Fact Sheets

AARP’s Public Policy Institute released a report titled “Underused Medicare Savings Programs Can Help Many More Older Adults Afford Health Care”. Medicare Savings Programs or MSPs provide financial assistance with certain Medicare costs for eligible low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and are administered by state Medicaid agencies. According to the report, about 16 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in MSPs; however, the number of individuals eligible for these programs is estimated to be much higher. The paper discusses the findings from the organization’s analysis and research, and proposes areas states can consider to increase enrollment and expand eligibility.

Resources for Integrated Care (RIC) recently released a brief on telehealth, and its impact on dually eligible people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). As noted by RIC, people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as people with I/DD, are diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions at higher rates than the general population and often face barriers with access to healthcare. Telehealth services have been increasing in popularity and usage and has the potential to positively impact people with I/DD. Health plans can utilize the information in the document to further their understanding of how telehealth modalities can improve access to person centered care for people with I/DD.

On Monday, February 13, 2023, Justice in Aging released a fact sheet on what advocates can do to ensure that dually eligible older adults can do to avoid disruptions in care when Medicaid public health emergency flexibilities end. The sheet provides further information on the “unwinding” process and state partners to address specific challenges that face the dually eligible population.

KFF’s “Medicaid: What to Watch in 2023” issue brief provides information on issues and considerations affecting Medicaid this year, including Medicaid Coverage and Financing; Access and Health Equity; and, Enrollment and Access Among People Eligible for Medicaid through Age or Disability.

Justice in Aging just released a new issue brief on the use of psychotropic medications in nursing facilities. The brief explores why reform initiatives have had limited success and the implications the use of psychotropic medications has on residents’ decision-making rights. In this installment of a series of issue briefs, Justice in Aging evaluates several proposals, and those proposals’ impacts on real-world residents.

CMS added a new telehealth indicator on clinician profile pages on Medicare Care Compare and in the Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The new indicator helps beneficiaries and caregivers find clinicians who provide telehealth services. This is especially helpful for patients seeking telehealth due to the ongoing public health emergency,

Since the early ninties the Eldercare Locator has connected older adults, caregivers, families, and professionals to local services that support healthy aging at home. This new infographic illustrates the top needs of individuals who contacted the Eldercare Locator in 2021. Requests were mostly related to transportation (22%), in-home services (12%) and housing (11%).

This infographic has facts and statistics about programs serving older adults and the experiences of older Americans.

The Aging and Disability Business Institute has published two infographics exploring how Area Agencies on Aging and other community-based organizations address the social determinants of health of older adults and people with disabilities in their communities through contracts with health care entities. The infographics identify key partners and services in these contracts, as well as where this contracting activity is occurring around the country.

This fact sheet from the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, Residents’ Rights and the LGBTQ+ Community: Know Your Rights as a Nursing Home Resident, highlights federal residents' rights and nursing home requirements pertaining to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) residents. The factsheet also provides options for complaint resolution, information for reporting abuse and resources regarding long-term care and LGBTQ+ advocacy.