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In a recent United States Senate Committee On Finance Hearing, the focus was on addressing deceptive marketing practices in the Medicare Advantage program, particularly those targeting older adults. The hearing shed light on the actions of marketing middlemen, significant private marketing entities situated between older adults and their coverage, who were accused of exploiting personal information to benefit health insurance plans. The investigation underscored the financial burden of these deceptive marketing practices on taxpayers, estimated at $6 billion in 2022, and the necessity of improving provider directories to ensure accurate information for Medicare Advantage enrollees. The hearing reflected a broader commitment to reducing...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement have jointly released a report aimed at enhancing the data infrastructure of agencies managing refugees and Medicaid services. This report, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, addresses data gaps in understanding the health and well-being of refugees. By linking data from two HHS administrative systems, the Refugee Arrivals Data System (RADS) and the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files (TAF), the report provides insights into Medicaid enrollment trends and service utilization among refugees...

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) recently released a new training video titled "Mental Health and the Federal Workplace: What Can I Do?" This video offers insights into how federal employees, regardless of their positions, can contribute to cultivating a mental health-friendly workplace for themselves and their peers. The video, developed in partnership with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Personnel Management, along with the U.S. Department of Education and Access Board, serves as a valuable resource for agencies aiming to promote awareness and foster discussions about workplace well-being.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) continues to seek public comment on the proposed collection of information requirements relating to the (1) State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Client Contact Forms, and (2) Alzheimer's and Dementia Program Data Reporting Tool (ADP-DRT). ACL is accepting comments on State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Client Contact Forms and Alzheimer's and Dementia Program Data Reporting Tool (ADP-DRT) until Tuesday, December 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

On Friday, October 13, CMS issued a National Coverage Analysis decision memo outlining Medicare’s expansion of coverage for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) beta amyloid imaging, or scans for the protein that’s believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Since 2013, CMS has provided a one-time amyloid PET scan per patient; however, CMS will permit Medicare coverage determinations for this type of imaging to be made by the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a currently irreversible, fatal brain disorder that progressively degrades memory, cognitive function (thinking and reasoning), and eventually motor function...

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2 percent in 2024. The 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 66 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2024. Increased payments to approximately 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 29, 2023. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $168,600. The earnings limit for workers who are younger than "full" retirement age will increase to $22,320...

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, the time when Medicare beneficiaries can compare coverage options and choose health and drug plans, began on October 15, 2023, and ends on December 7, 2023. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so people with Medicare should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs for coverage starting January 1, 2024. To help people with Medicare compare health and prescription drug plans during Open Enrollment, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2024 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans and Medicare Part D plans....

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently published its latest report to Congress on protecting older adults, which highlights key trends based on fraud reports by older adults, and the FTC’s multi-pronged efforts to combat the problem through law enforcement actions, rulemaking, and outreach and education programs. The FTC found that older adults reported losing more than $1.6 billion to fraud in 2022. Because the vast majority of frauds are not reported, this figure represents only a fraction of the overall cost of fraud to older consumers, which the FTC estimates to be as high as $48 billion. The report also calls on Congress to update the FTC Act in response to the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling in the AMG Capital Management case...

AARP's latest Spotlight report highlights the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a combined federal and state program designed to integrate medical care with long-term services and supports (LTSS) for adults with complex care needs. Eligible adults age 55+ who participate in PACE are able to access a comprehensive range of services, including medical and dental care, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and long-term services and supports (LTSS). PACE has demonstrated success in improving the health and well-being of participants, has high satisfaction among family caregivers, and is cost-effective. This Spotlight provides essential information about the program, including: ...

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the “Medicaid LTSS Annual Expenditures Report for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020”, and the Medicaid Section “1915(c) Waiver Programs Annual Expenditures and Beneficiaries Report, Analysis of CMS 372 Annual Reports for 2018-2019.” These reports discuss the long-term services and supports (LTSS) rebalancing trends and patterns in expenditures for different home and community-based services (HCBS) and institutional care, nationally and across states....