The Buzz

We hope you’re enjoying our 2021 Forum: Amplifying All Voices in Aging. Our virtual series, Wednesdays in October, continues with a focus on supporting older adults and people with disabilities who have complex needs.

Tomorrow, join us to learn about applications of the core competencies created by the National Center for Complex Health & Social Needs (National Center). These competencies are helping the health care and social service sectors deliver team-based and person-centered care.

Register for this week’s panel!

The National Center, an initiative of the Camden Coalition, developed a web-based and downloadable toolkit to help educators and managers teach and train complex care. The core competencies comprise the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for members of teams or individual providers working in complex care programs.

A recent article highlights how person-driven outcome measures developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) can be used to assess quality, promote person-centered care, and improve the care experience for individuals and their providers.

Amplifying All Voices in Aging is a four-week virtual series, every Wednesday in October, to share people’s experiences engaging with health care and long-term services and supports (LTSS).

On Wednesday, October 6, learn about the pressing issues facing California’s LTSS system, engage with leaders to better understand the state’s policy landscape through an equity lens, and consider where you can play a role.

It’s not too late to register!

Our updated policy brief shares the latest on states that have developed Master Plans, examples of their key elements, and how states without a Master Plan can get started.

Also, read our recent fact sheet on California’s 2021-22 budget to learn about key investments to support implementation of the Master Plan and the state’s Home- and Community-Based Spending Plan.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research (AP-NORC) poll finds that many older adults continue to worry about COVID-19 infection and are more likely to practice social distancing. To cope with increased isolation, older adults are using video chat, social media, and telehealth when needed.

Read the press release and related Associated Press coverage.

Amplifying All Voices in Aging is a four-week series to share people’s experiences engaging with health care and long-term services and supports (LTSS). Every Wednesday in October, we’ll hearfrom experts and stakeholders and discuss how to advance person-focused, policy-driven solutions to support older adults and families. Register today!

October 6 – Amplifying All Voices in LTSS Systems Transformation: California State of the State 

For California’s older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers, the past year brought significant challenges, including equity issues magnified by COVID-19. The Master Plan for Aging demonstrates a commitment to addressing system issues and related inequities with transformation on the horizon through opportunities such as the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. In this session…

October 13 – From Theory to Practice: Delivering Care for People with Complex Needs

Supporting older adults and people with disabilities who have complex needs can be challenging, but services have become more integrated and focused on a person’s goals. This makes it essential to enlist providers who can deliver person-centered care. The National Center for Complex Health & Social Needs created a set of core competencies for the health care and social service sectors. This session will provide…

October 20 – Transforming Medicare and Medicaid Beyond COVID-19 for a Person-Centered Future 

While COVID-19 exposed problems in meeting the medical and nonmedical needs of older adults, the federal government allowed states and local providers substantial flexibilities in how care could be organized, delivered, and paid for through Medicare and Medicaid. This emergency response unveiled new ways to deliver care to those living with complex needs beyond what was previously imagined. In this session…

October 27 – A Future Vision for Aging Well and Equitably Beyond COVID: Reflections from Public Health, Media, and Technology Leaders

By 2034, the United States will have more older adults than children and increasing racial and ethnic diversity across the population. How do we reimagine and build an equitable society where all populations can age well, particularly in light of reshaped perspectives from the COVID-19 crisis? This discussion will include…

The Better Care Playbook aims to share the best in promising approaches to improve care for people with complex health and social needs. Take this brief survey to provide feedback.

Read a new blog from ATI Advisory exploring how Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) and the Value-Based Insurance Design Model provide opportunities for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to offer housing/rental support to their beneficiaries.

This year’s virtual Forum, Amplifying All Voices in Aging, is a four-week series sharing people’s experiences engaging with health care and long-term services and supports. Each week we will hear from experts and stakeholders on a range of topics. View information on each session and register today!
Week 1
Amplifying All Voices in LTSS Systems Transformation: California State of the State (October 6)

Week 2
From Theory to Practice: Delivering Care for People with Complex Needs (October 13)

Week 3
Transforming Medicare and Medicaid Beyond COVID-19 for a Person-Centered Future (October 20)

Week 4
A Future Vision for Aging Well and Equitably Beyond COVID: Reflections from Public Health, Media, and Technology Leaders (October 27)

Read a new report elevating the importance of learning an individual’s values, health-related social needs, and functional challenges to provide them the best tailored care. See more in the Better Care Playbook!

Read a new report from the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution that highlights LTC experts’ thoughts on rethinking care for older adults in light of COVID-19, and identifies key issues to address for LTC system transformation.

This year’s virtual Forum, Amplifying All Voices in Aging, is a four-week series sharing people’s experiences engaging with health care and long-term services and supports (LTSS). Each week, we will hear from experts and stakeholders on a range of topics from the state of LTSS systems in California to transforming Medicare and Medicaid beyond COVID-19 for a person-centered future. View the agenda, and register today!

Enacted on July 12, California’s 2021-22 budget addresses longstanding system challenges impacting older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers. Read our fact sheet to learn about key investments to support implementation of the Master Plan for Aging and California’s Home- and Community-Based Spending Plan.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) developed outcome measures that assess whether health care is helping older adults achieve “what matters most” to them. Learn how states can use person-driven outcomes to drive quality and accountability in contracted health plans. Watch prior webinars:

• Public Sector Briefing: Person-Driven Outcomes
• Grantmakers in Health 2021 Annual Conference Quick Take: Measuring What Matters to Older Adults

The nation’s long-term care system must become more accessible and affordable if it’s to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. To accelerate progress, AARP Public Policy Institute has launched LTSS Choices: A Series on Advancing Transformation in Long-Term Services and Supports.

Related: Watch a video on supporting family caregivers, and read a Health Affairs blog about current policy options.

This year’s virtual event, Amplifying All Voices in Aging, is a four-week series to explore the stories of real people aging and engaging with our health care and long-term services and supports systems. We will also hear from experts and stakeholders along the way.

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We partner with UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program to build awareness on aging in America and elevate how myriad sectors affect the lives of older adults. See the latest coverage below.

• An article in The Sacramento Bee examines how climate change is impacting older adults and inspiring a wave of activism. Read about climate-friendly aging in California’s Master Plan for Aging.
• A piece in The New York Times illustrates needs at the intersection of aging, public health, and housing.

Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S) at USC informs the entertainment industry’s depictions of aging and family caregiving. This new resource page compiles data on aging and health-related storylines along with viewer perceptions and actions.

The latest Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research (AP-NORC) poll shows Americans generally think their communities offer the services needed to age at home. Yet, people of color and people with lower incomes are less likely to report their area does a good job providing health care, transportation, and in-home supports, among other services.

“Americans want to age at home, but not all populations have the ability to do so—particularly communities of color and those of lower socioeconomic status,” said Dr. Sarita A. Mohanty, President & CEO of The SCAN Foundation. “Through the thoughtful use of the American Rescue Plan funds, states and localities can make a huge difference by creating more equitable access to key community services that make living well and safely at home a reality.”

Read the related Associated Press coverage.

AARP Public Policy Institute shares how some states are addressing the needs of older adults and people with disabilities by linking affordable housing to long-term services and supports (LTSS).

Check out recent Health Affairs blogs focused on improving access to quality care for people with complex health and social needs:

• Envisioning the Future of Complex Care
• Family Caregivers: The Unrecognized Strength Behind Hospital at Home
• To Improve Care for Patients with Complex Needs, Expand Home Visits
• Medicare’s Discriminatory Coverage Policies for Substance Use Disorders

Explore the latest toolkit from The National Center for Complex Health & Social Needs comprised of best practices for developing complex care programs.

Person-driven outcome (PDO) measures assess the quality of care based on what matters most to individuals. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is building PDO measures into their programs for health care entities and states to consider using in order to drive quality and accountability. Learn more.

• Watch a recent webinar highlighting how states can apply enhanced home-and community-based services funding to quality improvement activities, including PDO.
• Register for the PDO briefing on July 21.
• As part of the NCQA Quality Innovation Series, join health care professionals for the PDO course on August 4.

The TSF 2021 Innovation Award recognizes organizations that embrace the principles of human-centered design to improve the lives of older adults in California. Learn more and apply today!

(If you received a link directly from ADBI, please use that link to complete the survey.)

New research from the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation shares Medicare-Medicaid beneficiary perspectives on integrated care and offers recommendations to improve enrollment.

• Read Listening to Dually Eligible Individuals: Person-Centered Enrollment Strategies for Integrated Care.
• Check out the Person-Centered Enrollment Strategies for Integrated Care Toolkit.
• Watch an expert panel discuss the findings and recommendations.

A Better Care Playbook blog highlights how older adults and people with disabilities who are homebound have lower rates of COVID-19 vaccine than the general population. Learn about steps being taken to consider the needs of homebound individuals and increase vaccination rates.

In 2020, TSF acknowledged the depth of disruptive change, focused on resiliency through creativity, and remained committed to its mission. Read our annual report.

The TSF 2021 Innovation Award seeks to recognize organizations that engage older adults in developing and crafting products and services for older Californians. Learn more and apply by July 15!