“Past efforts point way to future success of Medicaid LTSS reform: report,” by Lois A. Bowers, McKnight’s Senior Living

“Twelve million Americans use some form of LTSS, with Medicaid LTSS expenditures totaling $140 billion annually, according to the organizations. Through waivers for home- and community-based services, 15% of assisted living residents rely on Medicaid for their daily long-term care, according to the National Center for Assisted Living. Changes are needed to reduce the potential strain on the Medicaid program at the state and federal level as the aging population grows 18% by 2020, increasing demands for LTSS, the report said.”

LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):

Changes are needed, but this article/report fails to mention the most important one: stop giving Medicaid LTC to people who could, should and would pay their own way. Eliminate perverse incentives that discourage early LTC planning. Stop trapping most on Medicaid unnecessarily and to the detriment of the program’s true beneficiaries, the needy. Unfortunately, with 15% of assisted living residents already getting Medicaid, we are headed the opposite direction.

Past efforts point way to future success of Medicaid LTSS reform: report

#medicaid
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