Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is expected to introduce draft legislation that includes new requirements for Medicare Advantage plans that cater to special populations.

Special needs plans (SNPs) are geared to beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, are institutionalized, or have severe or disabling chronic conditions. The legislation would make sure that these plans are targeting the appropriate population groups and that SNPs differ from regular MA plans. The proposal was outlined during an Annual SNP Leadership Forum held by the National Health Policy Group.

Some points under consideration: The legislation likely would allow only for enrollment of actually institutionalized beneficiaries, not those who are simply nursing home eligible. Also, the measure, which would reauthorize SNPs through 2011 — after the current authority expires at the end of 2008, would call for a variety of quality measures to be applied to the plans. Congress hopes to take action on a Medicare package, which would include SNPs, by Dec. 21.