I am deeply concerned about the changes CMS is making that affect the dually enrolled Medicaid/Medicare members. I have had the opportunity to discuss this with attorneys including meetings with Justice in Aging. Yesterday Justice in Aging put out a policy brief on the issue. They address several important issues. Their policy brief is HERE. One issue of importance for Arizona is Medicaid lock in time frames. In Arizona, the only time you can change your Medicaid plan is during your specific enrollment month which is the month you were enrolled in Medicaid. Many members do not know their enrollment month so making a change is challenging in the best of times. However, those who are EPD (Arizona Long Term Care) were only allowed to change their plan this last month. I submitted a request to AHCCCS in June requesting an open enrollment that matches the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare. This is crucial so that members can pick the best dual plan for their needs. The Medicaid and Medicare plans can vary, and members deserve choice, just like all Medicare beneficiaries. AHCCCS responded that they would further look at the issue. I have not heard back from AHCCCS. I am currently working with Arizona attorneys to request an open enrollment for all Medicaid members during AEP (Annual Enrollment Period). Beneficiaries should have a simple well-defined time to change their plans. AHCCCS believes all the plans are the same but that is simply not true. Just a carrier has different networks and internal procedures. Those who are dually eligible deserve the same choice as all other Medicare beneficiaries. As we say in the disability community, “nothing about us without us.”