“White House to extend PHE designation through April, reports say,” by James M. Berklan, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “The federal government will extend the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration until at least April, according to published reports. … The emergency status will extend beyond January in order to allow more time to transition off of the vast federal assistance, according to an unnamed administration official cited in a Reuters report Friday.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: The PHE designation give states a windfall of federal money and keeps ineligible recipients on Medicaid, but it’s a
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“Medicare Advantage 2023 Spotlight: First Look,” by Meredith Freed, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Anthony Damico, and Tricia Neuman, Kaiser Family Foundation Quote: “Over the last decade, Medicare Advantage, the private plan alternative to traditional Medicare, has taken on a more prominent role in the Medicare program. In 2022, more than 28 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, nearly half of the total Medicare population. This brief provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage plans that are available for 2023 and key trends over time. (A separate overview of the 2023 Medicare Part D marketplace is also available.)”   LTC Comment,
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“New insurance frontier may be opening to well-positioned providers,” by Kimberly Marselas, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “Some 81% of long-stay nursing home residents are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare coverage, yet the facilities they call home have rarely played a role in providing their health insurance. But analysts at healthcare research and consulting firm ATI and the SNP Alliance say an approaching regulatory transition presents a key opportunity for more skilled nursing providers to participate in and potentially offer special needs plans designed for dual-eligible individuals.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: More
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“Turkey, Pumpkin Pie and the Long-Term Care Conversation: LTCI Insider,” by Margie Barrie, ThinkAdvisor Quote: “The holiday might be a time for adult children, nieces and nephews to ask questions. Home maintenance, bill-paying and scams should be on the agenda. You could host part of the conversation.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Sound advice from one who knows.       Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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“States’ use of LTSS varies widely for dual-eligible adults with dementia,” by Alicia Lasek, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “Some state differences were stark. The use of any form of LTSS for dual-eligible beneficiaries with dementia ranged from 61% in Maine to 96% in Montana. Home-based service use ranged from 9% in Maine, Arizona and South Dakota, to 62% in Oregon, for example. And although nursing facilities topped the LTSS list of service type in most states, home-based services had greater utilization in not only Oregon, but in Alaska and California as well, the researchers found. Many states have sought to
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