Senate Special Committee on Aging Seeks Answers on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations10/11/2023
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In a historic event on October 4, over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers staged the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history. The strike, lasting three days, resulted from unsuccessful negotiations after the expiration of the workers' union contracts on September 30. While the strike did not disrupt hospital and emergency department operations, it drew attention to the ongoing nurse staffing crisis and concerns about patient safety due to short staffing.
![]() The Better Medicare Alliance released its 2023 State of Medicare Advantage Report, which shows record-setting enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans. The report highlights several key findings, including the fact that in-home support services provided by Medicare Advantage plans increased 50% between 2022 and 2023. The average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in 2023 is at a 16-year low of $18. Beneficiaries report spending significantly less on out-of-pocket costs and premiums annually, resulting in $2,400 in savings, which amounts to 44% less than other Medicare options. Medicare Advantage offers substantial value to both beneficiaries and the federal government, covering all Medicare-covered services for 24% less than Fee-For-Service (FFS) Medicare. Additionally, 95% of beneficiaries are highly satisfied with their coverage. Between 2022 and 2023, in-home support services increased 50%. ![]() AARP's Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) 2023 State Scorecard Report was just released and reveals significant gaps in the care provided to older adults and individuals with disabilities in the United States. Although there has been some overall progress compared to the 2020 update, every state still has areas that require improvement. Effective June 1, 2023, the Connecticut Department of Social Services, in response to the increase in the minimum wage, is retroactively increasing rates by 4.9% for several Home and Community-Based waiver service providers, the Department announced in a policy bulletin on September 29. (The increase supersedes one that was issued last summer and was effective July 1, 2023.) The programs include the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders and Personal Care Assistance.
![]() Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2023 H.R. 5371 is designed to enhance patient access to a wider range of wheelchairs. It allows for code upgrades for titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs under Medicare. This legislation seeks to offer wheelchair users a choice of products that align with their medical and lifestyle needs and remove financial barriers that have prevented some Medicare beneficiaries from accessing titanium and carbon fiber mobility solutions. The bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Ways and Means. ![]() It is an incredible honor and a privilege to join the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) and serve you and your colleagues as CEO. Home care is deeply personal to me, and I have seen its benefits firsthand. My family relied upon home care services just a few weeks ago for my mother and autistic brother while my father was traveling to assist my aunt. It was reassuring for my entire family to know that my mother and brother were receiving exemplary care in the comfort of their own home. I know you have your own personal stories about the value of home care as well. A new report by PHI underscores the vital role that immigrants can play in alleviating workforce shortages in home-based care. The report highlights that 32% of home care workers in the U.S. are immigrants.
![]() The New York Department of Health (DOH) has released guidance outlining the due dates for Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs), Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MMCOs), Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs), and Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs) to submit compliance certifications and statements related to the Home Care Worker Wage Parity Law (WPL).
This year’s pre-conference session at HCAOA’s National Conference in Chicago on Sunday, October 22, focuses on state chapters and engagement with HCAOA at the national level. “State Chapters – Action, Advocacy & Networking” is about members getting involved with legislation and regulations at the state level, which is important because that’s where home care agencies are licensed, but it’s equally important to be engaged with your lawmakers at the federal level.
![]() The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has successfully reenrolled nearly half a million children and families in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) coverage, fixing an error that was causing improper disenrollment. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identified a state systems issue that was improperly disenrolling individuals, even when they remained eligible based on available information. CMS stated that measures were in place that would prevent further improper disenrollments. End of Pandemic Payments to Family Caregivers Could Exacerbate Workforce Shortages in Medicaid HCBS9/27/2023 A recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) warns that the termination of payments to family caregivers, which were allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, may intensify workforce shortages in Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS). Over 4 million individuals rely on Medicaid HCBS, making it a vital program for elderly and disabled Americans. Medicaid spent approximately $162 billion on HCBS in 2020, out of a total of $245 billion in HCBS spending, as Medicare generally does not cover these services.
![]() The September 30 deadline to secure your hotel for the 2023 HCAOA National Home Care Conference is just THREE DAYS AWAY. Prices will increase on October 1, so if you are attending or are planning to attend, make your hotel reservation today to secure the discounted rate of $229 plus tax per night at the Hilton Chicago. |
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