New RIC Resources on Engaging Members in Plan Governance

Engaging members and caregivers in designing, participating in, and assessing care systems, helps health plans understand and address member concerns and barriers to high-quality, coordinated care. One of the ways health plans can engage with members dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid is by including them in plan governance, such as establishing member advisory committees and recruiting members to governing boards. Resources for Integrated Care (RIC) invites you to explore three new resources related to engaging members in plan governance. These resources are based on feedback from participants in the 2020 Resources for Integrated Care Community of Practice. Engaging Members in Plan Governance During COVID-19: Tips for Health Plans Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for physical distancing, health plans face new challenges to effective member engagement. This tip sheet highlights promising practices during COVID-19 for health plans serving dually eligible individuals. It provides tips for engaging current member advisors, tips for engaging new member advisors, and key recruitment approaches during COVID-19. Encouraging Member Participation in Governance: Spotlight on Innovative Stipends and Incentives Many health plans serving dually eligible individuals support and encourage member participation with stipends or incentives. This Spotlight highlights innovative approaches to stipends and incentives implemented by UCare and SCAN Health Plan. It shares UCare’s approach to providing culturally relevant and specific incentives to support diverse representation. The Spotlight also highlights SCAN Health Plan’s approaches to engaging, consulting, and compensating community partners and stakeholders in their Community-Based Organization Advisory Committee. Recruiting, Refreshing, and Retaining Council Membership: Tips for Health Plans Member advisory committee management is an on-going effort for health plans. While committee feedback benefits from the consistent participation of seasoned members, committee membership may change as members complete their terms or experience life changes that make participation more difficult, or as plans seek to engage new voices and diverse member perspectives. This tip sheet highlights strategies plans may use to recruit new advisory council members and refresh council membership, as well as promising practices for retaining member advisors. RIC provides technical assistance and tools for providers of beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. RIC is supported supported by the CMS Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office. Please contact RIC@lewin.com with any questions.