Care Workforce

In three months, CMS will launch the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), its most ambitious bundled payment initiative in a decade, and the first mandatory, bipartisan value-based care (VBC) model since Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR).

The Rural Health Transformation Program is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for states to reshape rural healthcare delivery. By aligning with HHS’s strategic goals and investing in sustainable infrastructure, states can achieve measurable improvements in population health and strengthen their healthcare workforce.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requires certain Medicaid beneficiaries to complete at least 80 hours per month of employment, training, or other activities to maintain coverage. While the law does not appear intended to impose these requirements on family caregivers, the way it is implemented could inadvertently do so if details are not addressed carefully. Unless federal and state regulators act thoughtfully and carefully, unpaid family caregivers -- who are already propping up a fragile healthcare system -- may find that the implementation of this new law penalizes them for the very work that keeps their loved ones out of costly hospitals and nursing homes.

ATI Advisory’s qualitative research highlights the experiences of individuals with long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs and their caregivers in requesting, receiving, and providing LTSS. Using a community-based participatory framework in partnership with local organizations, ATI conducted six focus groups interviewing individuals and caregivers from key populations across race, ethnicity, language ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability status about their experiences with LTSS. Discussions generated themes around barriers to accessing LTSS, insights on family and professional caregiving across cultures, financial constraints, the value of social community for individuals and their caregivers, and the impacts of equitable and inequitable LTSS. This work was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Family caregivers are critical to Hospital at Home programs’ success, yet current programs do not account for their needs. Inclusive and supportive policies will allow these new programs to truly meet the needs of both family caregivers and patients.

Medicare Advantage is positioned to integrate and coordinate services more effectively than in fee-for-service environments. We organized our insights into a tool that explores key data on related topics to expand MA plans and value-based care.