New Report Analyzes MA Plan Growth in HCBS Offerings and Their Impact

​Why have benefits that help Medicare Advantage members remain in their homes experienced significant growth and adoption over the past 4 years despite the challenges of providing a human-powered service?
 
A new report released last week by ATI Advisory and the Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA), with support from the SCAN Foundation, examined this question, specifically focusing on the impact of in-home support services (IHSS), caregiver supports, and social needs benefits.

A Deep Dive on In-Home, Caregiver, and Social Supports in Medicare Advantage: Can These Benefits Meaningfully Meet Member Needs and Support Independence? found:

• After four years, 40 percent of MA plans offer either expanded primarily health-related benefits (EPHRB) or Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) today.
•  In-home support services (IHSS), caregiver supports, and social needs benefits have experienced significant growth. Between 2020 – 2023, the number of MA plans offering:
  • IHSS grew by 364 percent,
  • caregiver supports grew by 320 percent,
  • and social needs benefits grew by 1215 percent.
• Plans offer the benefits above because they perceive the benefits to be directly and particularly responsive to identified member needs and gaps in the care system.
• The benefits above are offered as part of a broader, flexible package of benefits to support individual needs and overall health.
• The primary benefits of the IHSS, caregiver supports, and social needs, for MA plans is that they address needs and promote member satisfaction and retention.

To read the full report, as well as recommendations for policy, plan, and stakeholder actions, click here.