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This survey aimed to increase the understanding of the extent to which ADRCs have worked to ensure their services are LGBT-friendly, engaged in special LGBT outreach activities, and worked to identify community organizations and service providers in their resource databases that are LGBT-friendly. Thirty organizations from at least 15 different states responded. From the responses it can be seen that ADRCs are still at the beginnings of specifically serving LGBT individuals.

The Exchange website offers busy health professionals and researchers a variety of opportunities to share, learn about, and ultimately adopt evidence-based innovations and tools suitable for a range of health care settings and populations. The site has the following components: Searchable innovations; Searchable QualityTools; Learning opportunities and Networking opportunities.

Each year, AoA compiles a summary of the latest statistics on individuals 65 years or older across 15 topical areas including income, poverty, employment, health, disability, and caregiving. This report has now been updated to reflect the most recent year for which data is available, 2010.

On February 22, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) put on display at the Federal Register a final rule that establishes a process to promote State & Federal transparency for Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) demonstrations. The rule is designed to ensure public input in the development, review, & approval of Medicaid and CHIP demonstration projects under section 1115 of the Social Security Act. The final rule will be effective starting April 27, 2012.

Wider Opportunities for Women’s (WOW) database provides information on how much it costs for families & older adults to cover their most basic expenses: housing, food, and transportation. The Basic Economic Security Tables (BEST) Index and the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index) measure the incomes workers & retired adults need to achieve economic security. Both measures use comprehensive definitions of economic security, presented at the state, county & city levels.

A growing number of beneficiaries with disabilities are being enrolled in risk-based managed care arrangements. Further growth in managed care is expected in 2014, when the Affordable Care Act expands Medicaid eligibility to many uninsured low-income adults, including those with disabilities. This issue brief looks at issues related to the development and implementation of managed care programs with the capacity to serve Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities.

In 2008, Congress revised the regulations for Ticket to Work, a federal program created to improve incentives and supports for people who receive disability benefits to seek employment. This issue brief discusses how Ticket to Work participation by service providers and beneficiaries has changed under the revised regulations. It also describes providers' early experiences with these regulations.

This brief reviews Medicaid’s importance and limitations when it comes to long-term care and makes the case for strengthening Medicaid’s safety net in one of two ways—assumption of full federal responsibility for Medicare beneficiaries who also rely on Medicaid (so-called “dual eligibles”) or an enhanced federal match for Medicaid long-term care services.

One priority for an aging America is to enable older adults to live independently in their homes and communities. For those with limited income or resources, benefits can be a critical resource to receive support and avoid institutionalization. Many miss out on benefits due to lack of awareness, perceived complexity of applications, stigma, & misunderstanding eligibility. The You Gave, Now Save campaign connects eligibles with free & low-cost resources: BenefitsCheckUp & the Eldercare Locator.

NCI is a voluntary effort by public developmental disabilities agencies to measure and track their own performance. The core indicators are standard measures used across states to assess the outcomes of services provided to individuals and families. Indicators address key areas of concern including employment, rights, service planning, community inclusion, choice, and health and safety.