2017
2017 Med-Cal Quick Reference Guide
DEC 21, 2017 | California Health Care Foundation (CHCF)| Medi-Cal Facts and Figures: An Evolving Program
Medi-Cal is the main source of health insurance for one in three Californians. This set of materials provides an overview of the program's key features, describes how the program is evolving, and examines the challenges ahead.
Long-Term Care in America: Views on Who Should Bear the Responsibilities and Costs of Care
DEC 2017 | AP-NORC Center | Overview | REPORT HTML :: PDF
The AP-NORC Center’s fifth annual Long-Term Care Poll explores how older Americans feel about the services and support in their community, the country’s preparedness to meet the care needs of an aging population, and other attitudinal trends.
Millennials and Dementia Caregiving in the United States
DEC 4, 2017 | USC Roybal Institute | Issue Brief | Full Report
This issue brief shows that one out of six millennial caregivers cares for someone with dementia. With the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias expected to reach nearly 16 million in the U.S. by 2050 from 5 million today, more millennials and young Americans are expected to face caregiving responsibilities in the future.
The Many Faces of Caregivers: A Close-Up Look at Caregiving and Its Impacts
Regional Perspectives: California
NOV 2017 | Transamerica Institute | Survey Report
This national survey of 3,000+ non-professional caregivers examines their duties and the impact caregiving has on their personal health and well-being, employment, finances and retirement preparations. It also offers detailed findings about care recipients, including their health status and financial situation. The survey report comprises these chapters:
Primary vs. Non-Primary | Influences of Demographics on Caregiving | Regional Perspectives: California
Examining Oral Health Care Utilization and Expenditures for Low-Income Adults
NOV 16, 2017 | Center for Health Care Strategies | Brief
To better understand how adult Medicaid beneficiaries are using dental services, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), with support from the DentaQuest Foundation, analyzed dental service use and cost data for non-elderly Medicaid-enrolled adults by a number of individual-, community-, and state-level factors. The analysis is part of CHCS’ Faces of Medicaid data series, which examines high-cost Medicaid populations to provide stakeholders with important insights to inform program design, service delivery, and cost-effectiveness.
Medicaid and Transportation for Older Adults
OCT 2017 | National Center on Law & Elder Rights | Issue Brief
This issue brief covers:
Why Transportation Matters | Medicaid Rules and Regulations Regarding Transportation | Types of Transportation | Transportation, Dual Eligibles, and Managed Care | Recommendations and Troubleshooting Tips for Advocates
Using Medicaid Levers to Support Health Care Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations
OCT 2017 | Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. | Fact Sheet
This fact sheet outlines strategies to help Medicaid stakeholders encourage partnerships between CBOs and HCOs. States can provide: (1) financial support to build and sustain program capacity; (2) assistance in identifying metrics for evaluation; (3) incentives to providers to address SDOH; and (4) use of policy levers, including value-based contracts, managed care organization regulations, and state plan amendments, to support partnership efforts.
Partnership Assessment Tool for Health (PATH)
OCT 2017 | Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. | PATH Tool
Designed for CBOs and HCOs in existing partnerships, this tool provides a template to understand progress toward benchmarks characteristic of effective partnerships, identify areas for further development, and guide strategic conversation. The objective of the tool is to help partnering organizations work together more effectively and maximize their impact.
Key Issues in Long-Term Services and Supports Quality
OCT 27, 2017 | Issue Brief by Charlene Harrington, Joshua M. Wiener, Leslie Ross, and MaryBeth Musumeci
This issue brief discusses four key issues related to long-term services and supports (LTSS) including institutional and home and community-based services (HCBS) quality, highlighting major legislative and policy changes over the last 30 years. The Appendix Tables provide data about LTSS providers and consumers, summarize key federal laws and policies related to quality, and list selected federal quality measures.
How the Elderly Lose Their Rights
OCT 9, 2017 | The New Yorker | Article by Rachel Aviv
Guardians can sell the assets and control the lives of senior citizens without their consent—and reap a profit from it.
