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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. California long-term care bill
The California legislature is currently considering A.B. 1523, which would allow an individual taxpayer to claim a $1,000 tax credit for long-term care needs or long-term care insurance coverage for a family member. A hearing on the legislation has been scheduled for May 12, 2003. More information: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/
2. Connecticut personal care initiative
S.B. 730 requires the availability of consumer-directed personal care attendant (PCA) services as an alternative to regular home health care under the state-funded portion and the Medicaid waiver portion of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders. The bill would permit recipients' family members, other than spouses, to act as PCAs in this program. The client would employ, train and supervise the attendant. Bill and status information: http://www.cga.state.ct.us/
3. Montana passes consumer direction bill
The Montana legislature has approved S.J.R. 18, a bill to require the state to apply for a Medicaid waiver that would provide payment to family members to provide care for an elderly or disabled loved one. The legislation also requires that caregivers be involved in the development of the waiver. S.J.R. 18 must be approved by the governor before it takes effect. Bill text and additional information: http://leg.state.mt.us/css/default.asp
4. New Jersey "rebalancing" report
"Rebalancing Long-Term Care in New Jersey: From Institutional Toward Home and Community-Based Care" has been made available by the Milbank Memorial Fund. The report includes the history of the development of long-term care services within the state, including the creation of the Caregiver Assistance Program funded through the state's Medicaid waiver, to help older adults remain at home and direct services provided by family and friends. Download the report: http://www.milbank.org/reports/reportstest.html
5. North Dakota to revise in-home services program
The North Dakota legislature recently approved a measure (S.B. 2083) that would change eligibility for the Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED) program. The state-funded program provides respite and personal care, among other services. Under new rules, older persons with assets of $25,000 would be eligible for services without any cost-sharing; those with assets between $25,000 and $50,000 would be required to cost share. More details:
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=17272
6. Wisconsin Family Care report
A Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) report prepared by the Medstat Group provides a detailed analysis of Wisconsin's Family Care program. "Promising Practices in Long-Term Care Systems Reform: Wisconsin Family Care" provides detailed programmatic information, including its single point of entry and person-centered services features. The report also includes information on some of Wisconsin's caregiver initiatives, including the state-funded Alzheimer's Family and Caregiver Support Program. Download the report: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/LTCare/pdf/MedstatReport03-03-03.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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7. Mikulski offers $5,000 caregiver credit amendment
During the fiscal year 2004 budget debate, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) offered an amendment (S. AMDT. 349) that would have provided a $5,000 tax credit for family caregivers or those needing care who have caregiving expenses. The amendment failed by a vote of 45-54. Senator Mikulski plans to introduce similar legislation in the Senate in the next few months. More information:
http://mikulski.senate.gov/~mikulski/press/03/03/2003324746.html
8. AHRQ report on end-of-life care
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed the research brief, "Advanced Care Planning: Preferences for Care at the End of Life." The brief includes the results of various research studies on end-of-life care. Though the focus is on the patient,rather than the family caregiver, some of the research includes the role of the family in advanced care. Read the brief:
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/endliferia/endria.htm
9. CMS guide to choosing a nursing home
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a guide to assist families with choosing a nursing home for a loved one. The guide includes information on how to locate and evaluate local facilities, a checklist, and other long-term options to consider. View: http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02174.pdf
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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10. AARP report on independent living and disability
"Beyond 50: A Report to the Nation on Independent Living and Disability" is AARP's latest report on the status of the nation's midlife and older population. The report covers a wide variety of issues, including family and social supports; the costs and availability of home and community-based services; and workforce shortages. Read the report: http://research.aarp.org/il/beyond_50_il.html
11. Dementia and driving
The Hartford Institute has developed materials to assist caregivers in talking to a loved one with dementia about operating a motor vehicle. "At the Crossroads: A Guide to Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia and Driving" is available, free of charge, in both English and Spanish. Download: http://www.thehartford.com/alzheimers/
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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12. The Gerontologist article on caregiving
The March 2003 edition of The Gerontologist includes "Integrating Theory, Basic Research, and Intervention: Two Case Studies From Caregiving Research." The authors found that interventions should be based on theory and basic research findings and that current federal support of this research is justified and worthy of expansion. Read the abstract:
http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/suppl_1/19
13. The cost of HCBS services
"Home and Community-Based Alternatives to Nursing Homes: Services and Costs to Maintain Nursing Home Eligible Individuals at Home" appears in the May 2003 edition of the Journal of Aging and Health. The article analyzes the costs to purchase in-home services, include those that support family and informal caregivers. To order the a copy of the journal: http://www.sagepub.com/journal.aspx?pid=103
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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14. Caring Counts! conference
AARP and the California Caregiver Resource Centers will host the "Caring Counts!" conference May 12-13, 2003 in Sacramento, California. The conference will include sessions on practical skills for caregivers, and help launch a multi-year initiative to shape an affordable, accessible and seamless system of care that is responsive to the needs of caregivers and their loved ones. More information: http://www.caregiver.org/caring_counts.htm
15. Long-term care conference
The Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project will host "The 21st Century Challenge: Providing and Paying for Long-Term Care" on May 21, 2003 in Washington, D.C. One of the presentations will include the perspectives of a long-term caregiver. Register online: http://ltc.georgetown.edu/conference.html
16. Respite Conference
The ARCH National Respite Network will host its 4th International Respite Conference September 16 - 19, 2003 in Orlando Florida. Titled "A Universal Break: Respite for Caregivers" the conference will have a "caregiver issues" track, in addition to presentations on program administration and model programs. For more information about the conference and about the Lifespan Respite Task Force: http://www.archrespite.org/nrc.htm
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For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at PolicyDigest@caregiver.org.
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Caregiving PolicyDigest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving, a program of Family Caregiver Alliance. The Digest is funded by the Archstone Foundation.
©2003 Family Caregiver Alliance
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