Policy alerts, briefs, letters & papers

This brief, part of the New APS Administrators Toolkit, contains information and resources on a variety of topics from the history of APS to federal resources that can support APS programs and will provide a foundation for understanding some of the complexities of APS program administration.

KFF recently released a brief analyzing Medicaid enrollment and spending trends for FY 2023 and FY 2024, based on data provided by state Medicaid directors as part of the 23rd annual survey of Medicaid directors. Forty-eight states (including the District of Columbia) responded to the 2023 survey, although response rates for specific questions varied. Most officials indicated that their enrollment and spending projections reflect what is assumed in their states’ adopted budgets, though estimates are uncertain and the effects of unwinding are evolving, with significant variation across states. The analysis found that Medicaid enrollment growth slowed to 6.5% in FY 2023 from 8.4% in FY 2022...

Commit to Connect recently released two new publications to help staff and volunteer leaders committed to addressing social isolation and loneliness develop and enhance social connection programs and interventions. Commit to Connect’s “Supporting Social Connection of People Living with Dementia” topical guide shares different programs and initiatives from organizations across the country that encourage social connection for people living with dementia. Readers can also learn recommendations for implementing effective programs, suggestions for communicating with people living with dementia, and resources to learn more about this topic...

The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) recently released a brief providing an overview of how California and Ohio engaged multiple collaborators, partnered and collaborated with public and private entities, used data and evidence, and integrated equity and inclusivity to identify key priorities and set specific goals and outcomes to advance healthy aging for all and support for caregiving through 2030 and beyond. Based on NASHP’s review, these two states are at the forefront of incorporating equity into infrastructure, data collection, and collaboration to support policy for older adults and family caregivers within their states.

On November 8, KFF released the issue brief, “Medicare Advantage 2024 Spotlight: First Look”, detailing the organization’s analysis of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) available in 2024. The analysis revealed that nationwide the typical beneficiary has a choice of 43 Medicare Advantage plans as an alternative to traditional Medicare for 2024; the same number available as in 2023, but more than double the number of plans offered in 2018. Of the 43 MA plans, 36 plans offer Part D drug coverage, on average. Additionally, individuals with traditional Medicare have a choice of 21 Medicare stand-along PDPs for 2024.

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, the time when Medicare beneficiaries can compare coverage options and choose health and drug plans, began on October 15, 2023, and ends on December 7, 2023. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so people with Medicare should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs for coverage starting January 1, 2024. To help people with Medicare compare health and prescription drug plans during Open Enrollment, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2024 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans and Medicare Part D plans....

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides guidance on how employers can address situations where identifying effective accommodations for employees with disabilities becomes challenging within the framework of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). JAN recommends a collaborative approach, involving the employee in discussions, reviewing previous accommodation attempts, and seeking external resources if needed. Employers are advised to explore trial accommodations, assess reassignment to available positions, and conduct individualized assessments to determine whether providing the accommodation would result in undue hardship.JAN also offers real-life examples of successful accommodations to illustrate potential solutions...

The Century Foundation, in collaboration with the CARE Fund, presents key lessons from the American Rescue Plan Act's (ARPA) investments in the care economy. This third brief in the series explores the impact of ARPA in areas such as child care, paid family and medical leave, and home and community-based services (HCBS). The lessons underscore the importance of investing in the care economy, ensuring equitable policy implementation, making incremental progress, fostering community engagement, taking a holistic approach, and recognizing the vital need for robust and permanent funding to address the complex challenges of care infrastructure in the United States.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary rule extending the allowance for physicians and practitioners to prescribe controlled medications to new patients based on a relationship solely established through telemedicine (live video or telephone for buprenorphine) until December 31, 2024. The agency received more than 38,000 comments on its proposed telemedicine rules and recently held two days of public listening sessions related to those rules. The agency noted that it is working to promulgate a final set of telemedicine regulations by the fall of 2024, giving patients and medical practitioners time to plan for, and adapt to, the new rules once issued...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently conducted an analysis examining the complexities of using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify ownership structures within nursing homes, with a particular focus on private equity ownership. The study highlights complexities in nursing home ownership structures and the limitations of CMS data, emphasizing the difficulty in accurately identifying private equity ownership. The report also discusses the implications of these limitations on transparency and oversight within the nursing home industry. To perform this analysis, GAO adopted a comprehensive approach, including reviewing nursing home ownership data from CMS and other sources, examining...