All States/Territories

Explore how Medicaid policies have been used in some states to expand the range and availability of services. Third in a series, this brief explains why these policies lead to so much variation in current state Medicaid long-term care programs. It also draws lessons from innovative states to suggest reforms in national Medicaid policies that would make home and community based services accessible to more program participants.

People with disabilities having to choose between meaningful work and income, and access to health insurance and needed services, is a problem being addressed by an increasing number of states through the Medicaid Buy-In program. The state of Alabama created the policy paper attached below, outlining the policy objectives and proposed design of their program. It could be a useful resource for other states proposing a MIG program of their own.

Review national trends, gaps and barriers that threaten both the availability and quality of future services for people with disabilities. Research in this report has been aimed at better positioning the human resources sector for the future. Recommendations include identifying opportunities for public-private sector partnerships, promoting opportunities to encourage new entrants into critical occupations, and to establish systematic efforts to acquire information on worker supply.

Getting the word out to eligible enrollees as well as service providers is key to any MIG programs’ success. This can be complicated by the fact that there are often many programs working together. One way Alabama is keeping everyone informed is by distributing brochures about their MIG program that specifically highlight the partnerships between programs and address fears about benefits and health care. Attached are two such brochures. These could serve as samples for other states.

Network with 'Villages' that are sprouting up in communities across the country. These initiatives allow people affordable options for staying in their own homes, and to remain active, independent, and civically connected to their communities. The Village to Village Network is an informal association of these groups, a national peer to peer network to help communities establish and continuously improve their Villages whether in large metropolitan areas, rural towns, or suburban settings.

Are you an advocate, program administrator, service provider or caregiver fighting for your state and local caregiver support programs? This report includes background information, statistics, talking points and a list of additional resources to help make the case for maintaining public funding for crucial caregiver support services. Additional resources are listed, as well as a chart detailing prevalence and economic value of family caregiving by state.

AARP has produced a set of state-by-state briefs that highlight the most up-to-date long-term care data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Information is provided about each state's older population, long-term care funding, the cost and ranking of nursing homes, and long-term care insurance. The data utilized in these reports is the most recent publicly available data collected for all states.

Review strategies states can adopt to increase recruitment and retention of direct-care workers and to improve the quality of the care those workers provide. Reported strategies include increasing wages and benefits, introducing peer mentoring programs, and giving workers a greater say in decision-making. The findings also suggest a targeted approach to recruitment, focusing on groups currently underrepresented in the direct-care workforce, such as men, immigrants, and older workers.

How is Hawaii providing its disabled population with benefits information? In the attached slide presentations, Hilo Benefits Information Outreach covers disability programs, work incentives and self employment work incentives for self-employed clients and case managers. These presentations for Hawaii’ s MIG program could be useful to other states implementing similar programs.

CIAIP was authorized by Congress to assist communities in their efforts to enable older adults to sustain their independence and age in their homes and communities. Grantees are striving to assess their communities to identify barriers to aging in place and collaborate with other community organizations to identify innovative strategies for linking older individuals to programs that provide comprehensive and coordinated health and social services. Visit this website for more information.