Read about our latest research, initiatives, announcements, and other news.
On November 14, 2016, six days after the election, Altarum's Program to Improve Eldercare and Caring Across Generations (CAG) hosted a national forum: America CARES. We talked broadly about what voters signaled they wanted; what implications the election may have for our work looking ahead; and what our primary objectives are as our country hurtles into the longevity era.
A tremendously positive legislative achievement occurred on November 5, 2015, when the PACE Innovation Act (P.L. 114-85) was signed into law. Although it has received little notice, what this five-line statute does is provide the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the authority to loosen the rigidity of the best, most established service delivery model for a geriatric population wishing to “age in place” at home: the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Some of the most salient possibilities for evolution of the PACE model are wrapped up in a potential PACE Expansion.
One of the hallmarks of the 21st century—increased longevity of the population—will increasingly drive federal, state, and local health care programs to focus on optimizing coordination of services across a range of medical care and community services providers. Discharge planning will play a central role in these efforts, particularly discharge to home.
The world of Medicare post-acute care (PAC), which as a general rule covers the 90-day period following hospitalization, is set to change.
Americans express strong views when asked about the care that they want to receive when they are dying. In general, they prefer to die at home and to remain in charge of decisions about their care. However, evidence suggests these wishes are not likely to be fulfilled.
Last month, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published their much-awaited report titled “Variation in Health Care Spending: Target Decision Making, Not Geography,” which recommends that CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) should not adjust Medicare payments geographically; instead, CMS should continue to focus on value-based payment reforms, such as patient-centered medical homes, bundled payments, and accountable care organizations.