GAO REPORTS ON HOME AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY

VCAL FOCUS (1/15/03)

In a recent report, Availability of Medicaid Home and Community Services for Elderly Individuals Varies Considerably, the General Accounting Office (GAO) finds that Medicaid case managers in different states use myriad ways to leverage publicly financed long term care services and informal care (care provided to the elderly by family members) that result in a wide variety of care plans for individuals with similar needs.  In only one of four states examined did case managers who offered out-of-home placements suggest a move to an assisted living facility.  

The report notes that many states have found that offering home and community-based services through their Medicaid programs can help low-income elderly individuals with disabilities remain in their homes when they otherwise would be likely to go to a nursing home.  The report states that the variance in state-designed Medicaid programs results in varied levels of service across states.

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging commissioned the report to further the discussion of what role the public sector should play in assuring that long term care needs will be met for the impending surge of persons who will need care.