Aging/Older Adults

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is inviting input on its proposed updates to the regulations governing the Older Americans Act (OAA) program. The proposed rule addresses various emerging issues and seeks to provide clarity on requirements for programs authorized under Titles III (grants to state and community programs on aging), VI (grants to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian grantees for supportive, nutrition, and caregiver services), and VII (allotments for vulnerable elder rights protection activities) of the OAA. By enhancing support for the national aging services network, the aim of these proposed updates is to improve program implementation and better serve older adults.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced actions to improve enrollment in the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program, also known as the Low-Income Subsidy. The Extra Help program provides eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities with help paying for their Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums and cost-sharing. Up to three million older adults and individuals with disabilities are eligible for the Extra Help program but are not enrolled. Actions to increase uptake of the program include targeted efforts to reach those eligible for the program, including individuals living in rural and underserved communities...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a set of resources aimed at supporting state Medicaid and partner agencies in designing and delivering supports and services to meet the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as their aging parents and caregivers. These resources cover a variety of topics, including strategies for how state Medicaid agencies can anticipate the needs of adults with I/DD, ways states can design and implement person-centered planning to support adults with I/DD, and state policies and practices to support aging caregivers of adults with I/DD.

AARP has released a fact sheet that explores the topic of medication management for older adults, highlighting the challenges they face and the available programs and interventions. This resource emphasizes the importance of effective medication management in preventing adverse events and improving health outcomes for older adults. The fact sheet explores formal medication management programs, such as Medication Therapy Management (MTM) in Medicare and Medicaid, while emphasizing the essential skills required for older adults to effectively manage their medication.

The United Health Foundation recently released the 2023 Senior Report, an annual review of the health of the nation’s older adults and a critical tool to help guide individuals, community leaders, and policymakers to make decisions that are informed by reliable data. The report highlights successes and challenges older adults face in a broad range of health measures to help provide a portrait of the health and well-being of older adults throughout the United States. To accomplish this, the 2023 Senior Report collects data on many health measures, including race/ethnicity, gender, rural/urban geography, income, education, and more.

Arnold Ventures has introduced a new project titled "Melissa & Ann: Navigating America's Tangled Health Care Safety Net," a compelling photo essay featuring the lives of two women living in Southern California who are dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Through the lens of award-winning photographer Isadora Kosofsky, this project sheds light on the daily triumphs, challenges, and complexities faced by older adults and people with disabilities navigating the health care system. By sharing these intimate stories, Arnold Ventures aims to inspire policymakers to prioritize improving care for the diverse population of low-income older adults and people with disabilities who are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

Join the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in celebrating May as Older Americans Month, a time to recognize the contributions of older adults and promote support for aging Americans. This year's theme, Aging Unbound, encourages communities to challenge stereotypes and promote flexible thinking about aging. Visit the ACL's website to learn more about Older Americans Month and how you can participate in promoting support for aging Americans.

This issue brief was published by Justice in Aging, as a part of its four part series “Risks and Rewards of Demographic Data Collection: How Effective Data Privacy Can Promote Health Equity.” This brief highlights the privacy concerns faced by individuals who are enrolled in Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) or other models that coordinate care across programs, and discusses best practices that plans can put in place to strengthen protections for these vulnerable populations.

Feeding America recently published an annual report that provides a broad overview of the extent and distribution of food insecurity among older adults in the United States in 2021. This resource also details trends in food insecurity over the past two decades using national, state-level, and metropolitan-level data from the December Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS).

This Health Affairs article, written by Katie McEvoy of the National Association of Medicaid Directors argues for structural stability and continued federal financial support for Medicaid. The article highlights the importance of Medicaid in supporting older adults and people with disabilities, its important role in Health Care Infrastructure And State Economies, and the public support for the program.