The Buzz

News on transforming care for older adults


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    March23 rd

    Four years into implementation, nearly 40 percent of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are offering either expanded primarily health-related benefits (EPHRB) or Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) to help beneficiaries meet goals for independence. The latest report produced by ATI Advisory and Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) examines the growth of three specific benefits: in-home support services, caregiver supports, and social needs.

    Watch a recording complementing the report featuring opening remarks from TSF Vice President of Policy Narda Ipakchi.

    Image and anecdote from latest report

    Our partnership with UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program supports reporting on issues affecting the lives of older adults living at home and in community. A recent piece in The Sacramento Bee and affiliated publications explores reasons why nearly 1.5 million eligible older adults in California aren’t taking advantage of the state food stamp program.

    March8 th

    Last week, the Alliance for Health Policy held a webinar to discuss telehealth policy and other considerations for using the public health emergency (PHE) flexibilities to improve person-centered, equitable care for adults. Watch the recording, as well as access the transcript and presentation.

    The related PHE Flexibilities Roadmap for Policymakers resources supported by TSF and released earlier this year provide concrete and consensus-driven recommendations to federal and state policymakers on which temporary Medicare and Medicaid flexibilities should be made permanent.

    Everyone experiences aging differently. Our long-time project with Hollywood, Health & Society, part of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, has aimed to change the narrative around aging through entertainment by encouraging screenwriters to write more diverse and dynamic storylines for older actors.
    Check out our latest video featuring TSF President and CEO Sarita A. Mohanty, MD, MPH, MPA, and a number of beloved actors who note they’re “still in the game.”
    Image of actors starring in video
    From left: Norman Lear, Mimi Kennedy, George Takei, Marla Gibbs, and George Wallace PHILLIP FARAONE/GETTY IMAGES; EMMA MCINTYRE/GETTY IMAGES; TRISTAN FEWINGS/GETTY IMAGES; MICHAEL TULLBERG/GETTY IMAGES; ABE GINSBERG/GETTY IMAGES
    February28 th

    Join Alliance for Health Policy this Friday for a webinar: Moving Beyond COVID-19: Considerations for Using PHE Flexibilities to Improve Person-Centered Care. The event will feature TSF leadership and a diverse panel of experts to discuss considerations for using the public health emergence (PHE) flexibilities to improve person-centered, equitable care for older adults.

    This webinar further unpacks the PHE Flexibilities Roadmap for Policymakers resources supported by TSF and released earlier this year. The Roadmap provides concrete and consensus-driven recommendations to federal and state policymakers on which temporary Medicare and Medicaid flexibilities should be made permanent. View the related media advisory.

    The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago conducted a 2022 survey on the health care needs and experiences of Californians age 55 and older. Our new fact sheets distill findings as they relate to care coordination, mental health, income disparities, and caregiving.

    Learn about our initiative to influence access and care delivery and coordinate medical and nonmedical services in support of community living.

    AP-NORC visualization showing that a quarter of Californians age 55 and older didn't get the care they needed with routine care needs

    How are Medicare Advantage (MA) plans structuring and delivering nonmedical supplemental benefits to meaningfully meet members’ needs? The Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) and ATI Advisory conducted an analysis of three nonmedical benefits: in-home support services (IHSS), caregiver supports, and social needs. Join them for a webinar to learn about the findings.

    Image advertising March 13 webinar
    February15 th

    A Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA) is an umbrella term for a state-led, multiyear planning process that convenes cross-sector stakeholders to address the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

    A Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) blog from Kim McCoy Wade – Senior Advisor on Aging, Disability and Alzheimer’s for the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom – offers advice to states that are beginning the journey. Also, watch a recent Future Proof Live episode all about MPAs.

    Graphic of older adults and title of CHCS blog post

     

    The complex care evidence base is growing, yet meaningful patient involvement in the research is lacking. As a result, researchers often measure “success” as defined by health systems and plans, typically based on reduced utilization and costs.

    The Better Care Playbook engaged a social justice, community, and behavioral health advocate to discuss the value of involving people with lived experience in the research process.

    February1 st

    The latest chartbook from ATI Advisory provides insight on supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in 2023, including the recently expanded primarily health-related benefits (EPHRB) and the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI).

    The chartbook offers an analysis of the benefit offerings, along with maps of where benefits are available, the number of plans offering these benefits, and the MA organizations with the most plans offering these benefits.
    January19 th

    By the end of the decade, all baby boomers will be age 65 and older. Recognizing this shift and the variety of factors that affect the aging experience, state policymakers have engaged numerous programs to help older adults thrive.

    The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) highlights progress across the country, including those states already implementing Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs) or participating in the Multisector Plan for Aging Learning Collaborative.

    Logo of the National Conference of State Legislatures

    The American Society on Aging (ASA) is partnering with The John A. Hartford Foundation, West Health, and TSF on a blog series and programming to foster Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs) across the country. The first post unpacks MPA components and how to get involved.

    Also, join the January 25 Future Proof Live webinar on MPAs, and how states can coordinate infrastructure and services through these statewide comprehensive plans to go beyond traditional health and community services.
    Map of Multisector Plan for Aging Activity Across States

    Watch a recent California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports (CCLTSS) webinar, which shares how regional coalitions are elevating local Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs) in rural areas. Another helpful CCLTSS recording dives into the benefits of assessing regional strengths.

    December14 th

    An Investigative Reporting Program article, originally published in The Washington Post, highlights examples of a changing villages movement—one that is building upon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, and considering past and current barriers for people of color and diverse communities as it works to expand membership and help more people age in place.

