“CMS: Home healthcare spending estimated to grow by 7.1 percent from 2025 to 2026, surpassing other sectors,” by Adam Healy, McKnights Home Care “Between 2025 and 2026, national spending on home health care is expected to increase by 7.1%, a data analysis published Wednesday in Health Affairs revealed. Projected spending growth in home health care should outpace all other categories including hospital care services (4.9%), physician and clinical services (4.8%) and nursing homes care (4.8%), and it is expected to grow even faster during the following years. Between 2027 and 2032, the sector will see spending growth of 8.1%, compared to hospital
Read More

“US healthcare spending for NFs and CCRCs to reach $337.4 billion by 2032, CMS says,” by Lois A. Bowers, McKnights Senior Living “National health expenditures for nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities are expected to reach $337.4 billion by 2032, according to new estimates released late Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of the Actuary. … The estimates — including spending by Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance and individuals out-of-pocket — were published online in the journal Health Affairs. Healthcare spending for US NFs and CCRCs was $181.1 billion in 2021 and $191.3 billion in 2022,
Read More

“MACPAC wants Congress to force states to disclose Medicaid financing streams,” by Rebecca Pifer, HealthCareDive “In a report to Congress released Tuesday, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, or MACPAC, recommended that lawmakers require states to submit an annual report on their Medicaid financing methods, including how states structure taxes on providers and how much funding comes from those taxes. States should also break down contributions on a provider-by-provider level, the commission said.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: It’s about time. States tax health and LTC providers, use the extra funds to leverage up
Read More

“Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Better Healthspan, Brainspan, and Lifespan,” by Maddy Dychtwald, Age Wave “Ageless Aging presents a pioneering new way for women to feel energetic, purposeful. and vital while gaining the upsides of aging, including more happiness, wisdom, and resilience. It provides a holistic action plan based on cutting-edge research that helps women take advantage of the scientific, medical, psychological, and spiritual tools, tips, and advice available to help women live better longer. It’s available wherever books, ebooks, and audiobooks are sold. You might enjoy some of Maddy’s recent interviews where she addresses many of the themes in her
Read More

“HHS Delivers Strategic Framework for National Plan on Aging,” Administration for Community Living (ACL) “Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Community Living, released ‘Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging .’ The report lays the groundwork for a coordinated effort – across the private and public sectors and in partnership with older adults, family caregivers, the aging services network, and other stakeholders – to create a national set of recommendations for advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities that value and truly include older adults. The national plan
Read More

“More older Americans worried about Medicare future: Survey,” by Tara Suter, The Hill “More older Americans are concerned about the future of Medicare, according to a survey published Wednesday. Seventy-four percent of Americans aged 50-64 say they are ‘extremely worried or worried’ about Medicare not being ‘available when you become eligible to receive it,’ according to the West Health-Gallup 2024 Survey on Aging in America. That figure is up 13 points from 2022. when 61 percent of the same age group said they were concerned about Medicare availability when they are eligible for it.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for
Read More

“KFF Introduces Health Policy 101—A Primer on U.S. Health Policy,” by Drew Altman, KFF “A new KFF resource—Health Policy 101—explains the basics on a wide range of topics about health programs and policy in the United States, such as Medicare and Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, health care costs and affordability, women’s health issues, and the politics of health care. Health Policy 101 chapters are available online and can be downloaded in PDF format. The ‘101’ was created to serve as a mini ‘textbook’ for faculty and students interested in health policy. Dr. Drew Altman, KFF’s president and CEO, is
Read More

“Insights from a Certification For Long-Term Care (CLTC) webinar,” CLTC ““If you’re going to hire private caregivers, you need recommendations, you need to do background checks, and your due diligence,” says Geriatric Care Manager, Susan Kelsey. The recent arrest of a home healthcare provider in South Florida underscores the importance of doing homework before choosing a provider. Miami police say the aide stole her patient’s condo after duping her into signing a quit claim deed to transfer the real estate. “I had somebody tell me they wish they Googled the person’s name because there was an article about that person
Read More

“The Costs of the Rising Cost of Long-Term Care,” by Lee Pruitt, ElderLawAnswers “Do you have a family member who is receiving some form of long-term care? If you don’t, the chances are good that someday you will – and that day may not be too far away. … Long-term care insurance offers a way to safeguard against the high costs of long-term care, providing financial protection, choice, and peace of mind. However, it’s essential to carefully consider the cost, benefits, and your unique circumstances before purchasing a policy. Consulting with an elder law attorney, financial advisor, or insurance specialist
Read More

“After A Settlement, Steady Sales For LTC,” by Ben Mattlin, Financial Advisor “Back in March 2023, Genworth, the nation’s largest provider of long-term-care insurance by number of policyholders, agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over premium increases. The terms of the agreement were that customers could either accept rate hikes or settle for less coverage. The repercussions of the settlement are ongoing. But to industry insiders, one thing is already clear: Reports of the demise of the long-term-care insurance industry have been greatly exaggerated.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Interesting insider insights.  
Read More