Executive Summary Federal law prohibits a nursing home from conditioning a nursing home resident’s admission or continued stay on a third party’s personal guarantee to be financially responsible for the resident’s bills.[1] Despite this prohibition, nursing homes still attempt various stratagems, through contracting and otherwise, to force financial liability upon residents’ family members, friends, and […]
This issue brief, Breaking Down Barriers to Personal Care: Unlocking Vital Services for Those Who Need Them Most, shares insights from interviews with stakeholders—including providers, consumers, advocates, and policymakers—on the barriers people face in accessing California’s personal care services. It concludes with policy recommendations to improve access to personal care services for people who need them most.
Justice in Aging is releasing a series of two issue briefs to ensure advocates are aware of the services available to American Indian and Alaska Native older adults and the unique challenges they may face. This first issue brief in the series discusses the benefits available to tribal elders through the Social Security Administration, the unique rules that may apply to tribal communities, and the barriers and cultural factors that advocates should be aware of when supporting tribal elders in accessing these benefits.
This issue brief discusses why becoming a Part A buy-in state is important, how it reduces inequities among the lowest income populations, the advantages to becoming a Part A buy-in state, and a summary of strategies advocates can implement to enact this policy change.
Introduction Older adults anchor our families and communities and connect our families through the generations. But after working all their lives, nearly half of our nation’s older adults living alone struggle to pay for food, rent, and medical care. Older adults in two-person households fare only slightly better—one out of five lack the resources to […]
Introduction As homelessness rises among older adults, it is crucial for aging advocates to connect their clients to resources, such as permanent supportive housing (PSH), available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s homeless assistance programs.* Aging advocates can also play a key role in ensuring that the homeless service system equitably […]
We gratefully acknowledge Georgia Burke, formerly Justice in Aging’s Director of Medicare Advocacy, for authoring the first edition of this issue brief in 2019. We would also like to thank Nancy Lorenz of Greater Boston Legal Services and Vicky Pulos of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute for their insight and contributions. Introduction Enrolling in the Medicare […]
Introduction In April 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for 2025 Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans (“Part C/D Rule” or “Final Rule”).[1] This rule makes multiple changes relevant to individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (“dually eligible individuals”), including: These changes will take place over […]
Introduction On April 2, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule streamlining Medicaid eligibility and enrollment. The Streamlining Rule (“Rule”) will: The Rule will particularly help older individuals and people with disabilities, who have historically been left out of some efforts to simplify Medicaid processes (this population is often referred […]
States can use Medicaid waivers to expand oral health coverage and address disparities in access to dental care for older adults and people with disabilities.
