Briefs

Healthcare Coverage and Costs

Policy Briefs: 

Don’t Forget: Including Brief Cognitive Assessments at the Annual Wellness Visit 
Brief by Cassidy Doyle, BS, University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging

  • The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) offers a unique opportunity for beneficiaries to develop personalized prevention plans, including brain health planning. However, less than one-third of beneficiaries report having had a cognitive assessment during their annual wellness visits. Wider use of such assessments could cut spending due to cognitive impairment, reverse symptoms, and encourage conversations about brain health.

Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services: The Medicaid Access Rule
Brief by Chelsea Goldstein, MSG, and Lindsay Peterson, PhD, University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging

  • The federal government’s own regulations have hampered access to services for older adults on Medicaid. The new Medicaid Access Rule went into effect this spring, with a goal of removing barriers and improving home- and community-based services (HCBS). For instance, it seeks to ensure fair compensation for direct-care workers and to improve state reporting on the number of people on waiting lists for services.

Expanded Coverage to Increase Physical Activity Among Older Adults
Brief by Rio Tate, University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging

  • Greater Medicare coverage of programs to encourage older adults to exercise is needed to improve not only their physical health but the mental and cognitive health.

Expanding Medicare Coverage for Depression Screening
Brief by Brittany Veal, University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging

  • Older adults who are at increased risk for depression could benefit from depression screening provided by their primary care doctors. Expanded Medicare Part C coverage could increase the rate of this important service.

Reducing Medicare Expenses with Hearing Coverage
Brief by Daniel Pupo, University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging

  • Hearing health services can be expensive and these costs can discourage older adults from seeking care. This is a review of the need for Medicare to cover hearing services.

Research Briefs:

Florida Scoreboard Results: AARP US State Scoreboard on Long-term Services and Supports (LTSS)
Brief by Chelsea Goldstein, MGS and Lindsay Peterson, Ph.D. of the University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging.
Article:
https://ltsschoices.aarp.org/scorecard-report/2023/states/florida