Individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid are at greater risk for severe COVID-19 infection and resulting hospitalizations, and are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes from the disease. Dually eligible individuals with disability face even greater health care challenges that are exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. Such challenges include increased rates of chronic conditions associated with negative outcomes from COVID-19, social and behavioral health challenges, as well as increased barriers to technology, internet, and private transportation. Dually eligible individuals with disability are also more likely to have long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs, which may require at-home personal care services or nursing facility care, thus increasing their risk of exposure to COVID-19.2 Health plans and providers play an important role in promoting disability-competent care (DCC) to respond to and address the unique challenges amplified by this public health crisis.
This webinar will begin with an overview of Resources for Integrated Care’s Disability Competent Care model, followed by two health plans sharing promising practices and innovative strategies for addressing the unique needs of dually eligible individuals with disability during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Finally, a consumer will share firsthand experiences and recommendations on providing care to individuals with disability during COVID-19. By the end of this webinar, participants should be able to:
• Define the disability-competent care (DCC) model and recognize its core values and supporting functional area pillars
• Recognize the unique challenges and risks that individuals with disability face during the COVID-19 public health emergency
• Describe the effects of social isolation and interventions to promote connectedness
• Describe strategies for identifying, monitoring, and addressing caregiver and care partner availability and back-up as needed
• Identify strategies for increasing access to in-person and virtual health and social services to accommodate the diverse needs of individuals with disability, including telehealth considerations