Medical insurance and Medicaid and stethoscope. Medicine doctor working with computer interface as medical

In a brief published by KFF on October 24th, Payment Rates for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services: States’ Responses to Workforce Challenges, authors Alice Burns, Maiss Mohamed, and Molly O’Malley Watts analyze findings from a recent survey of states. All states and Washington DC received the survey; all responded except Florida. 

With all responding states reporting workforce shortages in home and community-based services (HCBS), 48 of 50 reported increasing provider payments to support access to HCBS.  More than 80% of responding states reported expanding training programs and offering recruitment or retention incentives for staff. In addition to analyzing the workforce, the authors also looked at pandemic effects on providers within states. Forty-three states reported experiencing permanent provider closures, with permanent adult day health closures reported in 32 states- the most prevalent among states. Nearly 3 in 4 states reported permanent provider closures in two or more service types.

 
Read the brief and review the data tables here.

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Kylee Childs, MSW, is the Director of Government Affairs.Since joining the association in 2023, she continues to be a fierce and resourceful advocate for aging services in Kansas. Her professional focus has always been service to others through advocacy. Kylee has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Trauma studies from Kansas State University, and a certificate in Grant Proposal Writing from Fort Hays State University. With a professional background in law enforcement and child welfare, and a successful 2023 legislative practicum with the Children's Alliance of Kansas, she brings rich professional experience to her role as Director of Government Affairs, and a front-line perspective on the needs of health and human services providers in our state. When not working, she's spending time with her two daughters. You can reach Kylee directly at 785.670.8051.