PRESS RELEASE | March 14, 2024
“A true win” LeadingAge Statement on DUALS Act of 2024
Home » “A true win” LeadingAge Statement on DUALS Act of 2024
Contact: Lisa Sanders
lsanders@leadingage.org 202-508-9407
Much needed, long overdue legislation streamlines access to Medicare and Medicaid services for people eligible for both, ensuring older adults’ access to integrated care
March 14, 2024 Washington, DC – Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, on the Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services (DUALS) Act of 2024, introduced today by Senators Cassidy, Carper, Cornyn, Warner, Scott and Menendez:
“The DUALS Act of 2024 addresses some of the challenges and opportunities facing America as our population ages. For too many older adults, particularly those with low incomes and multiple, chronic health conditions, accessing care and services through Medicare and Medicaid is a fraught endeavor that ends in frustration and – worse yet – inadequate results. This legislation is a start at redesigning our current patchwork approach of delivering long-term services and supports. It incorporates many elements we proposed back in 2017 to ensure that dual eligibles can access the supports they need – including the creation of comprehensive care plans and interdisciplinary care teams and a single pooled payment – and more. This is a true win, and we applaud Senators Cassidy, Carper, Cornyn, Warner, Scott and Menendez for their far-sighted, fulsome support of this bill. More than 12 million low-income or disabled people in the U.S. who currently qualify as dual eligibles will benefit today – and many more will follow, as our country’s massive population shift continues.”
RESOURCES:
March 14 letter of support to Senators Cassidy, Cornyn, Scott, Carper, Menendez, Warner
Integrated Service Delivery: A LeadingAge Vision for America’s Aging Population white paper
About LeadingAge:
We represent more than 5,400 nonprofit and mission-driven aging services providers and other organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 36 partners in 41 states, we use advocacy, education, applied research, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership encompasses the entire continuum of aging services, including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, affordable housing, retirement communities, adult day programs, community-based services, hospice, and home-based care. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.
