Reports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with a group of elder abuse experts, released a new publication, Elder Abuse Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Core Data Elements. There is no consistent definition of elder abuse or neglect, which makes comparing data from different states and regions very challenging. This paper serves to establish consistent definitions and data elements to make comparing data easier.

This white paper examines the progress that is being made in the Aging Network. This paper covers key developments that are re-shaping the network as well as efforts to better measure the quality and value of its programs and services. The paper also includes: Case studies highlighting the work of the aging network in Florida, Massachusetts and California, discussion of quality initiatives and congressional actions, and concluding observations.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for November 2015 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility, and enrollment data. States provides data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began the Financial Alignment Demonstration in 2013 to improve care coordination. GAO was asked to examine care coordination under this demonstration. On January 19, The Government Accountability Office publicly released a report with their recommendations for CMS. GAO recommends that CMS develop new measures and align the current measures to improve oversight of care coordination.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for October 2015 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility, and enrollment data. States provides data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

The White House released the final report from the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA). President Barack Obama hosted the sixth WHCOA on July 13, 2015. Prior to the conference, events were hosted all over the United States to allow stakeholders to provide their input. The final report summarizes the work done both at the WHCOA and during the pre-conference activities and feedback elicited throughout the process.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), ADvancing States, and ODPHP, hosted a State Healthy Aging Workshop. State officials developed action plans for healthy aging that achieve shared goals of the state public health agency and the state aging agency. This report provides an overview of the state team planning outcomes and an evaluation of the workshop activities and presentations.

The United Health Foundation, in partnership with the American Public Health Association, released the 26th edition of America's Health Rankings. This report reflects the various factors that affect the health of American's using a state-by-state analysis. Additionally, the report provides information on the progress of different health initiatives and challenges, a comparison with other nations, health rankings by state, and benchmark measures to quantify how health is changing over the years.

The AARP Public Policy Institute published a report that examined what state Medicaid agencies need in order to effectively monitor the performance of managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) programs. Eight states with long-term experience operating and overseeing MLTSS were used to analyze monitoring capacities and develop promising practices. The states were: Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability published this month's National Trends on Disability Employment report (nTIDE). Each month this report is published to mark the changes of employment for people with disabilities. Labor statistics indicate that very few people with disabilities are working for the third month in a row. Meanwhile employment rates remain steady for people without disabilities.