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A new CDC report evaluates the quality of life of older Americans. Using data from the 2004 through 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), this report highlights selected health characteristics of four age groups of older adults—55–64 years, 65–74 years, 75–84 years, and 85 years and over. The data are presented for each of these age groups by sex, race, including Hispanic origin, and by poverty, health insurance, and marital status.

NASHP identified 10 leading state quality improvement partnerships - interrelated broad-based partnerships, mostly with public and private sector representation, which have long-term, statewide, systemic quality improvement strategic intent, and transparent agendas. This issue brief summarizes results of NASHP's full report that examines these partnerships in Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

One of a series designed to provide guidance on the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this letter addresses the “prompt pay” requirements contained in section 5001(f)(2). States must comply with timely claims processing requirements in the Medicaid program, or potentially lose their eligibility for the increased Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain expenditures. More detailed technical guidance is attached to this letter.

This policy brief presents four options that merit serious consideration in the current health care reform discussions. The first two options would improve long-term care for people with low incomes and limited financial resources. Review ideas on expanding Medicaid support for home and community-based services and improve coordination of medical and long-term care for Medicare-Medicaid “Dual Eligibles”. Poll results also gauge interest in reform if long-term services and supports were included.

In 2006, Congress authorized states to add HCBS as an optional state plan benefit. Because the new benefits (referred to as 1915i) expands access, its addition to the Medicaid service menu has been welcomed by enrollees and advocates alike. This webinar will present an analysis of Medicaid’s new HCBS state plan option, which will include a discussion of the issues surrounding it, the states that have adopted it, and legislative proposals to modify it to ensure it achieves its intended purpose.

More than 130 policymakers, health services researchers, practitioners, and policy experts discussed the measures and evidence to examine whether the expansion of home and community-based services has produced desired outcomes (quality, choice, cost, satisfaction and safety) in the long term for older adults and persons with disabilities. The day was divided into four sessions: (quality, consumer-direction, targeting candidates, determining cost-effectiveness). View the agenda and presentations.

A new first-of-its-kind e-manual has been published about improving practices and informing policies in assisted living communities through the use of a collaborative method of research – community-based participatory research (CBPR). The manual serves as a “how-to” resource for researchers, practitioners, advocates, policy makers, and community members and explains the principles and methods of community-based participatory research with actual examples from the medication management research.

IPAWS is a modernization and integration of the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure. This paper serves to demonstrate how IPAWS addresses the challenges of reaching the whole community, including the 25% of our population who might need assistance. It offers evidence that while IPAWS doesn't solve all of the challenges, it can certainly mitigate them, particularly with greater stakeholder engagement and public awareness. Emerging technologies that could improve accessibility are reviewed.

The unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities seeking work remains well above those without disabilities, and the gap has widened further in recent years. A forum was convened to explore policy options and actions that could be taken to help adults with a current or past work history improve their participation in the workforce. This report summarizes key options and issues identified through the forum discussion and surveys conducted.

The purpose of this toolkit (consisting of a DVD and guidebook) is to illustrate the importance of the perspectives that youth and young adults bring and to provide information and tools that help to effectively include them in addressing the challenges of transitioning to adulthood and increased independence. The DVD provides human stories regarding key components of living independently in the community. The Guidebook provides discussion questions by topic for each of the target audiences.