NASHP State Medicaid Policy Institute on Family Caregiving: Request for Applications
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with generous support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, is seeking state applications to participate in its State Medicaid Policy Institute on Family Caregiving. The institute will engage up to five teams of state leaders for one year to develop and/or strengthen health policies and strategies that support family caregivers, with a particular focus on home- and community-based approaches for older adults.
Best practices and lessons learned from the policy institute’s work will be shared with other states and contribute to the national discussion on family caregiving fostered by the RAISE Act, a federal initiative led by the Administration on Community Living to develop the first national strategy on family caregiving.
- What’s in it for states? Each state team will receive $40,000 plus technical support during a 12-month period starting in mid-March 2021. The State Medicaid Policy Institute on Family Caregiving will provide state leaders with opportunities for peer-to-peer discussion, targeted support on their state policy goals, and access to national expertise.
- Team composition: State applications may include a team of up to four members, comprised of at least two senior state officials or administrators (such as state aging and disability administrators, Medicaid officials, governor’s health policy leaders, legislators, etc.). The team may include additional state staff and others who can directly support team goals (e.g., family caregiver organizations, long-term services and supports providers, etc.).
- To apply: Applications should be emailed to Luke Pluta-Ehlers at lpehlers@nashp.org by 5 p.m. (ET) on Jan. 29, 2021.
- Informational webinar: Interested state officials are encouraged to participate in an Informational Webinar on the NASHP State Medicaid Policy Institute on Family Caregiving from 3-4 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Register here.
State Long-Term Care Systems and the Importance of Family Caregivers
Across the nation, state health care systems depend on family caregivers, who provide an estimated $470 billion in critical support to help relatives, friends, and neighbors remain at home and in community settings. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of family caregivers is now greater than ever. As states rethink the role of long-term care settings, struggle to support access to care while maintaining social distancing, work to promote health equity, and face unprecedented cuts to state budgets, state health officials are increasingly looking to family caregivers as a critical part of the care continuum for older adults and people with serious health care needs.
NASHP is launching this State Medicaid Policy Institute on Family Caregiving to assist states in their work to implement and/or improve systemic approaches that support family caregivers at this pivotal time. NASHP will serve as a resource and convener to help policymakers connect with peers and experts, identify and share strategies and solutions, and provide insights for other state leaders who seek to support family caregivers through policy change or program development.
States will benefit from individualized and peer learning opportunities about effective and value-based policies and programs that support family caregivers and promote home- and community- based long-term care. Participating states will achieve the following during the course of this 12-month institute:
- Gain practical information and insights into policy strategies to support family caregivers;
- Develop a workplan for implementing key policy or programmatic priorities in their state; and
- Achieve key milestones that will enhance their ability to improve care and/or reduce cost by improving systems of care for family caregivers.
Application Requirements
Team composition: State applicants may identify a core team of up to four members to participate in the institute, including at least two state officials or administrators (at least one of whom should be from the state Medicaid agency) who can implement the state’s specific goals and project activities. Additional members may include other state staff, or representatives from family caregiver organizations, community-based organizations, providers, or other key stakeholder groups that can support the state’s goals. Applicants should also identify a team lead who can provide overall leadership and serve as the primary point of contact. The team lead must be a state official.
State goals: Applicants should describe specific and measurable policy goals and a realistic timeline and activities to achieve these goals. Strong candidates will demonstrate foundational planning for aging and disability policy changes to address family caregivers (e.g., a taskforce or commission, planning meetings, legislation, concept paper, initial policy planning, etc.).
Use of resources: Applicants should describe how they will use the resources provided by the institute to make progress on their goals. Successful applicants will submit a budget that details use of resources.
Technical assistance needs: Applicants should describe what specific expertise, technical support, and other resources would be helpful in making progress.
Letters of Support: It may not always be feasible for the Medicaid and/or aging and disability division or agency directors to be directly involved in the institute. In these cases, a letter of support from these officials is encouraged.
Submission: To apply to NASHP’s State Medicaid Policy Institute on Family Caregiving, please download and complete this brief application.
The application and any letters of support must be submitted electronically to Luke Pluta-Ehlers at lpehlers@nashp.org by 5 p.m. (ET) Jan. 29, 2021. NASHP will notify each state of its application status no later than Feb. 15, 2021.
About NASHP
NASHP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with over three decades of experience in helping state policy makers lead. NASHP provides expertise, convenes states, shares innovations and best practices, and supports state policymakers in making concrete and sustainable health system reform. For more information, visit NASHP’s website at www.nashp.org
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