Aging/Older Adults

Yesterday the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced next steps describing how the agency will implement the new Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, including a timeline of key dates. As part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 (P.L. 117-169), the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program requires drug companies to pay a rebate to Medicare if they raise prices for certain drugs faster than the rate of inflation. Based on a 12 month period starting October 1, 2022, drug companies will be required to pay rebates to Medicare for raising prices that outpace inflation on certain Part D drugs.

On February 7, 2023 the University of New Hampshire released key findings from the Annual Disability Statistics Collection. The annual report looks at national data for gaps related to people with disabilities across the states. The full compendium of data as well as supplementary data and state reports are available online, and the University of New Hampshire will be holding a virtual release for the compendium which will be recorded.

The Center for Health Care Strategies released a blog post covering best practices and advice for creating a multidisciplinary and multi sector plan for aging. The post was authored by Kim McCoy Wade, senior advisor of Aging, Disability, and Alzheimer’s to the California governor. The post dissects the planning process for creating a multi sector plan for older adults and people with disabilities and how to work with multiple stakeholders all vying to reach the same goal.

KFF released a brief “What Happens When COVID-19 Emergency Declarations End? Implications for Coverage, Costs, and Access” (January 31, 2023) that the describes the major health-related COVID-19 emergency declarations made by the federal government since January 2020, and the flexibilities resulting from the declarations. The areas covered in the brief include coverage, costs, and payment for COVID-19 testing, treatments, and vaccines; Medicaid coverage and federal match rates; and telehealth, among other provisions. According to KFF, the list does not include all federal policy and regulatory provisions made in response to COVID-19 emergency declarations.

The National Conference of State Legislatures recently released an article exploring different steps that states are taking to address the rapidly aging population and how to keep that population in their homes longer. The article looks at approaches from across the country exploring food security, financial support, transportation, housing, the direct care workforce, social isolation prevention, and more.

The Federal Communications Commission released guidance earlier this week permitting states and managed care plans to make calls, or robocalls, and send text messages under certain circumstances without violating federal law. The FCC’s ruling comes in response to a letter from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requesting an exception to the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Law as states reach out to enrollees to raise awareness of forthcoming Medicaid eligibility redeterminations. The federal guidance clarifies how states working with local government agencies and managed care companies may, under certain circumstances, make robo calls or send autodialed text messages

There are several changes that may affect SNAP household’s benefit amounts over the coming months. The temporary boost to SNAP benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, will end nationwide after the February 2023 issuance. In addition, households that receive SNAP and Social Security benefits will see a decrease in their SNAP benefits because of the significant cost of living increase to Social Security benefits that took effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a fact sheet on how to protect older adults from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV infections can be dangerous for older adults and those with chronic heart and lung disease, or those with weakened immune systems. The fact sheet reviews common symptoms, prevention methods, and more.

Paxlovid is an antiviral treatment for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms at high risk of becoming seriously ill, including adults 65 and up. It is important for older adults to consider a treatment plan before becoming infected, as Paxlovid could have complications with other drugs and should be evaluated by a medical provider. This article provides more information about Paxlovid and suggests ways older adults can prepare a treatment plan in advance of catching the new COVID-19 variant.

As part of the continuing efforts under President Biden’s initiative to improve nursing home transparency, safety and quality, and accountability, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new actions to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and to bring greater transparency about nursing home citations to families. Beginning this month, CMS will conduct targeted, off-site audits to determine whether nursing homes are accurately assessing and coding individuals with a schizophrenia diagnosis.