Reports

Mathematica has published a report examining the potential impact of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (DPNP) on out-of-pocket spending for different groups of Medicare Part D enrollees. By simulating the DPNP process, Mathematica estimated what ceiling prices and out-of-pocket expenses on the 10 highest-expenditure drugs would have been in 2021, the most recent year for which complete Part D data were available. The report examines the disparities in reduced out-of-pocket spending among various racial, ethnic, and beneficiary groups, focusing on the differential impact of the DPNP policies....

On Thursday, December 7, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) issued a report to address issues related to the long-standing shortage of direct care workers. Through research, interviews with stakeholders and federal policy experts, and private roundtable discussions, BPC identified three major challenges to recruiting and retaining direct care workers...

Building on interviews with more than 70 stakeholders, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED) has released a report exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the labor market. The report highlights the potentially transformative effects of AI in the labor market by outlining 142 AI-powered solutions tailored to assist people with disabilities. However, the report also examines the risks for people with disability posed by the increasing adoption of AI in the labor market and in society at large. The report outlines various governmental strategies aimed at mitigating the potential risks associated with the implementation of AI...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a report detailing their efforts to address health care disparities faced by individuals living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. This report outlines CMS’ six key priorities for advancing health equity in these communities: (1) applying a community-informed geographic lens to CMS programs and policies, (2) increasing the collection and use of standardized data to improve health care, (3) strengthening and supporting Health Care Professionals, (4) optimizing medical and communication technology, and (6) driving innovation and value-based care....

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...