News for families planning care

A New Option for Long-Term Care Costs (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Washington state has launched the first program to help cover home care and other supports. Several other states are paying attention.

A Look at 1115 Waiver Evaluations for Medicaid Payments to Institutions of Mental Disease (IMD) for Substance Use Disorder (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

As SUD IMD waiver evaluations and renewals are becoming available, states face a shifting Medicaid and policy and waiver landscape. This brief examines findings from the first available summative evaluations for SUD IMD waivers and what they show about progress toward meeting goals and milestones.

Medicaid and the Road Ahead: Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What's Next for States, Providers and Families (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

On Thursday, July 23 at 12 p.m. ET/ 9 am PT, join KFF and States Newsroom for an event focused on the impacts of work requirements and other federal policy changes on states, health care systems, and the people who rely on Medicaid.

Mitigating the Harms of Medicaid Work Requirements for Older Adults: Tools for State Advocates (opens Justice in Aging in a new tab)

States can help people keep their Medicaid coverage by reducing paperwork and allowing them to self-report health conditions and caregiving responsibilities as exemptions from work requirements. The post Mitigating the Harms of Medicaid Work Requirements for Older Adults: Tools for State Advocates a…

Who Are Direct Care Workers and How Might Federal Policy Changes Impact the Workforce? (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

This analysis uses the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) to provide an overview of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the direct care workforce, including home health aides, personal care aides, and nursing assistants who work in nursing facilities, residential care facilities, home…

Digital Health Tools and Technologies: An Overview of CMS’ Recent Efforts to Expand Their Use in Medicare (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

As an increasing share of older adults have adopted digital health technologies over the past several years, and with most expressing interest in using them to manage their health care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced several initiatives to expand the use of dig…

Thousands of Medicare Beneficiaries Thought Their Drug Plan Was Free. Then They Lost It. (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Thousands of people who had a Medicare drug plan with zero-dollar premiums last year got small premium increases this year — and didn’t know it. They were dropped from their coverage for failing to pay amounts as little as $8, and most can’t get it again until 2027.

The Trump Administration Continues to Advance Incremental Site-Neutral Payment Reforms (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

The Administration’s proposed changes for certain imaging services would further advance site-neutral payment reform but, like prior changes, are modest relative to more expansive options raised by MedPAC and others.

Medicare Advantage Insurers Deny Prior Authorization Requests for Post Acute Care at Substantially Higher Rates Than the Overall Denial Rate (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

Two recent reports find that Medicare Advantage organizations deny prior authorization requests for long-term care hospital, inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and skilled nursing facility stays at higher rates than requests overall. When these decisions are appealed, they are frequently overturned,…

HealthQ Special: Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Join the conversation as the HealthQ team explores the messiness, humor, and satisfaction that comes with caregiving when you’re sandwiched between aging parents and growing kids.

Medical Frailty and Medicaid Work Requirements: Challenges for People with HIV (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

This analysis examines Medicaid work requirements and the implementation of medical frailty exclusions for people with HIV in light of CMS's implementing regulation.

How Has Projected Medicaid Spending and Enrollment Changed Since Passage of the 2025 Reconciliation Law? (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

CBO’s latest projections of Medicaid spending and enrollment from February 2026 show how enrollment and spending are expected to change over the next decade, accounting for the historic policy changes and their expected reductions in future federal Medicaid spending, as well as other economic and te…

Medicaid/CHIP Monthly Enrollment Tracker (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

This tracker presents the most recent Medicaid monthly enrollment data.

Medicare Will Spend More Than $13 Billion on the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Program in 2026 (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

The Medicare program will spend at least $13 billion on the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program in 2026, as 68% of Medicare Advantage enrollees are in a plan that qualifies for higher payments under the program.

Decoding Medicare Advantage Coding Intensity (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

Federal payments to Medicare Advantage plans, and adjustments for health status, have come under increased scrutiny. This brief answers key questions about coding intensity, recent steps taken by CMS, the effects on beneficiaries, and other proposals to improve payment accuracy.

