Policy alerts, briefs, letters & papers

On April 21, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on managed care in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The rule, which is the first overhaul of Medicaid and CHIP managed care regulations in more than a decade, advances the Administration’s efforts to modernize the health care system to deliver better care, smarter spending, and healthier people.

On April 21, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on managed care in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The rule, which is the first overhaul of Medicaid and CHIP managed care regulations in more than a decade, advances the Administration’s efforts to modernize the health care system to deliver better care, smarter spending, and healthier people.

The Department of Labor (DOL) released a Home Care Guide that offers information about the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the responsibilities that consumers who use the services of a home care worker and their families must follow. Included in the guide is information about the background of who needs this guide, who needs to follow the FLSA rules, and tips on how to follow the FLSA rules.

Justice in Aging published an issue brief that offers an analysis of the findings from the evaluation of the Financial Alignment Initiative (FAI), commonly known as the dual eligible demonstration. Research Triangle Institute was contracted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct this evaluation, which focused on the first six months of operation of the demonstration in each of the seven states where it was rolled out.

The John A. Hartford Foundation recently released Elder Justice: A John A. Hartford Foundation Change AGEnts Issue Brief. A startling statistic shows, "that at least 2 million older adults (one in 10 people over the age of 60) is abused or mistreated each year." This brief was generated from two gatherings of elder justice thought leaders aimed to help The John A. Hartford Foundation plan a course of action that builds on the strengths of existing efforts and funded programs.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and National Academy for State Health Policy created a resource that explains the funding sources available to states for meeting the health-related social needs of low-income persons. The publication specifically brings attention to funding sources that states can use to help adult high-cost/high-need residents live.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) announced the release of two new publications about employment, transition, and education for youth with disabilities. The publications are: "By Youth, for Youth: Employment," and "Supporting Families of Students with Disabilities in Postsecondary Education: Learning from the Voices of Families."

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), in partnership with Mathematica Policy Research and Airam Actuarial Consulting, released an issue brief on the state considerations when setting capitation rates for Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs. CHCS and its partners examined the considerations taken by eight states (Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin) as they established their MLTSS rates.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy and the LEAD Center released three Employment First technical briefs for individuals working on the implementation of Employment First in their states, regions, and organizations. Each of the briefs offers different technical guidance on the following topics: Federal policy that supports Employment First systems, federal legal framework that supports competitive employment outcomes, and criteria for performance excellence.

The Integrated Care Resource Center published a brief on the the implications of Medicare chronic care management services for states serving dually eligible individuals. In January 2015 a new payment system for Medicare chronic care management (CCM) became effective. This brief provides an overview of the new payment system and offers states different opportunities for more effective coordination of care with their contracting plans.