Shared savings math doesn’t add up, CCIP plans could undermine Medicaid

A new brief outlines the risk to taxpayers from Medicaid shared savings increasing health costs, as SIM is pressing. About half of Medicare ACOs spent more money on health care for members under shared savings last year. If Connecticut’s ACOs perform in Medicaid shared savings as they did for Medicare, CT taxpayers could lose as much as $100 million in higher health care costs.

Concerns have been raised by MAPOC Care Management Committee members about SIM’s plans for their Community and Clinical Integration Program (CCIP). Just some of the concerns include undermining patient-centered primary care teams, duplicating services and no budget or identified funding source. Advocates have urged DSS not to fund CCIP from Medicaid funds, which are already stretched by provider rate cuts and cutting 20,000 HUSKY parents from eligibility. Advocates have urged Medicaid to make CCIP participation optional for ACOs in the first wave of enrollment, allowing time for evaluation and finding a sustainable funding source.

Advocates have raised concerns about SIM’s rush to move Medicaid into shared savings and have called for a delay to allow thoughtful consideration, and to avoid costly past mistakes.