Adult Day Health Care: An Unbelievable Cost Containment Resource that Is Underfunded and Underutilized
SEP 2017 | MAZARS USA HEALTHCARE TRENDS | Featured Article by Russell D. Foster
For those who think Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) is just day care…think again! Yes, it’s a place for family members to drop-off their aging parents while they head off to work, run errands or simply use the time to get a little (and often much needed) respite from their 24/7 caregiving duties. But, ADHCs are so much more than a place to drop off Mom and Dad for part of a day.
Seniors & the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians
SEP 2017 | The State Bar of California
Seniors & the Law — A Guide for Maturing Californians is the third in a series of State Bar consumer education guides and is available in both English and Spanish. The guide addresses a number of issues confronting seniors, including:
Finances and debt | Social Security and insurance | Housing and caregiving | Employment | Healthcare | Elder abuse/elder fraud | Grandparents' rights | Divorce and remarriage | Estate planning and legal services.
Tough sell: Frail Angelenos reject managed health program Confusion over new benefits, preference for 'tried and true,' drive opt-outs
SEP 27, 2017 | UCLA Health Policy | Policy Brief: Cal MediConnect Enrollment: Why Are Dual-Eligible Consumers in Los Angeles County Opting Out? by Venetia Lai, 310-794-6963, venetialai@ucla.edu
Three in five of the poorest, sickest residents in Los Angeles County have rejected a managed health care program meant to improve their access to health services, according to a policy brief. As a result, the county’s opt-out rate for the program is the highest in California, pushing overall enrollment far lower than expected.
National Study of Long-Term Care Providers: Study Results and Publications - Presentations
SEP 26, 2107 | 2017 National Adult Day Services Association Conference | Update and What's New from the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers | More Study Results and Publications - Presentations
Supporting People with Dementia and Their Caregivers in the Community
SEP 14, 2017 | American Society on Aging | Download Publication
To help educate about and combat Alzheimer’s, ASA is pleased to introduce a special supplement to Generations, “Supporting People with Dementia and Their Caregivers in the Community.” The supplement focuses on efforts underway to establish dementia-capable home and community-based service systems, and to develop effective, evidence-based services for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers. The content features research and writing by dementia experts at RTI International, as well as many others well-known in the field of dementia research and advocacy. This content paves the way for service providers, families, and caregivers to provide person-centered, evidence-based, effective home- and community-based service systems for people with dementia and their caregivers.
2017's Best & Worst States for Health Care
AUG 7, 2017 | WalletHub | Main Findings
WalletHub determined that the best state overall for healthcare was Hawaii, which has one of the highest percentages of insured children and adults and the lowest heart disease rate in the country. However, the report notes that the Aloha State also has the lowest rate of physician acceptance of Medicare. Learn where California ranks. . .
Mirror, Mirror 2017: International Comparison Reflects Flaws and Opportunities for Better U.S. Health Care
JUL 14, 2017 | The Commonwealth Fund | Abstract | Full Report
The U.S. ranked last on performance overall, and ranked last or near last on the Access, Administrative Efficiency, Equity, and Health Care Outcomes domains. The top-ranked countries overall were the U.K., Australia, and the Netherlands. Based on a broad range of indicators, the U.S. health system is an outlier, spending far more but falling short of the performance achieved by other high-income countries. The results suggest the U.S. health care system should look at other countries' approaches if it wants to achieve an affordable high-performing health care system that serves all Americans.
Medi-Cal Matters
JUL 12, 2017 | CHCF Newsletter
Medi-Cal Matters compiles key facts and figures illustrating the benefits of Medi-Cal coverage to the program's nearly 14 million beneficiaries. Look in the region-specific sections for data on access to care for Medi-Cal enrollees in that area of the state. Download the full chart deck and individual graphics for sharing on social media.
Medi-Cal provides a vital safety net to nearly one-quarter of California seniors and half of Californians with disabilities. In total, there are approximately two million seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medi-Cal. How many live in your county? How could the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) affect your neighbors? Learn more.
