Asset Transfer and Nursing Home Use October 31, 2005 Issue Brief 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)
State Financing of the Medicare Drug Benefit: New Data on the “Clawback” October 31, 2005 Issue Brief 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…
Financing Health Coverage: The Fiscal Relief Experience October 30, 2005 Issue Brief Financing Health Coverage: The Fiscal Relief ExperienceThis 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)
Medicare Part D: Issues for Dual Eligibles on the Eve of Implementation October 30, 2005 Issue Brief Medicare Part D: Issues for Dual Eligibles on the Eve of ImplementationThis issue brief describes how dual eligibles are treated under the Medicare drug benefit and the issues raised by their transition from Medicaid to Medicare drug coverage. The brief also explores key differences in the Medicare drug benefit compared…
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage for Residents of Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities: Special Problems and Concerns October 30, 2005 Issue Brief This issue brief describes Medicare drug benefit policy issues for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care settings, such as assisted living facilities and board and care facilities. The brief addresses differing rules for nursing home and non-nursing home settings, as well as for dual eligibles residing in long-term…
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services October 15, 2005 Fact Sheet This fact sheet summarizes the early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) Medicaid benefit for children and the current issues and debates that could impact the benefit. Fact Sheet (.pdf)
Dual Eligible Home and Community-Based Waiver Program Participants and the New Medicare Drug Benefit October 2, 2005 Issue Brief 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…
Strategies to Keep Consumers Needing Long-Term Care in the Community and Out of Nursing Facilities October 1, 2005 Report In recent years states have been trying to shift resources from institutional to home and community based long-term care services. This report examines “transition” and “diversion” policies and practices in eight states. It provides a sense of what state Medicaid programs are doing or could be doing to promote diversion.Report…
Health Care Coverage and Financing Issues in California: An October 2005 Update October 1, 2005 Issue Brief Health Care Coverage and Financing Issues in California: An October 2005 UpdateThis brief summarizes recent health insurance coverage trends in California and the Medi-Cal program, provides an overview of the state’s newly adopted FY 2005-06 budget agreement, and discusses key issues driving the current health policy agenda. The brief concludes…
State Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drug Policies: Findings from a National Survey, 2005 Update September 30, 2005 Poll Finding State Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drug Policies: Findings from a National Survey, 2005 UpdateThis survey of state Medicaid pharmacy programs supplements surveys conducted in 2003 and 2000 and reports Medicaid prescription drug policies in effect in early 2005. It covers key elements of utilization management, drug purchasing and potential impacts of…