Nutrition services provided by community-based organizations have been shown to positively impact the physical, mental and social well-being of older adults and adults with disabilities. Increasingly, such services are being recognized as a key component of holistic client-centered care. For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed in its Contract Year 2020 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter to establish a new category of supplemental benefits. As such, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans would have the flexibility next year to provide non-medical health-related supplemental benefits (i.e., nutrition services) that can address social determinants of health. Senior nutrition programs are well-positioned to take advantage of this opportunity as many offer high-value congregate and home-delivered meals, nutrition education and nutrition counseling.
In celebration of National Nutrition Month, this two-part National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging (NRCNA) webinar will offer an update on recent changes in the Medicare policy landscape that will enable the provision of new medical and non-medical benefits to seniors. Join us to gain insights from the experiences of an innovative senior nutrition program contracted to offer a menu of nutrition services to local managed care plan recipients.
PART 1: THE EVOLVING HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION LANDSCAPE
Attendees of this webinar:
- Explored the recent trends in MA policy and how these changes represent an opportunity for senior nutrition programs;
- Examined opportunities to partner with MA and other managed care plans;
- Learned how rules around supplemental benefits in MA have changed and what that means for the provision of non-medical benefits; and
- Saw the value of community-based nutrition services for not only the client and your organization, but healthcare systems and payors, too.
Click here for Part 2: Launching An In-Home Medical Nutrition Therapy Program
PRESENTERS: Jennifer Raymond, Chief Strategy Officer and Director of the Healthy Living Center of Excellence at the Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, and James Michel, Director of Policy and Research at the Better Medicare Alliance
FACILITATOR: Ucheoma Akobundu, Director, NRCNA
Downloads and Webinar Recording:
Resources:
Reports from BMA:
Reports on ESMV:
- Partner Profile: Cross-Sector Partnership Success
- Communicating with Front-line Staff about Healthcare Partnerships (video)
Reports/resources from Meals on Wheels America:
- Effective Partnerships Between Healthcare and CBOs
- The Wheels for Meal Delivering Service in Medicare Advantage
Medical Nutrition Therapy resources: