New York

Find thirteen examples of state level legislation that improve the wages, collective bargaining rights, or insurance of personal care workers and home health aides. The report also includes graphics illustrating workforce trends and a list of potential best practices that were not passed into law in their respective states.

In late 2007, the Center for State Health Policy surveyed 23 states that operate Medicaid waivers targeted to individuals with brain injuries. Data was obtained about the cost and number of individuals served by these waivers for the waiver years 2002 through 2006. Three states began waivers for those with brain injuries in 2002 or later, and 3 other states discontinued waivers in 2006. Every state except Arizona has multiple Medicaid 1915(c) home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers.

The purpose of this compendium is to establish baseline knowledge of the scope of assistive technology and home modification services that states make available to Medicaid-eligible adults. This study provides federal and state policymakers with basic information to inform planning and policy development. It also provides other stakeholders, including consumers, with valuable information about Medicaid State Plan and HCBS waiver.

This report details the state-by-state impacts of seven regulations issued by the CMS that would make major wide-ranging changes. Areas affected include cost limits for public providers, graduate medical education, outpatient hospital services, provider taxes, rehabilitative services, school administration and transportation services, and case management services. The website offers an interactive map showing how proposed regulations would impact each state.

The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured supported this focus group project of adults with disabilities in 4 states, who are enrolled in Medicaid Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services programs. This research was undertaken to learn about Medicaid enrollees’ experiences in the program and their opinions about key features of the program including recruitment issues and degree of responsibility over services. Ways to improve upon the programs were also identified.

Consumer direction of personal assistance services (CD-PAS) is one model of service delivery that gives Medicaid beneficiaries varying degrees of control over hiring, scheduling, training, and paying personal care attendants. Program administrators, experienced with the programmatic features of CD-PAS in their state, were interviewed. Eligibility criteria, participant support services, and method of financial management used by Medicaid beneficiaries to pay direct care workers are discussed.

The Compendium contains basic information about each of the Real Choice Systems Change Grantees receiving awards in FY 2004. It includes information for the Family-to-Family and Systems Transformation Grantees who received awards in FY 2005 and FY 2006 plus the Person-Centered Planning Implementation awards in FY 2007. It is divided into sections corresponding to the different types of grants and year of award; the report helps Grantees identify others with similar goals and activities.

This report provides an overview of 33 states’ initiatives (FY02 CPASS and Real Choice Grantees) to improve their LTC systems and the enduring improvements achieved. It includes lessons learned and recommendations that can guide states that are undertaking similar initiatives. Grantees made enduring systems improvements in five major areas—many states in more. Virtually all agreed that prior to introducing new policies and programs, it is essential to obtain stakeholder buy-in and commitment.

This report provides a state-by-state analysis of how Medicaid agencies are exercising their responsibilities for mental health services. The report is based on telephone interviews and explores how state Medicaid agencies are addressing the organization, funding, policy, management and data issues that arise from increased responsibility for mental health services. Review the findings which indicated how States have taken varying approaches to providing services.

A study was conducted on consumer-directed personal assistance services (PAS) cooperatives, with an emphasis on workplace PAS. This report presents case studies of seven cooperatives, describes advantages of consumer-run cooperatives, identifies funding issues and sources, and presents considerations for those contemplating starting. It contains a review of the literature which reveals only a few examples of successful consumer-directed PAS cooperatives in the US, however, they show promise.