Looking to control costs, reduce administrative barriers, and improve quality of care, a number of states are piloting innovative managed care models for their 'dual eligible' populations—low-income elderly or disabled adults enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. Under a federal grant program, states have a unique opportunity to test ways of integrating acute care, behavioral and mental health services, and long-term services for these vulnerable beneficiaries. A new Commonwealth Fund issue brief explores one of the central challenges these states face: choosing measures that accurately track changes in quality over time.
