GAO: Staff shortages, social factors barriers to treating high-cost Medicaid beneficiaries
Fierce Health Payers September 16, 2019
Social determinants of health such as a lack of stable transportation or housing are making it difficult for states and managed care organizations to treat the most expensive Medicaid beneficiaries, a federal watchdog found.
A report released Monday from the Government Accountability Office found that states are turning to managed care to contain costs for high-expenditure Medicaid beneficiaries, but face roadblocks with social determinants of health. The report comes as managed care plans have called for the federal government to do more to help plans and states combat such factors.
GAO did the report at Congress’ request to explore the best way to handle high-cost beneficiaries. A previous GAO report found that from 2009 to 2011 the most expensive 5%...