The Senate’s BCRA would impose a per-capita cap on federal Medicaid spending. How does the cap work? What would be the impact on Medi-Cal? And what factors might affect these caps over time? Read a new California-specific analysis by Manatt Health.
The Effect of Adult Day Program Attendance on Emergency Room Registrations, Hospital Admissions, and Days in Hospital: A Propensity-Matching Study
JUN 2017 | The Gerontologist, Volume 57, Issue 3, Pages 552–562 | Abstract and Full Article by Ronald Kelly, PhD
This study is an investigation of the effect of adult day program attendance by home care clients 65 years of age and older on numbers and rates of emergency room registrations, hospital admissions, and days in hospital.
Medi-Cal Enrollment of Seniors and People with Disabilities, County by County
JUN 29, 2017 | California Health Care Foundation | Medi-Cal Enrollment of Seniors and People with Disabilities, County by County
Today, the Medi-Cal program, California's version of Medicaid, covers nearly 14 million Californians. Approximately two million — or about 15% — are low-income seniors and people with disabilities (SPDs). The number of SPDs enrolled in Medi-Cal varies from 65 in Alpine County to 637,304 in Los Angeles County.
Understanding the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA): Key Implications for Medicaid
JUN 28, 2017 | Manatt Health | Analysis by Jocelyn Guyer, April Grady, and Kevin McAvey | BCRA State-by-State Chartbook Cover Memo
Senate leadership has released a proposed substitute for the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA) known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA) that eliminates enhanced funding for Medicaid expansion after a three-year phase out, establishes a cap on federal Medicaid funding for nearly all beneficiaries and services, and makes a number of other changes to Medicaid. Using the Manatt Medicaid Financing Model, this analysis estimates the state-by-state impact of the cap on Medicaid and elimination of enhanced funding for expansion, taking into account that states may respond to the proposed law in a number of different ways. Manatt has also provided a cover memo to explain the data and assumptions.
New Fact Sheet: SSI in California
MAY 26, 2017 | Justice in Aging | SSI Fact Sheet
This new Justice in Aging SSI fact sheet for California shows who relies on SSI, why it’s important, and the dangers cuts to the program would pose for low-income families and communities.
FACT SHEET: Women and Long-Term Services and Supports
APR 2017 | Ari Houser, AARP Public Policy Institute
Women face major challenges as they seek to live with independence and dignity as they age. With longer average life spans and higher rates of disability and chronic health problems than men, most women will need long-term services and supports (LTSS) in their lifetimes. MORE
RTI Releases Two Reports Offering an Evaluation of Cal MediConnect
MAR 27, 2017 | RTI
RTI has released two reports this month that offer an evaluation of California's duals demonstration – Cal MediConnect – as well as other demos across the country. RTI will also release its full California-specific evaluation in the next few months.
Early Findings on Care Coordination in Capitated Medicare-Medicaid Plans Under the Financial Alignment Initiative | Full Report, MAR 2017
Beneficiary Experience: Early Findings from Focus Groups with Enrollees Participating in the Financial Alignment Initiative | Full Report, MAR 2017
CAADS members may view a brief summary of each report with regard to California-specific findings on the Members Only page. Special thanks to Amber Christ, Senior Staff Attorney with Justice in Aging, for preparing the summary.
Medicaid: A Last Resort for People Needing Long-Term Services and Supports
MAR 13, 2017 | AARP Public Policy Institute | Report
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures - 2017
MAR 10, 2017 | Alzheimer's Association | Report | Infographic
Fact Sheet: Medicare Part D - 2017 Transition Rights
FEB 8, 2017 | Justice in Aging Health Network Alert | Fact Sheet
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that sponsors of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans provide beneficiaries with access to transition supplies of needed medications to protect them from disruption and give adequate time to move over to a drug that is on a plan’s formulary (medication list), file a formulary exception request or, particularly for Low Income Subsidy (LIS) recipients, enroll in a different plan.
To assist advocates with transition issues, this fact sheet sets out the CMS minimum requirements for all plans. For further information, contact Georgia Burke, gburke@justiceinaging.org.
