Policy alerts, briefs, letters & papers

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) recently released a brief called State Insights on Refining Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Beneficiaries, which highlights perspectives on the 14 states participating in CHCS' Implementing New Systems of Integration for Dually Eligible Enrollees (INSIDE) project. The report notes five key program improvements for states looking to enhance their care integration models.

The Integrated Care Resource Center published an issue brief about the issues and options that states have when contracting with Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans.

The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. released a technical assistance brief, funded through support by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, titled "State Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Programs: Considerations for Contracting with Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans."

IMPAQ International and AARP Foundation recently released an issue brief titled “Addressing Food Insecurity in Primary Care: Models for Patient Screening and Referral.” Recognizing the importance of food security on health and health care outcomes for older adults, the issue brief describes ways in which health systems have implemented food security screening and referral processes, including partnering with community organizations for referrals, and key factors in their success.

Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) published an issue brief about the characteristics of elderly individuals participating in and eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Kaiser Family Foundation released a new issue brief titled, "Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2016 & 2017." The implementation of Medicaid Expansion in the Affordable Care Act influenced the growth of Medicaid spending. The brief explores these trends using survey data provided by the Medicaid directors in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

The D.C., Georgia, Minnesota, and Vermont state innovation profiles capture projects, demonstrations, and partnerships that were shared by states at ADvancing States’s 2016 spring membership meeting. Each profile was developed in collaboration with the state agency.

Mathematica Center for Studying Disability Policy published a policy brief explaining how states can help workers keep their jobs after injury, illness, or disability.

The Milbank Memorial Fund’s Reforming States Group, with the New York State Health Foundation, published an issue brief that is a practical guide for policymakers who want to know when and how states can use Medicaid to facilitate access to social services. It offers a road map of the legal authorities upon which policymakers can rely to extend Medicaid coverage to social interventions and provides examples of how Medicaid can be an important component in improving the health of populations.

On Friday, July 15, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an informational bulletin to provide an update on the next steps for the annual redetermination of Medicare Part D low-income subsidy (LIS) deemed status, also known as “re-deeming.” The information provided is aimed to help states understand the process and their role in ensuring that dual eligible beneficiaries have timely, affordable, and comprehensive coverage under Medicare Part D.