Reports

This report examines state and federal oversight of assisted living services in Medicaid. Individuals receiving long-term care services from Medicaid in community residential settings is expected to grow. This report describes state spending on and coverage of these services; describes how state Medicaid agencies oversee the health and welfare of beneficiaries in these settings; and examines the extent that CMS oversees state Medicaid agency monitoring of assisted living services.

This report from the Kaiser Family Foundation addresses Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket health care spending. This report highlights the rising medical costs for low-income older adults. It is estimated that by 2030, Medicare beneficiaries will be spending half of their Social Security benefit on out-of-pocket Medicare expenses.

This report outlines concrete steps to protect vulnerable Social Security beneficiaries and recipients. The report includes recommendations for Congress, the Office of Management and Budget and SSA to strengthen the current administrative process, create better monitoring and explore comprehensive, government-wide coordination and cross-agency reform of rep-payee processes.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL), joined the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the HHS Office of Civil Rights to produce a report on ensuring beneficiary health and safety in group homes through state implementation of comprehensive compliance oversight. This report serves as a resource for states to use as a part of efforts to ensure that all group homes are safe and healthy places for people with disabilities.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined states’ needs assessment processes for provision of long-term services and supports. GAO studied six states that differed in the following ways: assessment tools in use, participation in federal initiatives, HCBS delivery systems, and geographic location. GAO also reviewed federal requirements and documents and interviewed CMS officials and stakeholders.

This report discusses how state employee health plans are a vehicle that states can use for improving their health care system and moving the commercial market forward on value-based reforms. Currently, in 18 states, state employee plans cover over 10% of the commercial market. State employee health plans have seen success with reference pricing, limited networks, tiering, bundles, and accountable care models.

This report documents the nationwide housing affordability crisis experienced by people with disabilities. The report discusses how in 2016, millions of adults with disabilities living solely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) found that renting even a modest unit in their community would require nearly all of their monthly income. The report offers policy recommendations to address this crisis.

The aim of this study was to gather information to gain a better understanding of the resources and assistance needs CILs may have with the new WIOA implementation guidelines in effect.

This report presents the findings and conclusions of this national evaluation of the MFP demonstration. The MFP Rebalancing Demonstration program launched more than nine years ago. There are 44 grantee states, and as of the end of calendar year 2015, grantee states had transitioned a total of 63,337 Medicaid beneficiaries from long-term institutional care to community residences and home and community-based LTSS.

Previous studies have demonstrated that socially isolated older adults are at greater risk for poor health and death than their well-connected counterparts. The AARP Public Policy Institute has released a new report that examines whether social isolation also affects health care spending among older adults, and finds that a lack of social contacts among older adults is associated with an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually.