Reports

The US Department of Labor sponsored three national demonstration projects to research effective policies and practices that improve self-employment outcomes for people with disabilities. These projects represented a diversity of locations, economic environments and stakeholder groups, and resulted in new knowledge as well as local policy and program improvements that will help individuals achieve their entrepreneurship career goals. The projects are described in the attached report.

Explore Medicaid expansion under health care reform and savings for states through Medicaid “modernization.” This report examines three broad categories of savings opportunities including the greater use of coordinated care techniques, the greater use of managed care for LTC, and the upgrading of Medicaid’s administrative processes. Find national and state-specific projections of increases in Medicaid enrollees as a result of health reform legislation and of the associated Medicaid costs.

Find an estimate for the US of the costs over the next 20 years of providing public transportation to the advancing wave of older adults looking to maintain their independence. Investments recommended to address needs included more bus operator training and consideration of older adults’ needs in route planning and placement of transit stops. Capital enhancements include more low-floor and kneeling buses, improved interior circulation, additional grab bars and other accessibility features.

Review an early assessment of the balance of state LTC systems before the implementation of the MFP demonstration. The authors’ goal was to develop a baseline against which the impacts could be measured as the program matures and evolves. This baseline information is used to identify key differences in the makeup of states’ LTC systems, and the observations suggest that the impacts of the program are likely to differ across states.

Review the results of a survey of the nationwide network of Area Agencies on Aging on their knowledge and opinions about senior transportation. The report provides baseline information about AAAs’ involvement in transportation advocacy, planning and service delivery, as well as information about the availability of senior transportation nationwide. The document is the first in a series of reports to be developed focusing on current challenges and new developments that impact senior mobility.

Learn about the status of the public LTC delivery system, and opportunities and obstacles for LTSS reform and rebalancing. The study surveys states’ current HCBS expenditures and utilization, analyzes factors underpinning Medicaid’s institutional bias, looks at federal and state initiatives to improve the ratio between institutional and community-based care, and points to statutory and regulatory “fixes” that could enhance the states’ ability to improve their LTC delivery systems.

Fourth and final in a series that explores the cross-payer effects of providing Medicaid long-term supports and services on Medicare acute care resource use, this report provides a summary of the initial work of a study, described more fully in the first three reports, with an emphasis on lessons that state Medicaid administrators should consider as they move toward more formal programs of integrated care for persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

What are the CLASS provisions for benefit determination, eligibility, enrollment, oversight, and administration of the program? This report discusses these issues as well as cost and financing for LTC services and the current market for private LTC insurance. Federal budget implications of the CLASS program, as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office and the CMS are explored. Finally, the report provides a timeline of CLASS program provisions enacted under PPACA.

Looking for samples of MIG program evaluations and corresponding materials? The state of Indiana created the attached evaluations, reports, data supplement and evaluation progress reports for their MED Works Program. These samples contain program details, how well it's working and what the findings mean for the future of the program. It's an approach that could be useful to other states.

More than two dozen proven examples of direct-care worker retention strategies are outlined in this report. The report includes key research findings in the literature that show which factors lead to an increase in retention, as well as key successful strategies and programs, including many tools, resources and contacts.