Stakeholder Involvement

At the beginning of 2013, 16 states had Medicaid managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) plans, with mandatory or voluntary enrollment. Target populations varied by state. In 13 states, MLTSS plan members were afforded the choice to participant-direct (PD) at least some HCBS services. Based on 5 in-depth state case studies expectations regarding availability and take-up of PD services in MLTSS varied as did methods of communicating expectations. PD varied from 1.2% in AZ to 24% in NM.

ADvancing States organized members of the Aging Network at listening forums in 3 cities for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. The sessions fostered public input, which ADvancing States used to form recommendations for improvement according to its policy principles. The letter outlining these is addressed to Assistant Secretary of Aging, Kathy Greenlee. Some recommendations are to advance the network with more funding and to modernize the language of the Act to reflect person-centered objectives.

Massachusetts is the first state to finalize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to test CMS's capitated financial alignment model for beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This policy brief summarizes the MOU terms in the several key areas, including enrollment, care delivery model, benefits, financing, beneficiary protections and monitoring and evaluation.

This paper examines the contents of the 26 states’ proposals, which intent to test on two models related to financing dual eligible beneficiaries, in the areas of target population, implementation date, enrollment, financing, benefits, beneficiary protections, stakeholder engagement, and demonstration evaluation as set out in the states’ initial submission to CMS. Negotiations between CMS and the states are ongoing and are likely to result in some changes from the states’ initial proposals.

Summarizes a program evaluation of a Federally-funded state-based system to protect patient rights for those with significant mental health disability. The PAIMI Program was initiated in 1986 in response to congressional findings of widespread abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals in state psychiatric institutions. Twenty-two years later, the program is still addressing those issues, along with new problems arising from delivery of mental health services in community-based settings.

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.

ADAPT is a group of self-advocates working for civil rights for people with disabilities. Follow the link to see their arguments and evidence in support the Community Choice Act. The Act would establish a national program of community-based attendant services and supports, regardless of a person’s age or disability, and allow them to choose where they receive services. Materials include talking points, summaries, links to the bills, and updates on status and actions related to the Act.

How can state developmental disabilities agencies minimize service interruptions while absorbing budget cuts? At a 2008 forum, directors of these agencies shared their strategies, experiences and thoughts on the topic. Those ideas are synthesized here.

Older Americans speak up on the importance of services and policies that enable them to age in place through the use of home and community-based services (HCBS). Results show that respondents are not only concerned with HCBS as they remain in the home, but also as they move to nursing home alternatives such as assisted living facilities. They identify the availability of long-term care options as one that should be a top priority for AARP's advocacy.