State Long-Term Care Progress A B L U E P

Access to LTSS remains a barrier The Medicaid Buy-in for Workers Congress should direct the Centers to employment for people with with Disabilities program is an for Medicare & Medicaid Services disabilities who risk losing their important tool for states to address (CMS) to provide technical assistance Medicaid coverage, which provides this barrier, and federal technical to states and to clarify. [...] The shortage of direct care workers Many states leveraged investments Congress should direct the is a significant bipartisan challenge from the American Rescue Plan to Department of Health and Human to ensuring patient choice and access implement innovative strategies for Services (HHS) to conduct a to LTSS. [...] Congress should also direct the center to research best practices for and the impact of the act’s programs to promote the nonmedical health- related social needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities. [...] The 2020 and 2023 Scorecards analyzed states’ policies, indicating whether a state allows the spouse of an individual applying for Medicaid to retain the maximum set by the federal government.43,44 Based on BPC’s analysis of 2023 data, of the 12 states that allow the spouse to retain 100%, six are Democratic-leaning and six are Republican-leaning. [...] Congress should also direct the center to research best practices for and the impact of the act’s programs to promote the nonmedical health- related social needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities.