Psychiatric Disabilities/Mental Illness

On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, the Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. (CHCS) published a new brief, “State Trends in the Delivery of Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports.” With support from The SCAN Foundation, seven states (Arizona, California, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas) were selected to provide insights into current trends in both managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) program refinement and long term services and supports (LTSS) system reform.

The National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) published two policy briefs to provide a summary description from a disability perspective on the Final Rules implementing Title I (Workforce Development Systems) and Title IV (State Vocational Rehabilitation) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). These policy briefs highlight important requirements and activities that will impact individuals with disabilities.

On Friday, July1, 2016, Mathematica Policy Research published a report summarizing the basic approach to rate-setting in Medicaid managed care and reviews the main options for structuring managed LTSS (MLTSS) rates. It presents examples from states with financial alignment demonstrations as well as long-standing MLTSS programs. The report concludes by highlighting the policy and operational considerations that should influence a state’s choice of strategy.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability published this month's National Trends on Disability Employment report (nTIDE). Each month this report is published to mark the changes of employment for people with disabilities.

Gary Sullivan, a member of UnitedHealthcare in Tennessee, shares his perspective on the benefits he’s received from being a UnitedHealthcare member. Gary, who was a practicing attorney until his retirement, has been wheelchair-bound due to his muscular dystrophy for many years, and has significant need for help with activities of daily living.

The Center for Policy and Evaluation, Administration for Community Living (ACL) published the policy brief “Promoting Community Living for Older Adults Who Need” in June, which marked the 17th anniversary of the Olmstead v. LC Supreme Court decision. The Olmstead decision has helped older adults and people with disabilities receive more integrated care; however, the policy brief outlines opportunities that states have to further improve their home and community-based services (HCBS).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for April 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provides data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) and Community Catalyst released an issue brief regarding the Financial Alignment Demonstrations. This issue brief discusses key findings from research on the demonstrations and proposes recommendations in two areas: operational or practice changes for health plans and program adjustments for policymakers.

CMS posted two new reports with Medicaid LTSS expenditures data. The first report focuses on the most recent data available and recent trends such as 1) an increase in LTSS provided in managed care programs and 2) increased used of newer Medicaid LTSS options authorized in the Deficit Reduction Act and the Affordable Care Act. The second report, “Improving the Balance,” uses data from FY1981 through FY2014 and documents the transition of Medicaid LTSS from institutional services to HCBS.

This report captures the current state of I&R/A service provision, including trends and developments, challenges and opportunities, and promising practices, through survey responses provided by representatives from state agencies on aging and disability, Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Centers for Independent Living, non-profit human service organizations and national organizations.