Reports

The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently released its 2023 Progress Report titled “Toward Economic Security: The Impact of Income and Asset Limits on People with Disabilities.” This report examines the implications of asset limits in government-sponsored social safety net programs on the economic self-sufficiency and financial independence of people with disabilities. The report focuses on four critical areas of public policy: health care, cash benefits provided through Supplemental Security Income (SSI), employment, and asset building and wealth protection. It also offers findings and recommendations for the Administration, Congress, and states in the areas of health, employment, asset building, and wealth protection...

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) recently released a comprehensive report addressing the escalating issue of homelessness among older adults, a demographic experiencing a rapid increase in homelessness over recent years. This report gives an overview of the population of older adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness and what services and supports are available to serve them. The report also examines these topics with attention to what is known about racial and ethnic groups disproportionately impacted by homelessness. In addition, the report highlights the challenges older adults encounter in accessing available assistance while also spotlighting innovative practices, especially those implement

On November 14, KFF released a report highlighting certain policies in place in state Medicaid programs in FY 2023 and policy changes implemented or planned for FY 2024, which began on July 1, 2023, for most states. The findings are drawn from the 23rd annual budget survey of Medicaid officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia conducted by KFF and Health Management Associates (HMA), in collaboration with the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD). Overall, 48 states responded to this year’s survey, although response rates for specific questions varied...

KFF recently released an issue brief that describes the findings from the organization’s nationally representative survey on Medicare beneficiary satisfaction. The brief, “Overall Satisfaction with Medicare is High, But Beneficiaries Under Age 65 With Disabilities Experience More Insurance Problems Than Older Beneficiaries” presents findings from KFF’s 2023 Survey of Consumer Experiences with Health Insurance. Based on the survey, Medicare beneficiaries, overall, are more satisfied with their health insurance coverage than adults with other types of insurance; however, those Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 with disabilities are less likely than those age 65 or older to give positive ratings to the overall performance...

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) have released new updates to the Rental Housing Programs Database (RHPD), offering comprehensive information on state and locally funded initiatives aimed at expanding access to affordable rental housing. The RHPD's purpose is to facilitate a better understanding of how state and local governments utilize their financial resources to bridge the gap between federal rental housing funding and the unmet needs of renters. This resource equips housing advocates, policymakers, and interested parties with insights into diverse programs that can serve as models for addressing rental housing challenges in their own communities...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement have jointly released a report aimed at enhancing the data infrastructure of agencies managing refugees and Medicaid services. This report, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, addresses data gaps in understanding the health and well-being of refugees. By linking data from two HHS administrative systems, the Refugee Arrivals Data System (RADS) and the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files (TAF), the report provides insights into Medicaid enrollment trends and service utilization among refugees...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently published its latest report to Congress on protecting older adults, which highlights key trends based on fraud reports by older adults, and the FTC’s multi-pronged efforts to combat the problem through law enforcement actions, rulemaking, and outreach and education programs. The FTC found that older adults reported losing more than $1.6 billion to fraud in 2022. Because the vast majority of frauds are not reported, this figure represents only a fraction of the overall cost of fraud to older consumers, which the FTC estimates to be as high as $48 billion. The report also calls on Congress to update the FTC Act in response to the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling in the AMG Capital Management case...

AARP's latest Spotlight report highlights the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a combined federal and state program designed to integrate medical care with long-term services and supports (LTSS) for adults with complex care needs. Eligible adults age 55+ who participate in PACE are able to access a comprehensive range of services, including medical and dental care, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and long-term services and supports (LTSS). PACE has demonstrated success in improving the health and well-being of participants, has high satisfaction among family caregivers, and is cost-effective. This Spotlight provides essential information about the program, including: ...

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the “Medicaid LTSS Annual Expenditures Report for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020”, and the Medicaid Section “1915(c) Waiver Programs Annual Expenditures and Beneficiaries Report, Analysis of CMS 372 Annual Reports for 2018-2019.” These reports discuss the long-term services and supports (LTSS) rebalancing trends and patterns in expenditures for different home and community-based services (HCBS) and institutional care, nationally and across states....

The "Falls Prevention Best Practice Guide for State Health Departments," developed by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a comprehensive resource designed to address the public health impact of unintentional falls among older adults.