Reports

The Congressional Research Service has published an updated report on The Elder Justice Act. The report provides background on the legislation, breaks down the provisions in the Act, lays out different funding mechanisms, and highlights pertinent issues for Congress to consider.

This guide provides tools, resources, and best practices that the Aging Network can use as a reference to plan services and programs that are more inclusive to these diverse elders. The guide outlines background information on diverse elders; discusses how to asses the needs of this population and include them in the planning process; and highlights inclusive goals, objectives, and measures of success.

The MACPAC June 2020 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP was created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights long-term challenges facing Medicaid. Across six chapters, it discusses key issues including integrated care for dually eligible Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicaid's statutory role as the payer of last resort.

This issue brief is the first publication from the Aging and Disabilities Technology Workgroup. The paper seeks to define key IT terms for agency staff and explain how they relate to the technology that is currently used in aging and disabilities services as well as emerging opportunities in the field.

Thank you to all of the states and organizations who have responded with activities, ideas, and actions taken to address social isolation for older adults during the COVID-19 crisis. The following document combines responses received thus far. Please continue to submit state, CBO, and facility activities to ADvancing States so that we may continue to share practices from across the country. Thank you for all you are doing to help decrease loneliness in older adults! UPDATED: 10.14.20

The Community Living Policy Center (CLPC) released a brief describing how short-term extensions of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program have curtailed state efforts in transitioning individuals out of institutions. The CLPC based their findings on CMS data on annual transitions in each state.

This issue brief from the MLTSS Institute focuses on aspects of delivering effective care to individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Only about 2/3 of states have undertaken any activity to better integrate care for dually eligible beneficiaries; many have encountered a number of barriers in pursuing better integration of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This issue brief identifies key questions that states should ask themselves before they design an integrated care program.

This AARP Public Policy Institute research report examines support for family caregivers in managed long-term services and supports. The report finds that states have made progress in this area, but have opportunity to continue improving support for family caregivers in their MLTSS programs. One potential solution suggested by the report is to ensure that MLTSS contracts between states and health plans include clearly defined requirements to identify and support family caregivers.

On March 3, 2020, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that details challenges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faces in meeting growing demand for long-term care (LTC). Three major challenges the VA faces includes workforce shortages, ailing care geographically, and meeting needs for specialty care. The VA currently provides or pays for LTC for over 500,000 veterans in the U.S. in both institutional and HCBS settings.

This brief looks at states who operate Medicare-Medicaid integrated care models based on demonstrations under the federal Financial Alignment Initiative (FAI) or through Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) that are aligned with Medicaid managed care plans. It explores factors that contributed to state investment and successful program implementation. The brief also provides an overview of opportunities for other states interested in creating or enhancing integrated care programs.