All States/Territories

On February 28, Senators Gillibrand and Casey introduced the Strategic Plan for Aging Act, which would create a new, nationwide grant program to support states in the development and implementation of multisector plans on aging. The act would award grants to states, territories, and tribes to create or continue development of their multisector plans. Awardees would be provided with resources to coordinate, implement, and evaluate cross-agency and private sector plans to improve the lives of older adults. ADvancing States and several other organizations have endorsed the Strategic Plan for Aging Act.

On February 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of November 2023, over 66.7 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 34.1 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, and over 32.6 million are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans. Over 85.8 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 78.7 million individuals have Medicaid and over 7.1 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.

On February 29, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a new proposed rule that would ensure airline passengers who use wheelchairs can travel safely and with dignity. The proposed rule would require that airlines meet rigorous standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities safely and with dignity. The proposal will set new standards for prompt, safe, and dignified assistance, mandate enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs and specify actions that airlines must take to protect passengers when a wheelchair is damaged during transport...

The Program Sustainability in Healthy Brain Initiative three-part video series was developed by the Association Of State And Territorial Health Officials (ASHTO), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to highlight program sustainability in ongoing Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) work. Hear from three state leaders and an academic expert about focus areas including partnership, equitable practice, and the blending of public health planning and sustainability for long-term benefits of the HBI. After watching this video series, participants can continue their sustainability journey with ASTHO's written Sustainability in HBI Implementation: Who? What? Why? Now! resource...

On February 22, a panel of four experts joined Larry Levitt, KFF’s executive vice president for health policy, for a 45-minute discussion addressing the future of prior authorization requirements in health care. The panel discussed why insurers use prior authorization, its impact on patients and providers, and how the new regulations may change current practices. They also examined the potential for further regulatory or legislative actions to address ongoing concerns.

A recent report from Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) and the Community Living Policy Center (CLPC) at Brandeis University highlights recommendations to inform future research, policy, and practice that aim to advance efforts to improve standardized data collection and reporting, to better understand the impacts of direct-care workforce shortages, and to drive critical investments in the direct-care workforce. To inform this exploratory study, LTQA and CLPC conducted six focus groups and four key informant interviews with managed-LTSS health plans, home-care providers, self-direction experts, fiscal intermediaries, state-association representatives, and other policy experts and advocates...

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule revising previous guidance on how to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule will take effect March 11. Determinations about who is an employee or independent contractor can have a big impact on direct care workers, and this revision will help to protect employees’ rights and ensure they benefit from protections under federal labor laws. The new final rule rescinds the 2021 Independent Contractor Rule and returns to longstanding DOL interpretation that is consistent with caselaw of how to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor...

Nearly one-fifth of older adults live in rural areas and, as a result of their geography, are at higher risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Commit to Connect Initiative recently released a topical guide titled “Rural Communities and Building Social Connection for Older Adults and People with Disabilities,” aimed at assisting staff and volunteer leaders from organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities in rural areas seeking to enhance or initiate social engagement efforts.

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Commit to Connect (CTC) initiative recently released a resource dedicated to supporting social connections for people who have dementia. This resource highlights easily replicable programs such as memory cafes and art or music-focused activities, providing practical examples for enhancing social engagement. In addition, it provides valuable communication tips for interacting with individuals with dementia and encourages active participation in the Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions, fostering a collaborative approach to combat social isolation across diverse demographics.

In recognition of the unparalleled dedication and commitment of the 53 million caregivers in America, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) recently released the “Disaster Preparedness Guide for Caregivers.” This guide aims to help family caregivers learn about disaster preparedness and identify the needs of care recipients, including how needs might change during a disaster. It also provides tailored information and resources that cater to the unique situations caregivers may face. This resource discusses effective strategies for connecting with communities and seeks to bolster caregivers' confidence, particularly in navigating challenges during a disaster.