The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) authorized the development of several new types of health plans for the elderly. The new Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are of particular relevance to the disabled elderly population. MMA allowed for three types of Special Need Plans, one aimed at residents of SNFs, a second aimed at dual Medicare and Medicaid eligible individuals, and a third aimed at patients with one or more chronic disease problems. To date, most SNPs have targeted the dually eligible but all three could be relevant to health centers serving the disabled elderly. These new types of plans,.
