SNP Alliance Applauds Senate's Historic Vote Advancing Specialty Care for Vulnerable Seniors

WASHINGTON, DC, Jul 10 (MARKET WIRE) --
The SNP Alliance, a Washington, DC-based leadership health policy group
for Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs), scored a major and long-fought
victory yesterday when the Senate passed a Medicare bill that among other
provisions would lift the current moratorium and advance the ongoing
development of SNPs, if the bill becomes law.

The legislation, which passed the House earlier and now the Senate with
veto-proof margins, would refine SNP requirements to strengthen their
focus on high-risk beneficiaries and enhance specialty care approaches and
interventions in relation to the specific health needs of the targeted
population.

The SNP Alliance applauds yesterday's vote. "The bill will advance the
long-term viability of Special Needs Plans and pave the way for the
replication of these important models of care for the neediest Medicare
beneficiaries," explains Rich Bringewatt, chair of The SNP Alliance. "By
enhancing SNP targeting and specialization requirements, Congress was able
to reauthorize this critical program and lift the moratorium that was
jeopardizing the financial viability of this program. We are very grateful
to Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Congressmen Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Pete
Stark (D-CA) and other House and Senate leaders that have worked to
protect and advance Medicare beneficiaries' access to specialty care."

SNPs are required to limit enrollment to beneficiaries with special needs.
If enacted, HR 6331 would:

-- Stabilize and reauthorize SNPs through 2010
-- Strengthen targeting of high-risk beneficiaries and specialty models
of care
-- Ensure better coordination of Medicare and Medicaid for dually
eligible beneficiaries

"We still have a ways to go to improve care for frail, disabled,
chronically ill beneficiaries, but this legislation provides a critical
next step toward high-quality, efficient care for Medicare's most costly
and vulnerable populations," notes Dr. Lora Wiggins, chief medical
officer for Care Wisconsin, a dual SNP in Madison, Wisconsin.

While SNPs are Medicare Advantage programs, they hold great promise as a
platform for better coordinating Medicare and Medicaid benefits and
services for dually eligible beneficiaries. Pamela Parker, manager of
Special Needs Purchasing at the Minnesota Department of Human Services,
hailed passage of HR 6331, indicating that "the SNP moratorium has been a
serious barrier to alignment of Medicare and Medicaid purchasing
arrangements" and that "lifting the moratorium is critical to preserving
our investment in these coordinated care models."

While the White House indicates the President intends to veto the bill,
Senate Majority Leader Reid expressed skepticism about such a veto since
"the writing is on the wall," as to the outcome.

About The SNP Alliance

The SNP Alliance is a leadership organization for SNPs that includes all
SNP models and legacy demonstrations that laid the foundation for
specialty care. Members are committed to keeping the bar high for SNPs by
targeting high-risk beneficiaries, promoting innovation in high-risk care
and committing to SNP Alliance quality standards. www.nhpg.org

Press Contact:
Karen Seidman
Seidman Says Communications
(202) 364-8134
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