CMS is accepting state proposals for its Medicaid Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases Program, a component of healthcare reform that is offering states $100 million to reward Medicaid recipients who quit smoking or lose weight, according to a Kaiser Health News report.
Federal guidelines will provide a basic profile of these incentives while states will still have some flexibility in their design. States are encouraged to tier rewards in three stages: attempts at participation, actual behavior change or achievement of health goals.
Behavioral incentive programs are largely untested with Medicaid populations, and research on such programs has been inconclusive. Key questions include how large incentives have to be, how long participants can maintain the change in behavior and how incentive programs should be adjusted to address certain populations.
Read the Kaiser Health News report on Medicaid's new incentive program.
Read more about healthcare reform programs:
- 8 Key Provisions of Healthcare Reform Taking Effect in 2011
Federal guidelines will provide a basic profile of these incentives while states will still have some flexibility in their design. States are encouraged to tier rewards in three stages: attempts at participation, actual behavior change or achievement of health goals.
Behavioral incentive programs are largely untested with Medicaid populations, and research on such programs has been inconclusive. Key questions include how large incentives have to be, how long participants can maintain the change in behavior and how incentive programs should be adjusted to address certain populations.
Read the Kaiser Health News report on Medicaid's new incentive program.
Read more about healthcare reform programs:
- 8 Key Provisions of Healthcare Reform Taking Effect in 2011