Medicaid update: LTSS working to keep people out of nursing homes, hospitals

Friday’s Medicaid Council meeting focused on rebalancing long term services and supports allowing more members to stay at home, if they choose, and improve quality of life. Recipients of LTSS services comprise 6% of Medicaid members but 43% of costs. On average community-based care is less costly. The comprehensive strategy that began with a 2013 report includes a universal assessment, transitioning appropriate members from nursing homes to the community, and housing supports. The program has been very successful in moving people out of institutions, but CT’s rate is still too high. Concerns were raised about lowering beds at nursing homes too far given CT’s aging population.