Long-Term Care

Explore this brief for information on the main trends to emerge from the latest Medicaid expenditures and participant data for the three main Medicaid HCBS programs: (1) optional 1915(c) HCBS waivers, (2) the mandatory home health benefit, and (3) the optional state plan personal care services benefit. It also presents 2009 findings on the policies used in these three programs, including eligibility criteria, provider, service and waiting list data.

A NORC, the widely used term short for Naturally Occurring Retirement Community is a community that was not originally built for seniors, but that now is home to a significant proportion of older residents. The American population is aging, and these communities will increase over the next 20 years. NORC programs are innovative models that coordinate a broad range of social and health care services to support the senior. The website provides FAQs, a toolbox and assistance with sustainability.

Review a summary of this Innovative Communities Summit held in Washington D.C. The report features case studies of how three communities in the United States are working together to improve care transitions and reduce avoidable hospitalizations. The report outlines steps the LTQA should take to encourage and promote the creation of comparable multi-sector innovative communities that would involve local providers as well as consumers and caregivers.

To date, the ACA has provided or offered $2.8 billion in funding to states. This includes funding for long-term care and health workforce needs. This report, released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, highlights the flexibility and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to improve health care benefits and protect consumers.

In July 2010, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured surveyed states about the current status of their Money Follows the Person (MFP) program including trends in enrollment, services and per capita spending. Explore the report for information on the findings regarding information on transitions back to the community, the average monthly cost of transitioning a MFP participant to the community, obstacles to transition, and more.

To learn more about long-term services and supports, the key characteristics of a high-performing system, and new options and incentives in the Affordable Care Act that can support cost-effective programs to help people with disabilities remain in their homes and communities, access this article. This paper outlines the five key characteristics of a high-performing system of long-term services and supports and describes an emerging “scorecard” that could help measure states’ progress.

The AoA, CMS, and VA National Grantee Meeting was February 14-17, 2011. Use the attached links to find presentations from the 2011 sessions, available in PDF. Topics range from home and community-based services, evidence based care transition models, person-centered planning, aging and disability partnerships, and supporting caregivers. Full titles are available in the keywords section.

Included in this new survey is data on residential care facilities and the characteristics of the people they serve. As such, the survey will supply providers, consumers, government agencies, and policymakers with data to plan for the long-term care of the United States population.

The limited research in the area of elder abuse suggests that the problem is widespread and largely unreported. Over the next several decades, the problem of elder abuse is expected to grow as the population of Americans age 65+ rapidly expands. This report provides both data on these issues as well as recommendations for future data collection and funding.

Most people who need long-term help would prefer to receive care in the community, rather than having to move to a nursing home. However, Medicaid, is structured to favor institutional care over home and community care. While community-based services can be cost effective in the long run, developing them requires a costly initial investment from states. Review the benefits of health reform that give states incentives to establish programs to expand home- and community-based services in Medicaid.