Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues
A Special SeriesThe Kaiser Family Foundation and ABC/WCVB Local TV News Initiative:Caring For An Elderly RelativeGrowing numbers of families today are struggling with the challenges of getting and paying for long-term care for elderly relatives. As the population ages and more women enter the workforce, the problems of caring for…
Regulation of Private Long-Term Care Insurance: Implementation Experience and Key IssuesWhile private long-term care insurance (LTCI) has been available since the mid-1970s, its popularity has grown rapidly in recent years, and Congress is considering proposals that would further encourage LTCI purchase through expanded tax subsidies. Yet there has been little…
The health reform law contains provisions that aim to improve the delivery and coordination of services for persons enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare, known as the dual eligibles. This population includes individuals with some of the most severely disabling chronic conditions. While the higher costs associated with services to…
With a shift towards providing long-term services and supports in the community, policy interest in Medicaid consumer direction of personal assistance services (CD-PAS) has grown. Although overall enrollment in these programs is small, 42 states offered consumer direction in Medicaid in 2006. These programs allow Medicaid beneficiaries control over hiring,…
This brief summarizes lessons in offering more home and community-based services from states at the forefront of the effort. It describes current options for state Medicaid programs and draws on interviews with state officials to provide details about specific policies and procedures in states. Brief (.pdf)
Asset Transfer and Nursing Home UseThis 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)
This issue brief provides an overview of the Independence Plus Initiative, compares core program features with the Cash and Counseling Demonstration program, and discusses several policy issues that arise in the implementation of this initiative.Issue Paper (.pdf)
This policy brief describes the relationship of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Medicaid services and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead v. L.C. decision. Policy Brief (.pdf) Related Olmstead Materials
Dual eligible beneficiaries who participate in Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs usually do not have a centralized care provider to manage their health care benefits and services. For the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, no individual is designated to assist participants with their prescription drug plan selection, comparison of…
The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005, which became law this February, includes several significant changes to Medicaid long-term care policies. The Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured is releasing five new reports on long-term care issues that were addressed by the DRA changes.Long-term care accounts for…
