Aging/Older Adults

On Monday, CMS published an Informational Bulletin describing ways for states to help eligible individuals enroll in the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), making health care more accessible and affordable. The MSPs cover Medicare Part A and B premiums and cost sharing for individuals with low income. In 2021, over 10 million individuals were enrolled in an MSP.

The Age+Action 2022 Virtual Conference Call for Presentations is now open. This national event brings together hundreds of professionals who are dedicated to ensuring that every person has the resources to age well. The agenda will highlight populations that face barriers to aging well and rally attendees around proven ways to improve the lives of older adults in their communities.

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center released the report of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Transportation Survey, which documents the needs and experiences of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers from historically marginalized and underserved communities.

This report analyzes the health care access, health-related behaviors, and health conditions among older adults living in rural areas. The report reveals health disparities among rural older adults who are members of racial and ethnic minorities. The report also reveals disparities in prevalence of serious health conditions and health care access between urban and rural older adults.

The 21st annual Medicaid Budget Survey results were released this week. The survey produces information on Medicaid spending, enrollment and policy, with a special focus this year on COVID-19 policies. Two reports were released: “States Respond to COVID-19 Challenges but Also Take Advantage of New Opportunities to Address Long-Standing Issues: Results from a 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022” and “Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2021 & 2022”.

St. Cloud State University is seeking survey responses from individuals working in aging services. The university is seeking perspectives from organizations working with or considering working with gerontology and geriatric interns. These responses will help to design policies, procedures, and opportunities to better meet the needs and interests of aging services.

This report explores the role played by managed care organizations delivering Medicaid long term services and support programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report looks at the roles and responsibilities of governments, nursing homes, and MLTSS plans and argues their role in the pandemic response as well as the role of federal funding and data use, should all be examined further to inform future policy.

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL has funded 81 new grants and contract awards in fiscal year 2021, ranging from six-months long Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects building new technology to five-year centers conducting research and training in rehabilitation interventions.

The study examined self-reported data from over 10,200 Medicaid HCBS beneficiaries across 13 states using the NCI-AD survey. Unmet needs for Medicaid HCBS were consistently and significantly associated with poor health outcomes (emergency department visits, hospital stays, and preventative care) and community living outcomes (community participation, relationships with family and friends, satisfaction with how time is spent during the day, and sense of control in life.

On Thursday, October 21, 2021 CMS launched a new “one-stop shop” for state Medicaid agencies and stakeholders on Medicaid.gov to advance transparency and innovation for home and community-based services. Through this new webpage, state Medicaid agencies and stakeholders can access information about states’ plans to enhance, expand, and strengthen home and community-based services across the country using new Medicaid funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).