CLASS: Exploring the Program and Role of Foundations
This webinar explored the features of CLASS, describe recent polling data about public opinion on the program, and demonstrate how funders can get involved by building continued support for the program.
2010 Terrance Keenan Award Acceptance Speech
Read about The Commonwealth Fund’s Dr. Mary Jane Koren’s 30 years of work to improve the quality of institutional long-term care, and be inspired by her willingness to take chances on innovation, revisit old ideas, and find treasure among the wreckage.
Implementing the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
On January 1, 2006, Medicare prescription drug coverage became available to the program’s 43 million beneficiaries. To receive the coverage, however, beneficiaries must actively opt in to Medicare Part D by selecting a prescription drug plan (PDP).
Getting Prescription Drugs to Those Who Need Them Most
There are major changes taking place in the way elderly and disabled people pay for prescription drugs. These changes are being ushered in by the new Medicare law, which, if it lives up to its promise, will be incredibly helpful to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. What are the details of the new law? How many people will it affect? How will low-income people be assisted? What are the implementation challenges? How are they being addressed by the federal government? What can grantmakers do to help?
New Choices and Hard Decisions: Helping Seniors Navigate Medicare
Educating seniors on the changes to the Medicare program will be a challenge for both the public and private sectors. Reaching the nation’s 41 million Medicare beneficiaries — 35 million of whom are over the age of 65 — will require a mix of customized, one-on-one assistance and broad education campaigns. This Issue Focus proposes that providing information and referral services for seniors and their families is an area ripe for foundation work, and outlines a number of opportunities for grantmakers.
Medicare + Choice – New Health Plan Options Challenge Medicare Beneficiaries to Act as Informed Consumers: Is the System Ready?
This supplement to the GIH Bulletin outlined new health plan options that challenge medicare beneficiaries to act as informed consumers.
Training the Health Workforce of Tomorrow
In 2001 GIH convened a group of grantmakers and national experts concerned about health workforce issues. This Issue Brief explores issues related to the supply, composition, and competency of the health workforce, and the role that these factors play in maintaining and improving the health status of individual patients and broader populations. Specifically, the report focuses on grantmaker activities in four areas: shifting the geographic distribution of the health workforce to ensure access in underserved areas; improving representation among racial and ethnic minorities; addressing the current shortage of nurses, particularly in inpatient settings; and improving health professionals’ competency in addressing the complex health care needs of the elderly.
Intergenerational Programs: Drawing on the Resources of Youth and Elderly
Intergenerational programs recruit older adults to work with young people, train children to serve older adults, bring youth and elders together to serve others, or serve youth and the elderly in the same facilities. This Issue Focus highlights foundation funding in this area, ranging from the support of intergenerational mentoring programs to the development of initiatives to gather data on the effects of intergenerational programs on health.
Long-Term Care Quality: Facing the Challenges of an Aging Population
As our population ages, and the need for long-term care services grows, issues surrounding the quality of care, as well as the quality of life, will become increasingly important. Based on a recent GIH Issue Dialogue, this Issue Focus explores ways in which grantmakers can partner with policymakers, health care professionals, advocacy groups, and patients and their families to improve the quality of long-term care.