“HHS to distribute $25B for Medicaid, safety-net providers,” by Elise Reuter, MedCity News   Quote: “The Department of Health and Human Services will distribute another $25 billion in funding to healthcare providers, with an emphasis on helping facilities that serve low-income patients. The agency will distribute $15 billion to providers that participate in Medicaid and CHIP programs, and another $10 billion to safety-net hospitals.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Thank goodness the government has plenty of money to spend for this purpose. Imagine if we borrowed huge sums like this, but had to
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“What Albany did to seniors when we weren’t looking,” by Sanford R. Altman, Times Herald-Record   Quote: “For the first time ever, Community (Homecare) Medicaid will have its own look back period. That’s 30 months of financials to submit even if it may only cover a few hours of homecare a day.  And if it takes months for approval instead of the weeks it formerly took, you will not get care from any private homecare agency while you are waiting. You will be on your own for as long as it takes.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for
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  “COVID-19 pandemic encourages consumers to plan for long-term care: survey,” by Kimberly Bonvissuto, McKnight’s Senior Living   Quote: “The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call to Americans about their mortality, inspiring three out of four adults to make changes for a better future — including saving to pay for future long-term care in the setting of their choice, according to a new Genworth Financial survey. Genworth’s COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 or more years from across the country looked at the effects of COVID-19 on Americans’ lives and what they think about long-term care and financial
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  “Offer Appropriate Coverage for LTCi,” by Romeo Raabe, NAIFA   Quote: “Quite commonly, prospects do not realize how little insurance they need for LTCi. When someone requires care with day to day activities or has a cognitive impairment, his/her lifestyle can change significantly. If one no longer drives there will be fewer cars, boats, motorcycles, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, tractors, etc. There will also be less golf, travel, and socializing. It is good to do fun things, but when one can no longer do them, much less money will be spent on these activities.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses,
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  “More Universal Life Comes With Long-Term Care Riders: Milliman,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor Quote: “More universal life insurance (UL) policies may be coming with chronic illness riders, and more indexed universal life (IUL) policies may be coming with long-term care riders. Susan Saip and Carl Friedrich, actuaries at Milliman, have published new data on the market for UL and IUL benefits in a new survey report summary. … A copy of the new Milliman universal life and indexed universal life survey report summary is available here. An article about an earlier Milliman UL/IUL survey report is available here.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses,
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“Seniors housing municipal bonds under distress due to COVID-19 costs,” by Amy Novotney, McKnight’s Senior Living   Quote: “The interactive digital application is called, ‘WHO ICOPE Handbook App’ and provides practical guidance for conditions such as mobility limitations, malnutrition, vision and hearing loss, cognitive decline, depressive symptoms and social care and support. This digital application is needed because the world’s population is aging at a fast pace, and by 2050 one in five people will be over 60. Although every person is different, both physical and mental capacity typically decline with increasing age.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President,
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