block grants Archives - Howard Gleckman

Could Congress Boost Medicaid Long-Term Care Benefits For Some By Curbing Spousal Annuities?

Is Medicaid’s long-term care benefit a zero-sum game where limited resources are shifted from one beneficiary to another? For instance, could the government significantly increase long-term care benefits for some by barring people from using spousal annuities to qualify for Medicaid? Or should resources be expanded to provide all eligible seniors and younger people with disabilities the care they need? [...]

Medicaid Block Grants Would Cripple Long-Term Care

Powerful Republicans are pushing the twin ideas of capping the federal contribution to Medicaid and eliminating federal regulation of the program. These changes would do profound damage to the Medicaid benefit for long-term care, whether it is provided at home or in nursing facilites. This plan would turn Medicaid from a federal entitlement into a block grant. Over time, states would be responsible [...]