States Sue CMS Over Medicaid Work Requirements Rule, Citing Departure from Earlier Guidance on Medical Frailty (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

Less than a month after CMS released its interim final rule on Medicaid work requirements, 24 states, including DC, sued the Trump administration over its interpretation of the 2025 reconciliation law’s requirements — including most notably the medical frailty exemption.

Nearly Four Million Medicare Beneficiaries Could Be Eligible for the Temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program Covering These Drugs for Weight Loss (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This news release highlights that a KFF analysis finds that 3.8 million Medicare beneficiaries met the criteria to be eligible for the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, based on claims data from 2023. The temporary program will provide coverage of three GLP-1 drugs used for weight reduction and weight mana…

Nearly Four Million Medicare Beneficiaries Met the Eligibility Criteria in 2023 for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

Medicare has launched a temporary program covering GLP-1s for obesity for people with Medicare, known as the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. This analysis estimates the number of Medicare Part D enrollees who could potentially qualify for the Bridge program by meeting all of the eligibility criteria, based o…

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law Medicaid Work Requirements: Related Resources (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

KFF resources on the Medicaid work requirements in the 2025 Reconcilation law.

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law Medicaid Work Requirements: 1115-waivers (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

State-by-state information on Medicaid 1115 work requirement waivers.

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law: Medicaid Work Requirements Implementation Questions (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

A list of the implementation questions relating to the Medicaid work requirements in the 2025 Reconciliation law.

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law: Medicaid Work Requirements (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

KFF's interactive tracks key data and policies that will affect how states implement Medicaid work requirements, which are required under the 2025 budget reconciliation law starting in January 2027. The tracker includes state-level data on Medicaid enrollment and renewal outcomes as well as current…

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law: Medicaid Work Requirements Data and Policies (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

Detailed state and national data related to the 2025 Reconciliation Law Medicaid Work Requirements

From DC: Take Action on HUD's LGBTQ+ Proposal, New Medicare Savings Bill, and more (opens Justice in Aging in a new tab)

In this week's edition: Take Action on HUD's LGBTQ+ Proposal, New Medicare Savings Bill, and more. The post From DC: Take Action on HUD's LGBTQ+ Proposal, New Medicare Savings Bill, and more appeared first on Justice in Aging .

Medicaid and CHIP Monthly Enrollment (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

Medicaid Program Integrity: Tracking State-Specific and Nationwide Federal Action (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

This page tracks emerging developments in the federal government’s approach to Medicaid program integrity, along with the implications of those actions for different states.

Justice in Aging Comment for House Committee on Ways & Means Joint Subcommittee June 10, 2026 Hearing (opens Justice in Aging in a new tab)

The post Justice in Aging Comment for House Committee on Ways & Means Joint Subcommittee June 10, 2026 Hearing appeared first on Justice in Aging .

New DOJ Guidance Threatens Community Integration (opens Justice in Aging in a new tab)

Long-standing disability rights protections are under threat. Learn how new DOJ guidance could impact community living, disability rights, and access to essential services and supports. The post New DOJ Guidance Threatens Community Integration appeared first on Justice in Aging .

Key Facts About Medicare Spending Trends and Projections from the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief provides an overview of key trends in Medicare spending and spending growth, as well as the impact of these trends on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare program solvency, as projected by the Medicare Trustees in the 2026 Trustees Report.

The Medical Frailty Exemption from Medicaid Work Requirements: Key Takeaways from the CMS Interim Final Rule (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

This brief describes new guidance and potential challenges states will face in operationalizing the medical frailty exemption.

Worried About Your Aging Parents? Welcome to the Caregiving Club (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Being a caregiver can start long before you go to a doctor appointment with a loved one or move your parents into your house. The HealthQ team explores how embracing the role matters — and how the recognition and support that come next can ease a difficult season of life.

