Aging/Older Adults

KFF released a new report that shares a range of strategies states are using as they prepare to resume Medicaid disenrollment. The twenty-first annual KFF survey of state Medicaid Health Insurance (CHIP) Programs officials found that many states are using an array of strategies to promote continuity of coverage. The report shares findings from all states on their strategies to promote continuous coverage.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, MACPAC released it's March 2023 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP. The report recommends a series of measures aimed at improving the collection of race and ethnicity data, increasing transparency in nursing facility payment data, and giving states greater flexibility in following Medicare drug coverage decisions. It also includers MACPAC's annual, statutorily required report examining payment policy for safety net hospitals.

The Council on Quality Leadership published a Q&A with ACL Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging Alison Barkoff about the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) settings rule in their latest newsletter. The Q&A session explores the settings rule, and how states can implement best practices throughout the transition period for implementation.

On March 15th, the Department of Health and Human Services, through CMS, announced 27 prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part B that may have lower beneficiary coinsurances. From April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023, some people with Medicare who take these drugs may save between $2 and $390 per average dose, depending on the beneficiary’s coverage. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, drug companies that raise their drug prices faster than the rate of information are required to pay a rebate to Medicare. Starting April 1, 2023, Medicare beneficiaries may pay a lower coinsurance for certain Part B drugs if the drug’s price increased faster than the rate of inflation in a benchmark quarter.

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center released a new publication that provides a synthesis of intensive focus groups and stakeholder meetings on the transportation experiences of older adults, and younger adults with disabilities. The report is part of NADTC’s continued DEI initiative and gives greater insight into the national transportation landscape for older adults.

The Center for Health Care Strategies recently released several new resources all centering around how to better support older adults with the Multi Sector Plans for Aging (MPA). A multisector plan for aging refers to the multi-year planning and execution process that brings together partners to address the needs of the older adult population in a state. Some of the new resources include strategies for first steps and development of a MPA, advice and best practices from states with MPAs in place, and how family caregiving can help shape a states MPA.

KFF’s analysis released March 2, 2023, “Medicaid Enrollment Growth: Estimates by State and Eligibility Group Show Who may be at Risk as Continuous Enrollment Ends”, presents findings from the organization’s evaluation of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment data. KFF estimates nearly 95 million people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in March 2023 – an increase of 23.3 million enrollees with over half of the enrollee increase among adults under age 65 and nearly one-third among children. Also, five states – California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois – comprise over one-third of the increase in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment while the rate of growth in enrollment varies among states.

On Thursday, February 23, 2023 the United States Senate Finance Committee and Senate Special Aging Committee released a report that focuses on the catastrophic weather events in Texas in February 2021. The report details how widespread power outages affected nursing homes and residential facilities resulting in more than 1,400 nursing home residents being evacuated.

On Tuesday, February 28th, CMS released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of November 2022, over 65.3 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 35.1 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and over 30.2 have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 91.7 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP; more than 84.8 million individuals have Medicaid and over 6.9 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

The APS TARC has released a new toolkit for APS administrators managing a state of local APS program. The toolkit is intended to help orient new administrators with a brief which contains information and resources on topics ranging from the history of APS to federal resources that can support APS programs. The toolkit also includes an frequently used acronym guiode and the Updated National Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems from the Administration for Community Living.