    December7 th
    Commissioned by the Partnership to Align Social Care, Manatt Health has developed a playbook for state Medicaid agencies seeking to partner with Community Care Hubs (CCHs) in the design and implementation of social determinants of health (SDOH) initiatives. The playbook offers an introduction to the key functions of CCHs, and practical advice on how state Medicaid agencies can collaborate with them.
    A recent webinar shared key highlights from the playbook. Access the recording and materials.
    Image with title of report and pictures of report authors
    November30 th

    A new brief from ATI Advisory offers data insights on 2023 Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offering the five expanded primarily health-related benefits (EPHRB). The brief includes information on where plans are offering EPHRB and an overview across both MA special needs plans (SNPs) and non-SNP MA organizations. This is part of ATI’s broader effort to track nonmedical supplemental benefits and builds on their recent chartbook.

    Bringing awareness to issues affecting the lives of community-dwelling older adults, our partnership with UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program inspires unique reporting opportunities. A recent article published by climate justice site Grist elevated an intergenerational housing story in France as an example of how to protect older adults during heat waves.

    November17 th

    A new brief from AARP Public Policy Institute presents the vision and framework for the 2023 Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) State Scorecard. The brief discusses AARP’s approach to the 2023 edition of the Scorecard, reflects on changes since the Scorecard was first published in 2011, and considers how future editions may best meet today’s needs.

    November10 th

    Older black man and black woman embracing each other. This National Family Caregivers Month, The SCAN Foundation salutes the tremendous contributions that family caregivers provide to older adults and people with disabilities.

    Nearly everyone will be a caregiver or need a caregiver in their lifetime. Currently, 53 million people in America are unpaid caregivers—providing physical, emotional, social, and financial support to family, friends, and neighbors. They are the “invisible backbone” of U.S. health care, spending roughly $7,000/year on out-of-pocket caregiving costs, such as household and medical expenses. An earlier report found that caregivers’ estimated 34 billion hours of unpaid care translated to an estimated economic value of $470 billion.

    California had 6.7 million adult caregivers in 2020, and 1 in 4 adults provided at least 20 hours/week of caregiving. Nearly 3 in 5 were women, 3 in 5 were 45 years of age or older, and 4 in 5 were white or Latino. Further, we see communities of color living in multigenerational settings (or households) more often than whites, which suggests that these families are more likely to provide unpaid caregiving across the generations.

    Family caregivers are the unsung heroes of health care and deserve more recognition than just 30 days in November. Their service reinforces our commitment to lift their voices—like Sandy, a woman caring for her proud veteran father, and ensuring he can age at home surrounded by his friends and community.

    Similarly, Grace cares for her parents. She adjusts as her parents’ needs change to ensure they can keep doing what they like to do. Simultaneously, she is thinking about how she can obtain support and maintain her own well-being.

    Though Angela moved into an assisted living facility to be supported with her daily living needs, her granddaughter Sarah continues to provide emotional and social support.

    We pledge to continue to advance efforts for every state to develop a Master Plan for Aging that includes the needs of family caregivers—like paid leave, multilingual training resources, virtual care options, and other supports. So what can you do today?

    • Start important conversations about aging well with older adults in your life. Then when caregiving needs exist, you’ll know what matters most to them.
    • Find your local AARP chapter to learn about family caregiver assistance and ongoing efforts to expand home- and community-based resources near you.

    Throughout National Family Caregivers Month and every day, we must continue to shine a light on family caregivers. They deserve our deep appreciation, and our responsiveness to their wants and needs.

    Older adults and family and friend caregivers are discussing what really matters. Our Aging Well with Community page shares how three older adults are navigating growing older with support from their family caregivers and communities. Related, check out our 10 Things series for millennial caregivers and families.

    Older woman and daughter in nursery.

    November2 nd

    Watch a recent Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) discussion on services and supports offered to California’s older adult population and dual eligible beneficiaries and how these services align with the Master Plan for Aging.

    A brief from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) highlights current federal initiatives for integrating payment and delivery of services for dually eligible beneficiaries and opportunities for future integration efforts.

    The Better Care Playbook elevates promising approaches to improve care for adults with complex health and social needs. Help the Playbook grow and evolve by sharing your feedback by November 30.

    October26 th

    A new Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) resource shares facts about California’s older adult population and steps the state is taking to advance health and transform aging.

    Join the related ITUP webinar tomorrow, October 27, at 1 pm PT for a discussion on new services and supports offered to California’s older adult population and dual eligible beneficiaries, and how these services align with the Master Plan for Aging.

    A Master Plan for Aging (MPA) lays out a roadmap to help states transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for their aging populations and people with disabilities. The Center for Health Care Strategies outlines the principles essential to MPA development and shares examples of best practices. Learn about the unexpected benefits of an MPA and how to get started.

    October19 th

    Join Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) on Thursday, October 27, at 1 pm PT for a discussion on new services and supports offered to California’s older adult population and dual eligible beneficiaries, and how these services align with the Master Plan for Aging.

    An Investigative Reporting Program article, originally published in The San Francisco Chronicle last month, takes a deeper look at many older adults’ inadequate access to home- and community-based services and affordable housing.

    The Better Care Playbook provides evidence-based research and promising practices for improving complex care. Read the latest blog on measuring equity during people’s inpatient hospital experiences, stratifying by race and ethnicity, language preference, and social risk.

    October12 th

    Recent analyses by NORC at the University of Chicago explored the financial challenges likely faced by middle-income older adults in California and nationally by 2033. Watch the related California-focused discussion that builds on NORC’s findings. Also, read our fact sheet, highlighting key investments within the California state budget.

    The Better Care Playbook elevates promising approaches to improve care for adults with complex health and social needs. Help the Playbook grow and evolve by sharing your feedback by November 30.

    Clipboard with symbol of survey