Policy alerts, briefs, letters & papers

Examine the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a model of care that enables frail elders to live independently in their communities. Designed as an alternative to nursing homes, PACE has received many accolades for meeting the complex needs of this population while reducing the need for hospitalization. Read about PACE's history in California, how other states are successfully increasing their PACE programs, and ideas for promoting expansion in California.

Four groups of caregivers discuss their challenges in accessing caregiver services. Challenges include lack of access to internet and phone, cultural traditions which prevent self-identification as caregivers, and unexpected caregiving responsibilities for wounded veterans. Proposed solutions included assistance in navigating government programs, connecting new caregivers to peer mentors and caregiver networks, and an increased focus on assisting the care recipient and the caregiver.

Millions of low-income adults without children who currently cannot qualify for coverage, as well as many low-income parents and children now covered through the CHIP program will become eligible for Medicaid. These programs are expected to cover an additional 16 million people by 2019. This brief provides the details of the benefit and cost-sharing rules that will govern the coverage available to newly-eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries.

Review six fact sheets that compile national figures and provide basic information on some of the most important issues surrounding long-term care. Each 2-3 page document presents a critical long-term care issue, highlighting main points in bullet format and providing a comprehensive list of citations. Topics range from demographics and economic characteristics of the aging population, to who needs, provides and pays for LTC, and where it is provided.

Find interactive timelines for health insurance, revenue and delivery system reform provisions of the Affordable Care Act. An graphic overview is included, as well as PDF documents with interactive year by year listings of the legislation’s provisions.

What are the key health reform provisions related to investments in direct-care worker training and workforce development? This fact sheet highlights national advisory panels as well as grant opportunities for states and individual employers. Action steps and additional resources are included.

Innovative applications of technology in Medicaid are highlighted in this series of profiles from varying states. Louisiana, a pioneer in using “Express Lane Eligibility” (ELE) is examined in this report. ELE allows Medicaid and CHIP agencies to use eligibility findings from other public programs to identify, enroll, and recertify participants. Despite a 12% reduction in the Medicaid workforce over the last two years, the volume and quality of service has remained consistent.

First in a series, this brief presents findings from AoA’s National Survey of Older Americans Act Program Participants. Findings indicated that Title III participants were at a higher risk of entering a nursing home compared to others in their age group. The authors conclude that AoA, however, is effectively reaching those most at risk of institutionalization, and that Title III services play an important role in helping elderly adults remain living independently in the community.

This brief underscores the role of asset development for individuals with disabilities given that they are more likely to be unemployed and live in poverty than any other demographic in the US. It describes some of the interaction between asset accumulation and disability benefits programs, particularly SSDI and SSI, and presents information on Individual Development Account programs and strategies by which Assets for Independence grantees can improve access to IDAs for people with disabilities.

This is the fourth in a series of briefs that focus on affordable housing strategies and state and local partnerships that increase housing opportunities for workers with disabilities. Asset-building strategies that can support affordable rental and homeownership occupancy are discussed, as well as shared equity strategies such as cooperative housing and community land trusts. Also find a link to the entire brief series.