Policy alerts, briefs, letters & papers

Making use of data and knowledge sharing to drive benefits outreach, enrollment, and retention efforts promotes the efficient use of limited resources, states a new issue brief from NCOA's National Center for Benefits Outreach & Enrollment. Sharing data also can help enroll eligible individuals in more than one benefits program at a time.

On January 1, 2009, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 2008 went into effect, making some major changes to the way the definition of disability has been interpreted in the past. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has released this document to outline these changes clearly and thoroughly. This includes the modified definition of disability, the definition of reasonable accommodation, a listing of publications to help employers understand reasonable accommodation and practical tips.

In this report, the authors present the results of an assessment that involved review of the literature on emergency preparedness risk communication and public health messaging strategies; the compilation of educational and outreach materials for emergency preparedness communication with vulnerable populations; and site visits in three states and the Washington DC area to identify gaps in the practice of risk communication with vulnerable populations.

Waivers allow people to pay for needed home health and personal assistance so they may live in community rather than institutional settings. Little research has examined how effectively these programs ensure proper use of health care services or how they improve the health of people with disabilities or at how effective these programs are when people move from institutional to community settings. The bottom line? People with disabilities continue to have unacceptably high rates of disease.

Leading health reform proposals in both the House and Senate include a Medicaid expansion to help eliminate state variation in the current program and to broaden health coverage. Because Medicaid is jointly administered and financed by states and the federal government, changes will have direct impact on states. While health reform legislation could have many implications, this brief highlights some of the potential benefits and costs associated with Medicaid expansion in the reform proposals.

This fact sheet discusses the status of Medicaid and state budgets in light of the continuing recession and the federal fiscal relief provided to state Medicaid programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The ARRA money has helped address budget shortfalls, preserve Medicaid eligibility and soften program cuts. But ARRA funds are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2010, which may prompt some states to turn to cost-saving measures such as restrictions on Medicaid eligibility.

Transition to adulthood can be difficult for young people with disabilities, and changes in public policy are needed to give them the support to find meaningful work, stay employed, and reduce their dependency on federal and state benefits. This brief highlights the importance of improving policy, reviews lessons from research, and considers transformative policies and why such changes might be tested. It also discusses an example of the Transition to Economic Self-Sufficiency (TESS) program.

The population is aging & the demand for long term care and services at home is increasing. Medicaid is the most critical program for individuals who are aged & disabled because it pays for almost 46% of all nursing home care & 38% of home health. Medicaid HCBS have been the focus of efforts by the federal & state governments to expand access for several reasons. The focus of this article is to examine issues of access, cost, & quality for Medicaid HCBS programs and to suggest policy changes.

States increasingly require criminal background checks for home care workers to protect vulnerable adults from harm. While 46 states mandate some type of background check for Medicaid-funded workers, there is no uniform protocol for screening and disqualifying candidates. Developing sound policies and practices is challenging due to costs, database problems & time constraints. The paper offers an up-to-date assessment of practices, policy considerations & research and guidance on moving forward.

Express Lane Eligibility refers broadly to the ability to help make eligibility determinations for public assistance programs based on information provided through other government programs or agencies. The term is used to describe a variety of activities. This issue brief examines practical considerations for Express Lane Eligibility in programs for older adults.