Dina Digest: September 2023 Edition

This past month was an exciting one--we're pleased to report that Dina was included on Inc. Magazine 's Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies for the second year in a row! Speaking of “second,” this marks our second issue of the Dina Digest, our monthly roundup of industry news impacting health plans and providers on the journey to improve access to in-home care, LTSS, and supplemental benefits. Read on to see our top stories.

Read on to see our top stories??

Most Medicare Advantage Members Don’t Understand Their Plan

More than 30 million people are enrolled in a MA plan, accounting for 51% percent of the eligible #Medicare population, and $454 billion of total federal Medicare spending.?

Despite this growth, many #MedicareAdvantage beneficiaries don’t have a good grasp of what their health plan offers, a new Retirement Living survey shows.

Of the 351 beneficiaries surveyed, 44% said they fully understood their plan, 50% said they somewhat understood it, and 6% did not understand their plan at all.?

Complex details were the most commonly cited reason for confusion, followed by a lack of familiarity with plans and a lack of education and communication about benefits.?

In our latest blog post, we share insights on how MA plans can bridge the confusion gap and improve their members’ understanding of their plan.

?? Read article

Aging in Place: Home Modifications Can Enable Independence

As more people age in place, basic home modifications can help people reduce the risk of falls and stay home safely. Health plans have a role, too, to make sure they are focused on keeping people healthy at home, and that often means prevention.

Daniel Weinrieb at Jukebox Health said: “Benefits should be utilized proactively, not just after an event, like an avoidable fall in the home. If you look at the portion of the population that is right on the cusp of the high-need, high-cost disease state continuum, building benefits that are focused on that membership–home modification, meal delivery, transportation to appointments–is important and will make an immediate impact on people’s lives.”?

?? Read article

Despite Growth, D-SNP Retention is a Challenge

Navigating an increasingly fragmented care system can be challenging for many dual eligibles, making it essential to ensure their access to comprehensive benefits like dental, vision, and hearing services. However, this alone isn't enough.

The?2023 Dual Eligible Retention Study ?from Deft Research found that dual eligible members switch plans at about twice the rate of other MA beneficiaries. The study found that while duals “absolutely depend” on supplemental benefits such as dental care, grocery allowances and utility assistance, they also say these enhanced offerings can be a source of confusion or just prove difficult to use. ??

"To fully capitalize on this opportunity, health plans must leverage data systems and methods to effectively match the critical needs of dual eligibles with the available benefits. Moreover, they must equip members and providers with vital information on accessing services and provide assistance in coordinating the delivery of timely, high-quality care." - Mary Naylor , Director of the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing .

?? Read article

Report: Home Benefits Surge in Popularity Among MA Plans: Trends & Opportunities to Increase Member Satisfaction, Retention, and Stars

Be sure to check out our latest report, which covers the challenges and opportunities for MA plans, and how some innovative plans are meeting member demands for easier access to services. Get the report to find out about:

?? The Meteoric Rise of Medicare Advantage?

?? Supplemental Services: 3 Trends

?? How MA Plans Deliver on Supplemental Benefits

?? Navigating Challenges in a Tight Labor Market

?? What’s Next for MA Members?

??? Get the report

Delivering on the Promise of Supplemental Benefits

As care continues to move to the home and community, there is a clear opportunity for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to provide home-centered services that are attractive to new members.?check out what Dina CEO?Ashish V. Shah ?told?Becker’s Payers Issues ?will drive change in the payer space in the next decade. And, he recently appeared on the?Becker’s Healthcare podcast? to discuss how health plans can deliver on the promise of supplemental benefits.?

?? Listen to the episode

That's everything for this month. See you again in October! ??

Want to keep up with more content and news from Dina? Visit us at www.dinacare.com .