State/Agency Information

This comprehensive web-based resource contains detailed information about how states have used public funds to pay a portion of the cost of employer-sponsored insurance for Medicaid and SCHIP enrollees. This website is designed to help states decide whether premium assistance is right for them and, if so, to assist them in thinking through design and implementation issues. It includes detailed sections on initial design considerations; costs; benefits and cost-sharing; and eligibility redesign.

Individuals with certain combinations of needs who enroll in both the state-administered Medicaid program and the federally-administered Medicare program are referred to as dual eligibles. Currently, they receive prescription drugs and most LTC benefits from Medicaid, while they are covered by Medicare for acute benefits. Because dual eligibles receive benefits from both programs, many care coordination challenges arise in delivering high-quality, cost effective, & comprehensive benefits.

Despite preference for community-based long-term care, spending & policy is biased toward institutional services. More flexible policies were passed in 1981, when coverage was extended to non-medical services for people who meet criteria. States still must obtain a waiver for community-based services, and the law requires that Medicaid programs provide institutional care. As a result, policymakers face challenges when creating balanced systems that offer access to quality service choices.

This November 2004 issue brief addresses how states can control costs of the Medicaid program, often the second largest item in state budgets, after education. Every state has taken cost containment actions, & all plan to take additional measures to constrain growth. Enrollment has increased as a result of declining household incomes and declining rates of employer-sponsored insurance. Other factors such as the aging of the population will continue to affect the whole health care system.

This November 2004 issue brief addresses the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP). The reimbursement percent is calculated according to a formula established in the Medicaid statute & based on the per capita income in each state. The fact that the FMAP is based on historical data is sometimes of concern to states. Additionally, the current system makes no specific provision for changes in the economy, leaving states confronted with increased costs when they can least afford them.

This November 2004 issue brief on Premium Assistance, a strategy in which a state uses public funds (e.g.,Medicaid dollars) to pay for a portion of the cost of private coverage (usually employer-sponsored insurance). Current use of premium assistance by states is minimal; only about one-third operate such programs, and recent reports indicate that enrollment in these programs is modest in most of these states. Nonetheless, state interest remains high due to the potential benefits.

The Wyoming Department of Health/Aging Division staff who oversee the Nursing Facility Transitions Grant, Dorothy Thomas & Marcia Harvey, who oversees the Ombudsman Program worked in partnership with Jan Stiles, Adult Protective Services/Department of Family Services to develop & implement a standardized Vulnerable Adult Abuse Awareness Kit. They contain a variety of materials to address Adult Abuse & were presented to agencies by trained individual & local Adult Protective Service workers.

Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. The single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies you can search for grants and register for email notification of opportunities . The US Department of Health and Human Services is proud to be the managing partner for this initiative that will have an unparalleled impact on the grant community.

Find a variety of outreach materials for New Jersey WorkAbility. Included are English and Spanish versions of brochures, fact sheets and frequently asked questions about the program.

The Community Development Society provides leadership to professionals and citizens across the spectrum of community development. Members have multiple opportunities to learn what's new in the profession, to exchange ideas, to obtain the most current research and reference information available and to share professional expertise. They offer a annual conference, publications, and listservs. The current issue of CD Practice focuses on Strategic Partnering: Partnering For Change.