The Duel for Duals

There have been dynamic shifts in the Medicaid and Medicare space this year. From the impact of Medicaid expansion on hospitals to the rise in disenrollment rates, especially among children, as pandemic-era coverage ?unwinds?, the Medicare landscape has experienced a whirlwind of changes. Following the declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency in January 2020, the government invested $4.4 trillion and implemented more than 200 regulatory waivers to expand coverage and increase access. More than three years later, it is now phasing out a significant chunk of the funding and regulatory support that once provided flexibility in testing, coverage and access. What does this mean for the general public as they navigate the competitive landscape for dual eligibles and Medicaid-focused value-based payments? Will these federal programs achieve what they intended out to do? provide equitable, affordable access to high quality healthcare or is it all just a contest for dual dollar signs?