The SCAN Foundation - Federal Policy

DataBrief No.9: Long-Term Care Insurance by Income

scanadmin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:05:17 +0000

Long-term care insurance helps individuals pay for services that assist them with activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing. This DataBrief reports on the rate at which seniors needing assistance take up individual long-term care insurance given their level of income.

DataBrief No.8: Group Long-Term Care Insurance

scanadmin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:56:48 +0000

Long-term care insurance has increasingly been sold through employers in the group insurance market. This DataBrief reports on the proportion of U.S. workers who have access to group long-term care insurance through their employers.

DataBrief No.7: Home Modifications

scanadmin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:45:53 +0000

Home modifications are changes people make to their homes to help create a safer environment. This DataBrief reports on the proportion of seniors who add home modifications and how they are financed.

The SCAN Foundation's Comments on the CMS Request for Information Regarding Accountable Care Organizations and the Medicare Shared Savings Program

scanadmin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:48:15 +0000

The SCAN Foundation presents its comments on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services request for information regarding Accountable Care Organizations and the Medicare Shared Savings program.
To read the commentary, please click here.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers Help Consumers Through Maze of Long-Term Care

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:14:01 +0000

Since 2003, the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have jointly provided $111 million in grants to states to develop Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)—single points of entry to help consumers efficiently access the wide array of long-term care services and supports. In its publication, entitled, "Aging and Disability Resource Centers: Federal and State Efforts to Guide Consumers Through the Long-Term Services and Supports Maze," the National Health Policy Forum provides background on the evolution of ADRCs, their functions and implementation, grants to states, and state and federal evaluation efforts. It also points to selected issues in continuing ADRC implementation.

Looking at the Big Picture of Old Age: A Treasure Trove of Statistics

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:08:12 +0000

The Stanford Longevity Institute has produced a detailed and comprehensive look at the rapidly aging population in the United States. Millions of people will need long-term services and supports as they age. The report, “New Realities of an Older America,” discusses the critical issues and underscores the urgency of effectively addressing the anticipated challenges with relevant public policies.

Osteoporosis Damages May Rise Because Medicare Cuts Testing Services

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:05:12 +0000

Osteoporosis is a serious and common condition that can lead to falls and fractures, making a person suddenly dependent on long-term services and support. “Osteoporotic fractures are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and health care expenses,” according to the November 2008 study, “Osteoporosis Care at Risk in the United States,” published in the Journal Osteoporosis International.

Chronic Disease: Painful, Costly, and Growing Rapidly

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:52:04 +0000

For many older Americans, chronic illnesses make life painful. Multiple ailments often require a variety of drugs, and can lead to weaknesses that rob them of their autonomy, forcing them to rely upon a substantial amount of long-term services and supports. Unfortunately, the situation is worsening, with large increases in the numbers of people suffering from chronic diseases, according to a new February 2010 edition of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation chart book “Chronic Care: Making the Case for Ongoing Care.”

Life Expectancy May Be Underestimated

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:43:58 +0000

Current government projections of future life expectancy may fall short by three to eight years in calculating accurately how long Americans can expect to live, according to recent scientific research. If people indeed live longer in the future than experts now predict, there will be a surge in demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS) as the need for LTSS rises as people age. In a December 14, 2009 video titled, “Dr. John Rowe, Chair of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network, on an Aging Society,” he discusses the accuracy of life expectancy forecasts.

Nursing Assistants Need Friendly and Supportive Supervisors in Nursing Homes

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:40:50 +0000

Working in a nursing home is a low-paid and often stressful job for the nursing assistants who are delivering long-term services and supports to people with serious physical and mental ailments. Pay and benefits aren’t always the determining factors in whether the workers are happy, according to a July 2008 report in the Gerontologist titled, “Nursing Assistants' Job Commitment: Effect of Nursing Home Organizational Factors and Impact on Resident Well-Being.”