits and the current state of SSBCI and other new, non-medical supplemental benefits in MA.
Resources:
- Read the Report, “Delivering on the Promise of the CHRONIC Care Act: Progress in Implementing Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits”
- Executive Summary
Additional:
- More information about the SSBCI Leadership Circle
- Report Launch Event Slides (November 16, 2021)
- Recording of Report Launch Event (November 16, 2021)
2020 Research (Released November 2020)
We interviewed over 20 MA plans and providers to get their take on the business opportunities, roadblocks, and strategies to overcome these roadblocks, associated with providing new, non-medical benefits.
Resources:
NEW 2021 Research
The past few years have provided Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) with the opportunity to experiment with unprecedented flexibility to address the non-medical needs of their enrollees. MAOs are increasingly embracing this flexibility and leveraging it to provide care to their members that meets individual need, which has been especially valuable during the continued public health emergency.
Building off of research and insights gathered from our 2020 Research (see below), we interviewed more than 30 Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, providers, and beneficiary advocates to assess whether they have made progress planning, implementing, and delivering these new benefits, as well as what roadblocks remain, including those with potential policy solutions.
There are a number of administrative changes that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) can undertake in the short-term to move the needle on these benefits, particularly in the areas of eligibility, marketing and education, and building the evidence base. The recommendations outlined in this Policy Brief have the potential to improve uptake and access to these benefits in the upcoming plan year as well as to lay the groundwork for longer-term policy changes.
Resources:
- Read the Report, “Delivering on the Promise of the CHRONIC Care Act: Policy Recommendations for the Administration to Advance Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits”
- Two-Pager of Policy Recommendations
Additional:
- More information about the SSBCI Leadership Circle
- Report Launch Event Slides (November 16, 2021)
- Recording of Report Launch Event (November 16, 2021)
2020 Research (Released November 2020)
Resources:
Data Insights
- Data Insight: Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill in Plan Year 2021
- Data Insight: New Primarily Health-Related Benefits in 2021 Medicare Advantage Plans
- Data Insight: Meeting Medicare Beneficiary Needs During COVID-19: Using Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits to Respond to the Pandemic
Chartbooks
- NEW: Chartbook: 2022 New, Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits
- Chartbook: 2021 Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill
- Chartbook: 2021 Expanded Primarily-Health Related Benefits
- Chartbook: 2020 SSBCI and New Primarily-Health Related Benefits
Articles and Blogs
- Article in ASA Generations: Medicare Advantage: A Pathway to Offer Innovative, Non-Medical Benefits
- Blog in the Better Care Playbook (Part 1): Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill: An Opportunity to Provide Comprehensive Supports for Medicare Beneficiaries with Complex Needs
- Blog in the Better Care Playbook (Part 2): A Roadmap for Health Plans to Provide Special Supplemental Benefits to Medicare Advantage Members
- Blog in the Better Care Playbook: Medicare Advantage Plans have a Unique Opportunity to Provide Needed Non-Medical, Health-Related Services During COVID-19
Other Resources
- Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits FAQ
- LTQA Webinar (Part 1) Recording: Advancing Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits in Medicare Advantage
- LTQA Webinar and Panel (Part 2) Recording: Advancing Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits in Medicare Advantage
- Insights from the Roadmap Report with ATI’s Allison Rizer and Tyler Overstreet Cromer
- Insights from the Policy Brief with ATI’s Tyler Overstreet Cromer and LTQA’s Mary Kaschak
Guiding Principles and Background
