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Medicaid: Current Benefits and Flexibility Two issue briefs discuss the minimum requirements for states to receive federal Medicaid matching funds and the options states have under federal law and waivers to tailor their Medicaid programs. Medicaid as a Health Insurer: Current Benefits and Flexibility Medicaid as a Long-term Care Program: Current Benefits and Flexibility
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) was signed by the President in February 2006 and included major changes to the Medicaid program. This brief provides an overview of the changes to the rules and direction of Medicaid long-term care services as enacted in the DRA. Issue Brief (.pdf)
This Background Paper presents information on the disabled population, as well as alternative definitions of disability and the resulting impact on population estimates of the disabled population. In addition, this paper presents a profile of non-elderly persons with disabilities, including work status and health insurance coverage, and concludes with a discussion of policy issues related to facilitating participation in the workforce for persons with disabilities and improving access to health insurance coverage. Background Paper (.pdf)
Long-Term Care: Medicaid's Role and Challenges This Policy Brief examines Medicaid's role in providing long-term care services. It describes long-term care services, the population that needs these services, and how people get long-term care services. It provides an overview of health insurance coverage of persons with long-term care needs and describes both Medicare's and Medicaid's role in providing these services. It also examines some of the policy issues and challenges involved in providing long-term care…
The Kaiser Family Foundation maintains a number of primers providing overviews of key health care programs and issues. Written by Foundation staff, each primer provides key data and information that helps illustrate the topic and its relevance for the nation's health care system. Medicaid: A Primer Medicare: A Primer The Uninsured: A Primer Health Care Costs: A Primer How Private Health Coverage Works: A Primer Mental Health Financing in the United States: A Primer The…
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)
This report examines the structure and impact of Medicaid’s role in long-term care. Based on a roundtable discussion of policy makers and experts and drawn from a body of health services research, the report highlights policy challenges facing the Medicaid program today and identifies issues in providing long-term care going forward. By gathering evidence to address key policy issues, such as integrating services, benefit design, quality monitoring and financing, the report can serve as a…
The nine million dually eligible beneficiaries are generally poorer and sicker than other Medicare beneficiaries, tend to use more health care services, and thus account for a disproportionate share of Medicare and Medicaid spending. Because they often have complex medical and long-term care needs, and must navigate both Medicaid and Medicare benefits and financing, they present a special challenge for those seeking a more efficient and coordinated care delivery system. The panel will address such…
This case study looks at Michigan's Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program, which has enabled the state to accelerate existing transition activities and increase access to home- and community-based services (HCBS) by providing enhanced federal funds for each MFP participant’s 365-day enrollment period. Through MFP, Michigan is able to provide a comprehensive set of demonstration services in addition to existing HCBS waiver services so that each MFP participant receives the services necessary to transition…
This issue brief presents FY 2020 state-level data on the number of people receiving Medicaid HCBS and HCBS spending. This is the latest data available, and the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected in KFF’s 19th survey of state officials administering Medicaid HCBS programs in all 50 states and DC. A related brief presents the latest data and highlights themes in key state policy choices about optional HCBS.
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