A Challenge for States: Assuring Timely Access to Optimal Long-Term Services and Supports in the Community
The Medicaid program is a major payer for long-term services and supports (LTSS) in the United States, accounting for 40 percent of total spending for long-term services and supports. The federal government has played an active role in sponsoring initiatives to promote a shift to community-based care; and evidence from several states suggests that providing care in the community can be less expensive than providing institutional care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides incentives for…