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The Program Sustainability in Healthy Brain Initiative three-part video series was developed by the Association Of State And Territorial Health Officials (ASHTO), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to highlight program sustainability in ongoing Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) work. Hear from three state leaders and an academic expert about focus areas including partnership, equitable practice, and the blending of public health planning and sustainability for long-term benefits of the HBI. After watching this video series, participants can continue their sustainability journey with ASTHO's written Sustainability in HBI Implementation: Who? What? Why? Now! resource...

On February 22, a panel of four experts joined Larry Levitt, KFF’s executive vice president for health policy, for a 45-minute discussion addressing the future of prior authorization requirements in health care. The panel discussed why insurers use prior authorization, its impact on patients and providers, and how the new regulations may change current practices. They also examined the potential for further regulatory or legislative actions to address ongoing concerns.

A recent report from Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) and the Community Living Policy Center (CLPC) at Brandeis University highlights recommendations to inform future research, policy, and practice that aim to advance efforts to improve standardized data collection and reporting, to better understand the impacts of direct-care workforce shortages, and to drive critical investments in the direct-care workforce. To inform this exploratory study, LTQA and CLPC conducted six focus groups and four key informant interviews with managed-LTSS health plans, home-care providers, self-direction experts, fiscal intermediaries, state-association representatives, and other policy experts and advocates...

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule revising previous guidance on how to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule will take effect March 11. Determinations about who is an employee or independent contractor can have a big impact on direct care workers, and this revision will help to protect employees’ rights and ensure they benefit from protections under federal labor laws. The new final rule rescinds the 2021 Independent Contractor Rule and returns to longstanding DOL interpretation that is consistent with caselaw of how to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor...

Nearly one-fifth of older adults live in rural areas and, as a result of their geography, are at higher risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Commit to Connect Initiative recently released a topical guide titled “Rural Communities and Building Social Connection for Older Adults and People with Disabilities,” aimed at assisting staff and volunteer leaders from organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities in rural areas seeking to enhance or initiate social engagement efforts.

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Commit to Connect (CTC) initiative recently released a resource dedicated to supporting social connections for people who have dementia. This resource highlights easily replicable programs such as memory cafes and art or music-focused activities, providing practical examples for enhancing social engagement. In addition, it provides valuable communication tips for interacting with individuals with dementia and encourages active participation in the Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions, fostering a collaborative approach to combat social isolation across diverse demographics.

In recognition of the unparalleled dedication and commitment of the 53 million caregivers in America, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) recently released the “Disaster Preparedness Guide for Caregivers.” This guide aims to help family caregivers learn about disaster preparedness and identify the needs of care recipients, including how needs might change during a disaster. It also provides tailored information and resources that cater to the unique situations caregivers may face. This resource discusses effective strategies for connecting with communities and seeks to bolster caregivers' confidence, particularly in navigating challenges during a disaster.

On February 21, Justice in Aging released an updated and expanded version of its “20 Common Nursing Home Problems–and How to Resolve Them” issue brief, which was written with financial support from the Commonwealth Fund. This revision, like the original edition, introduces each common problem by identifying a false statement commonly made by nursing home staff, along with a clear statement of the relevant law. This updated edition addresses additional problems, discusses issues in more detail, and includes recent revisions to federal regulations and guidance. This guide gives residents, family members, friends, and other advocates the tools they need to identify and solve the problems residents most frequently face.

KFF released an updated version of their "Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker" on May 10. This tracker provides state-level data on Medicaid/CHIP enrollment, unwinding, renewals, and other measures. Please note that while the tool includes national data reported by CMS, it has a lag of several months and may not reflect the most current Medicaid enrollment status.

The Adult Protective Services (APS) Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) recently released a brief titled “An Overview of APS Self-Neglect Cases Using NAMRS Data.” This brief utilizes case-level data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) for the Federal Fiscal Year 2022 to provide an overview of Adult Protective Services (APS) clients/victims and cases involving allegations of self-neglect. The analysis compares self-neglect cases to all other maltreatment types across states, territories, and the District of Columbia. This brief provides summary bullets and graphs detailing trends and patterns in self-neglect investigations, with a focus on understanding the evolving nature of APS self-neglect assessments.