In 30 of the States Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements, Governors Are on the Ballot in November (opens KFF — Medicaid policy in a new tab)

A majority of states subject to new Medicaid work requirements — 30 of 44 — will hold gubernatorial elections this November, and leadership transitions, particularly those involving a change in party, could complicate state implementation of work requirements.

How Medicare Advantage Rebates Disadvantage Medicare’s Stand-Alone Drug Plan Market (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

The private plans that offer the Medicare Part D benefit - stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage drug plans - are increasingly are competing on uneven terms, in part because the payment system for Medicare Advantage plans enables them to lower Part D premiums or reduce Part D cost sharing, m…

Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2026 (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

The Medicare Part D program provides an outpatient prescription drug benefit to 56 million older adults and people with long-term disabilities in Medicare who enroll in private plans. This brief analyzes Medicare Part D enrollment, premiums, and cost sharing in 2026 and trends over time, based on da…

By September, Nearly a Third of Americans Will Live in States With Legal Aid in Dying (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Despite widespread support in polls for legalizing aid in dying, the number of people who go through with the practice remains very small.

Medicare Advantage in 2026: Premiums, Out-of-Pocket Limits, Supplemental Benefits, and Prior Authorization (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief provides information about Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, including premiums, out-of-pocket limits, supplemental benefits, and prior authorization, as well as trends over time.

Medicare Advantage in 2026: Enrollment Update and Key Trends (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

More than half (55%) of eligible Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage in 2026. To better understand trends in the growth of the Medicare Advantage program, this brief provides current information about enrollment, including by plan type and firm

Medicare Advantage Out-of-Pocket Limits: Variation and Trends (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief analyzes out-of-pocket limits in Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, variation by plan type, the distribution of enrollees facing different out-of-pocket limits, and trends over time.

Key Facts About Health Care Affordability for People With Medicare (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief presents key facts and analysis about affordability of health care costs among people with Medicare, including younger adults with long-term disabilities, drawing on data from various sources.

3 Medical Routines That Older People May Not Need (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Some screenings and treatments no longer make sense for patients as they age. Researchers have just added a few more to the list.

Hospital Prices Have Risen Much Faster for Private Insurance Than Medicare Since 2019 (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief compares the prices paid by private insurers for hospital care to increases in Medicare payment using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index (PPI), finding that hospital prices have risen much faster for private insurance than Medicare since 2019.

Medicaid Changes in House and Senate Reconciliation Bills Would Increase Costs for 1.3 Million Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

On May 22, the House passed a reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would partially pay to extend expiring tax cuts by cutting Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $793 billion over ten years and 10.3 m…

What to Know About the BALANCE Model for GLP-1s in Medicare and Medicaid and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief describes current coverage of GLP-1s in Medicare and Medicaid, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) efforts to expand access and lower costs for GLP-1s through temporary demonstration programs including the BALANCE Model, and potential impacts on beneficiaries and progr…

A New Medicare Option for Weight Loss Drugs: What Older Americans Should Know (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

It may soon get easier for millions of people with Medicare to get discounted GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.

Part D Mail Order Prescription Drugs (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

Part D Retail Prescription Drugs (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

The Help That Many Older Americans Need Most (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

With shortages of medical professionals and an aging population, thousands of community healthcare workers prevent older adults from falling through the cracks.

Medigap Premiums Leap, and Consumers Have Few Alternatives (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Millions of people rely on the supplemental insurance to offset the deductibles, copayments, and other costs faced by enrollees in the traditional Medicare program.

Real Estate Investors Profit From Long-Term Care While Residents Languish (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Real estate investment trusts are landlords for thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. Some select the managers and keep close watch over their performance but deny responsibility for bad care.

Florida Launches Operation Senior Shield to Protect Older Adults from Scams and Exploitation (opens Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs in a new tab)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 18, 2025 CONTACT: Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Office of Communications Florida Launches Operation Senior Shield to Protect Older Adults from Scams and Exploitation TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins and Florida Department of Elder Affai…

Falls Prevention Awareness Week Proclamation (opens Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs in a new tab)