All States/Territories

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a set of resources aimed at supporting state Medicaid and partner agencies in designing and delivering supports and services to meet the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as their aging parents and caregivers. These resources cover a variety of topics, including strategies for how state Medicaid agencies can anticipate the needs of adults with I/DD, ways states can design and implement person-centered planning to support adults with I/DD, and state policies and practices to support aging caregivers of adults with I/DD.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a set of resources aimed at supporting state Medicaid and partner agencies in designing and delivering supports and services to meet the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as their aging parents and caregivers. These resources cover a variety of topics, including strategies for how state Medicaid agencies can anticipate the needs of adults with I/DD, ways states can design and implement person-centered planning to support adults with I/DD, and state policies and practices to support aging caregivers of adults with I/DD.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a set of resources aimed at supporting state Medicaid and partner agencies in designing and delivering supports and services to meet the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as their aging parents and caregivers. These resources cover a variety of topics, including strategies for how state Medicaid agencies can anticipate the needs of adults with I/DD, ways states can design and implement person-centered planning to support adults with I/DD, and state policies and practices to support aging caregivers of adults with I/DD.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a set of resources aimed at supporting state Medicaid and partner agencies in designing and delivering supports and services to meet the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as their aging parents and caregivers. These resources cover a variety of topics, including strategies for how state Medicaid agencies can anticipate the needs of adults with I/DD, ways states can design and implement person-centered planning to support adults with I/DD, and state policies and practices to support aging caregivers of adults with I/DD.

AARP has released a fact sheet that explores the topic of medication management for older adults, highlighting the challenges they face and the available programs and interventions. This resource emphasizes the importance of effective medication management in preventing adverse events and improving health outcomes for older adults. The fact sheet explores formal medication management programs, such as Medication Therapy Management (MTM) in Medicare and Medicaid, while emphasizing the essential skills required for older adults to effectively manage their medication.

This recently published brief by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities explores how Medicaid, particularly Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) funding, can enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and older adults. It highlights the importance of competitive integrated employment (CIE) in improving wages, income, and financial outcomes for people with disabilities. The brief provides policy recommendations on leveraging Medicaid and Medicaid HCBS programs to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to both employment and essential long-term supports and services, reducing the need to choose between work and healthcare.

Following months of negotiations, on Sunday, May 28, 2023, Congress released the text of a compromise bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. The debt ceiling authorizes the United States Government to borrow money to meet its existing legal obligations such as Social Security and Medicare benefits, pay for military members, interest on the national debt, among others. The debt limit must be raised by Congress periodically and currently must be raised by June 5 to avoid a default on the national debt...

A new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) presents findings from a survey and analysis of state Medicaid programs regarding crisis services. The survey reveals that while most states cover at least one core crisis service, there are gaps in coverage, particularly for adults under fee-for-service Medicaid. Additionally, the analysis explores the delivery, administration, and integration of behavioral health care within state Medicaid programs, highlighting the disproportionate share of adults with mental illness and substance use disorders covered by Medicaid. The report underscores the need for continued study and strategic policies to address access gaps and increased utilization of behavioral health services.

On Tuesday, May 30, CMS released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of February 2023, over 65.6 million people are enrolled in Medicare; nearly 34 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and more than 31.6 have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 93.3 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP; more than 86.1 million individuals have Medicaid and nearly 7.2 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

The CMS OMH report, “Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility or Eligibility for a Low-Income Subsidy and Disability”, presents summary information on the performance of Medicare Advantage plans on specific measures of quality of health care reported in 2021, which corresponds to care received in 2020. Specifically, this report compares the quality of care for four groups of Medicare Advantage enrollees that are defined based on the combination of two characteristics: (1) dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid or eligibility for a Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) and (2) disability...