What Do Older Adults Want from Integrated Care?

MEDICAL prescriptions; ATTITUDE (Psychology); CHANGE; CONTINUUM of care; DECISION making; FOCUS groups; HEALTH services accessibility; INSURANCE; INTEGRATED health care delivery; LONG-term health care; MEDICAID; MEDICAL needs assessment; MEDICARE; ORGANIZATIONAL change; PATIENTS; QUALITATIVE research; AMERICAN Association of Retired Persons; STANDARDS

State and federal policy makers are pushing for integrated care, so to bring consumers' perspectives into the policy dialog, experts from the AARP Public Policy Institute sponsored 10 focus groups of dual eligibles. Focus groups offer a rare-and real-glimpse into how people experience our fragmented long-term services and support and healthcare systems. Consumers are interested in and satisfied with care coordination; dissatisfied with access to prescriptions; confused by billing and Medicare/Medicaid benefits; and dislike juggling multiple insurance cards. They also have multiple concerns about long-term services and supports systems. This article proposes that in order to best serve this populace, it's key to listen to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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