CHICAGO — Aetna announced on Friday it has received approval to expand its existing Illinois Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) demonstration health plan (Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI) to serve the entire state.

The MMAI is a groundbreaking joint effort by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reform the way care is delivered to individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid services (“dual eligibles”). The MMAI demonstration project began providing coordinated care to dual eligible enrollees in the Chicagoland area and Central Illinois beginning March 2014.

The statewide expansion is the result of extensive planning initiated in 2019 by HFS in collaboration with CMS, health plans and community stakeholders. The MMAI integrated delivery system and payment model aims to improve the quality, coordination and cost-effectiveness of care for dual eligibles. Aetna’s approval to operate statewide comes after the company passed a readiness review and secured contracts with a robust network of providers to meet the Medicare and Medicaid service needs of dual eligible members. At this time, Aetna is the only health plan approved to operate the MMAI program across all Illinois counties.

“Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI is committed to supporting additional dual eligible customers across the state of Illinois through our MMAI product offering,” said Corey Taliaferro, executive director for the plan. “We consistently receive positive feedback from our dual eligible members who enjoy the convenience of having all of their Medicare and Medicaid benefits in one plan. They tell us having a designated care coordinator goes a long way in helping them to successfully meet their individual health care needs and goals.”

Customers eligible to enroll in MMAI in the expansion counties may opt-in beginning in June 2021. They can make an active selection for a July 1, 2021 effective date. The MMAI passive enrollment implementation for the statewide expansion will occur in phases for multiple cohorts. Enrollment materials for the first passive enrollment cohort will be mailed in June 2021 with a September 1, 2021 effective date. For more information, see MMAI Provider Notice.

Aetna was originally selected via a competitive procurement and has served as an MMAI health plan in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee and Will counties since the program’s inception. Aetna provides the full spectrum of Medicare and Medicaid covered services through an integrated care delivery system to seniors and adults (aged 21 and over) with disabilities who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Aetna welcomes current eligible Medicare Advantage and HealthChoice Medicaid members residing in expansion counties into the MMAI program where they can receive all covered services in one integrated health plan with care coordination. For more information, see Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI.