I/DD Duals Innovation Cohort Project Description (2024-2025)
NASDDDS members support a significant number of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, often as a result of the individual’s parent’s Social Security status and their own eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Data from the 2018 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission indicate that approximately 8% of individuals that are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid under the age of 65 have an intellectual disability or related condition.
Thanks to the generous support of Arnold Ventures, NASDDDS undertook a multi-phased project from June 2024/June 2025 to ascertain and elevate strong practices to support individuals with I/DD who are dually eligible in the transition to dual eligibility and beyond with the aim of improving care coordination and health care access while optimizing both programs for the advantage of individuals served.
I/DD Duals Innovation Cohort
The I/DD Duals Innovation Cohort offered a twelve-month TA initiative to competitively selected I/DD programs in Delaware, Louisianna, Missouri and Washington to design an implementation strategy to assure that individuals with I/DD who are dually eligible are appropriately identified and supported to receive Medicare- and Medicaid-funded benefits to the maximum extent possible. This was achieved through a combination of didactic education, group discussion, onsite and remote TA, and strategic plan development.
States received information and training material development to ensure state staff, supports coordinators, and direct support professionals understand how Medicare and Medicaid programs can be complementary, as well as support the education and guidance of individuals and families to navigate dual eligibility enrollment and ongoing benefits management. NASDDDS led an exciting opportunity for state I/DD agencies to receive training and education on supporting optimal coordination of services for individuals with I/DD who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
The work of the TA cohort set the stage for policy and program refinement through the development of a NASDDDS IDD Dual Eligibility Toolkit.
Dual Eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare: Technical Assistance Showcase
This project is supported by Arnold Ventures. Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy committed to improving the lives of American families, strengthening their communities, and promoting their economic opportunity by investing in research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems. Founded in 2010 by Laura and John Arnold as part of their Giving Pledge commitment to contribute their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetimes, the philanthropy’s focus areas include higher education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change.
Training Series Recordings
Training Series Introduction (Part ONE): Dual Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid for People with I/DD-Intro to Dual Eligibility
Slide Deck Link
Training Series Part TWO: Dual Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid for People with I/DD- Medicare Basics
Slide Deck Link
Session Transcript can be found at THIS LINK.
Training Series Part THREE: Dual Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid for People with I/DD-Strategies Used by State Systems To Improve Care
Slide Deck Link
Session Transcript can be found at THIS LINK.
Training Series Part FOUR: Dual Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid for People with I/DD-Strategies To Support Individuals and Families
Slide Deck Link
Session Transcript can be found at THIS LINK.