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State Financing of the Medicare Drug Benefit: New Data on the "Clawback" Beginning in 2006, states will be obligated to finance part of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit via a monthly "clawback" payment to the federal government. This issue update analyzes the latest data and provides an overview of the state financing of the Medicare drug benefit. Issue Brief (.pdf)
With short and long-term policy changes to the Medicaid program being discussed, its role in providing long-term care is receiving closer examination. Medicaid is the single largest source of financing for long-term care, accounting for nearly half of all the nation’s spending for long-term care services, and demographic trends are likely to place additional pressure on Medicaid. New attention is being focused on who relies on Medicaid for help with nursing home bills and how…
In a few short weeks, Medicare will undergo big changes that will have a major impact on nearly 4 million African American seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. More than four in ten African Americans with Medicare lack coverage for their prescription drugs for at least part of the year. Many others will need to make decisions about their existing coverage and the new Medicare benefit.…
Long-Term Care: Understanding Medicaid’s Role for the Elderly and Disabled This updated report provides a review of how Medicaid works for people with long-term care needs and describes the fiscal challenges that states currently face and that Medicaid may face in the future as the population ages. Report (.pdf) Executive Summary (.pdf)
In a few short weeks, Medicare will undergo big changes that will have a major impact on more than 3 million Hispanic seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. More than one in three Hispanics with Medicare lack coverage for their prescription drugs for at least part of the year. Many others will need to make decisions about their existing coverage and the new Medicare benefit. Starting…
Asset Transfer and Nursing Home Use This issue brief examines asset transfer data of elderly nursing home residents and finds that for those who qualify for Medicaid, their average asset transfer are small, sufficient to cover about one month of private nursing home care. Issue Brief (.pdf)
How to Link to the Medicaid Benefits Online Database The Kaiser Family Foundation encourages non-profit organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations to link to its online information. To link to the timeline, please use the following graphic, title and url. Title:Medicaid Benefits: Online Database, Kaiser Family FoundationURL:http://www.kff.org/medicaidbenefits/Graphic: (right click on the graphic and select "Save Picture As" to save it to your computer) Thank you for your interest. Please let us know when…
Financing Health Coverage: The Fiscal Relief Experience This paper provides an overview of the context which prompted federal fiscal relief to the states in 2003 and discusses the implications of this experiment in federal intervention for financing the Medicaid program. Policy Brief (.pdf)
This chartbook provides 2004 data on health insurance coverage, with special attention to the uninsured. It includes trends and major shifts in coverage and a profile of the uninsured population. Report (.pdf)
Federal Spending on the Health Care Safety Net from 2001-2004: Has Spending Kept Pace with the Growth in the Uninsured? This report examines federal spending on the health care safety net and finds that it has not kept pace with the growth in the uninsured from 2001 to 2004. Report (.pdf) Executive Summary (.pdf)
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