Webinar: Paying Family Caregivers through Medicaid Consumer-Directed Programs – State Opportunities and Innovations
The COVID-19 public health emergency has intensified the need for supporting family caregivers. States can use consumer-directed programs to support Medicaid enrollees who receive care from family members and individuals they are comfortable with. This webinar features highlights from a new NASHP report that explores state approaches to payment of family caregivers within Medicaid consumer direction programs.
Connecticut and Virginia state officials describe how they have expanded consumer direction to better serve older adults and people with disabilities and their family caregivers. This webinar is generously supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation and it is an initiative of the RAISE Act Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center. Participants include:
- Moderator Wendy Fox-Grage, MS, MPA, Project Director, Chronic and Vulnerable Populations, National Academy for State Health Policy
- Salom Teshale, PhD, Policy Associate, Chronic and Vulnerable Populations, National Academy for State Health Policy
- Dawn Lambert, Co-Leader, Community Options Unit, Connecticut Division of Health Services
- Tamara Whitlock, Deputy Director for Complex Care Services, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
- Nichole Martin, Director, Office of Community Living, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
- Jason Rachel, Director, Division of Integrated Care, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
