Data

This updated resource provides a state-by-state look at wages and wage trends for PHCAs, the second fastest growing occupation in the country, and a key job title within the direct-care workforce. Review wages over a 9-year period. Prepared as a resource guide on wages for advocates and policymakers concerned with the direct-care workforce, the data underscore the problem of low and declining real wages for PHCAs, factors which contribute to workforce.

The ODEP has released a brochure addressing employer concerns from a survey of 3,797 businesses across 12 industry sectors and various company sizes. Respondents reported on their beliefs about and strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing employees with disabilities. Concerns addressed in the brochure include issues with supervision, accommodations, worker’s compensation. Additionally, the brochure and technical report includes tools and resources for employers.

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.

Variables that affect supported employment are profiled. The authors examine sociodemographic, health, and income characteristics of participants. They also look at employment-related activities and expectations, traits of those seeking jobs, what kinds of jobs are held, and reasons for not seeking or keeping employment. This report is the second in a series that make up the fifth Ticket to Work evaluation report.

WIPA was created to give beneficiaries guidance and information on available work incentives so as to increase employment. This report, the first in a series that make up the fifth Ticket to Work evaluation report, has three objectives: to capture stakeholder experiences with the program during start-up; to identify early opportunities for improvement; and to inform future program data collection, evaluation, and outcomes analyses.

The study analyzes the long term care (LTC) system in WV and projects costs and savings associated with two models of efforts to transition people out of institutions. The system analysis looks at service delivery in both institutional and community-based settings, levels of access, financing, and quality. The appendices include examinations of care models and rebalancing efforts of other states.

Integrated Care Programs launched in five states in 2005 to coordinate acute and long-term services received by people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. States were granted $100,000 and technical assistance focused on performance measurement, rate setting and risk adjustment, and administrative simplification. Here, state programs are evaluated, federal progress in integrated care is surveyed, and future considerations are identified.

Quantitative and qualitative data are pulled together for a summary of the enrollment and implementation experiences of state DMIE projects through December 2008. The Kansas, Minnesota, Texas, Hawaii and District of Columbia programs are profiled and then a national summary and implications are presented. Another report tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2010 will analyze whether the program improved outcomes for individuals and evaluate the implementation and phase-down activities.

This program (HWD) is Washington’s implementation of Medicaid Buy-In. The report evaluates HWD’s impact on employment and earnings, Medicaid coverage, and receipt of food stamps by comparing enrollees to traditional Medicaid participants. They found significant outcome improvements for the HWD group in several categories.

Nearly every state provides at least some funds for services for low-income older adults or people with disabilities who have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid. AARP reports on how much each state spends on both multiservice and single-service programs. It also compares funding sources, eligibility criteria, services, cost management strategies, consumer direction, and other characteristics.