LTQA Webinars

LTQA recently held two exciting webinars that described LTSS and the impact of transitions on older adults receiving long term services and supports (LTSS); Examined the impact of the Affordable Care Act on improving care transitions for older adults receiving LTSS; Discussed the opportunities and threats presented by three provisions  for improving care transitions; and Described short- and long-term policy … Read More

New Study Examines Impact of Three ACA Provisions

Older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) face huge challenges in navigating the fragmented health care system in the US.  Multiple transitions among providers can have serious, negative consequences for this population.  The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established programs to attempt to address some of these hurdles, and while they show promise, a new study finds that there are … Read More

White Paper: Preventable Hospitalizations

The Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) today released a white paper that reveals that although the decision to go to the hospital is often made in long-term services and supports settings, there are no available validated measures to help long-term care organizations determine what is a preventable hospitalization. The paper makes recommendations for how Medicare, Medicaid, private payers and the long-term … Read More

Long-term Services and Supports: A Rebalancing Act

The ongoing debate over the federal budget and deficit reduction presents a balancing act for policy makers, as many compelling interests compete for scarce dollars. But for 10 million older adults and people with disabilities who need long-term services and supports, there is a “rebalancing act” in progress. The aim is to serve more people at home and in the … Read More

$100 million in Affordable Care Act grants to help create healthier U.S. communities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today the availability of over $100 million in funding for up to 75 Community Transformation Grants. Created by the Affordable Care Act, these grants are aimed at helping communities implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases – such as diabetes and heart disease. By promoting healthy lifestyles and communities, especially among … Read More

HHS announces private-public alliance to improve transition of care

Health and Human Services Department Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the creation of a new private-public alliance called Partnerships for Patients yesterday, saying it has the potential to prevent 1.8 million patient injuries and save the lives of 60,000 patients over the next three years. The program targets patients undergoing transitions of care, where patients are more susceptible to hospital-related infection … Read More

National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care

The Affordable Care Act seeks to increase access to high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. To that end, the law requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care (the National Quality Strategy) that sets priorities to guide this effort and includes a strategic plan … Read More