Reports

At the beginning of 2013, 16 states had Medicaid managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) plans, with mandatory or voluntary enrollment. Target populations varied by state. In 13 states, MLTSS plan members were afforded the choice to participant-direct (PD) at least some HCBS services. Based on 5 in-depth state case studies expectations regarding availability and take-up of PD services in MLTSS varied as did methods of communicating expectations. PD varied from 1.2% in AZ to 24% in NM.

The report presents findings from a 50-state survey examining how well the needs of family caregivers are assessed when states evaluate the needs of older people & adults with disabilities who qualify for HCBS programs under Medicaid. It is the first detailed analysis of family caregiver assessment tools and processes in use by the states in Medicaid waiver programs. The report also highlights “promising practices” in family caregiver assessment in 3 states, and offers policy recommendations.

New research from AARP and ADvancing States finds that two-thirds of states either have or will launch new initiatives to better coordinate care for people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid services over the next two years. To contain the growth of costs and improve care, many are moving to risk-based managed long-term services and supports models. This research finds that a number of states are exploring approaches to dual services integration outside of the CMS models.

This report provides a snapshot of the APS program during a period of transition and change. Key elements driving the change include the economic environment, the continuation of states reorganization, and the federal budget impasse and decision of whether or not to fund the Elder Justice Act. ADvancing States and NAPSA will continue to collect data from the states and localities to provide updates on this evolution.

ADvancing States organized members of the Aging Network at listening forums in 3 cities for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. The sessions fostered public input, which ADvancing States used to form recommendations for improvement according to its policy principles. The letter outlining these is addressed to Assistant Secretary of Aging, Kathy Greenlee. Some recommendations are to advance the network with more funding and to modernize the language of the Act to reflect person-centered objectives.

States endow Commissions on Aging Services with different responsibilities. States that have Commissions with more of an oversight nature advise states about aging issues and are responsible for working with legislators, advocating for seniors, and evaluating needs and services. More advisory Commissions offer guidance in identifying and researching aging issues. Results of a ADvancing States survey found that 20 states have Commissions in place, 5 with oversight capacity, and 15 that are more advisory.

The ADvancing States assessment of the AoA funded project to develop a national volunteer resource center to enhance engagement of volunteers in the Aging Network, especially Baby Boomers, consisted of an online scan and three follow-up conference calls with program directors. The results are synthesized in an overall brief and separated by program: Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), State Health Insurance Programs (SHIP), and Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman programs.

President Obama’s proposed budget outlines the Administration’s fiscal and program priorities for FY13. ADvancing States’s preliminary analysis is framed by an interest in aging and disability program funding. The analysis reveals the proposal’s requests for food and nutrition services, independent living, caregiver support, protection of vulnerable adults, and Medicare and Medicaid. The accompanying chart shows the President’s FY12 and FY13 requests for relevant aging and disability programs.

Social networking is an increasingly widespread strategy for sharing information. This brief is a summary of a survey ADvancing States undertook of aging network state information and referral (I&R) liaisons to gauge level of knowledge, interest in, and possible future use of social networking. It provides a brief history of social networking as well as potential areas in which the aging network can benefit from it, both for internal use and to communicate with the public.