In 45 States, Fewer Than Half of Nursing Facilities Have Enough Staff to Meet New Federal Requirements May 21, 2024 News Release In 45 states, fewer than half of nursing facilities currently meet all three staffing minimums required in the final federal rule that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released in April, and in 28 states, less than a quarter do, according to a new KFF analysis. The share…
A Closer Look at the Final Nursing Facility Rule and Which Facilities Might Meet New Staffing Requirements May 21, 2024 Issue Brief This analysis discusses the provisions of the final rule, including changes made by the Administration from the proposed rule, and examines the percentage and characteristics of nursing facilities that currently meet the minimum staffing requirements in the final rule, which takes effect beginning in May 2026 for some facilities.
New KFF Poll Finds that Many Older Voters Are Unaware of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation, But Awareness Has Grown May 15, 2024 News Release A new KFF poll finds that many older voters are unaware of the provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that for the first time requires the federal government to negotiate the price of some prescription drugs in the Medicare program, a key campaign issue for President Joe Biden. The 48%…
Final Prior Authorization Rules Look to Streamline the Process, but Issues Remain May 2, 2024 Issue Brief This brief examines the final CMS regulations governing prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, Marketplace, Medicaid, and other plans, how they might address some current consumer concerns, and some issues that remain.
State Health Coverage for Immigrants and Implications for Health Coverage and Care May 1, 2024 Issue Brief Noncitizen immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, face significant barriers to accessing health coverage and care and are significantly more likely than citizens to be uninsured. Some states have taken up options in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expand coverage for lawfully present immigrants and/or established fully state-funded programs to fill gaps in coverage for immigrants. This brief provides an overview of state health coverage programs for immigrants regardless of status and examines how health coverage for immigrants vary by state coverage policies using data from the 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants.
10 Things to Know About Medicaid Managed Care May 1, 2024 Issue Brief Our updated explainer provides an overview of comprehensive managed care, the most common way states deliver Medicaid services to enrollees, as well as new federal rules that strengthen managed care access standards.
Coverage of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Medicare April 30, 2024 Issue Brief This brief describes Medicare coverage of sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, and compares that coverage with private insurance plans and Medicaid. These benefits are particularly relevant to nearly 1 million women of reproductive age (20-49) who are eligible for Medicare due to having a long-term disability.
10 Key Facts About Women with Medicare April 30, 2024 Issue Brief This brief examines 10 key facts about women with Medicare and presents new statistics on the health, economic and functional status of women with Medicare.
Five Facts About Older Adults’ Health Care Experiences by Race and Ethnicity April 29, 2024 Issue Brief This analysis highlights key findings about the health care experiences of older adults (ages 65 and older) based on KFF’s 2023 Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health, including variations by race and ethnicity.
A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity April 24, 2024 Issue Brief The FDA recently approved a new use for Wegovy, the blockbuster anti-obesity drug, to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or obese – a decision that opens the door to Medicare coverage of Wegovy, which is prohibited by law from covering drugs used for obesity. This brief analyses how many Medicare beneficiaries could be eligible for the new use of Wegovy and the potential impact on Medicare spending.