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Updated May 3, 2023
Connecting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to
Health Services: Resources for Congressional Offices
Overview
Connect to Health Programs
Navigating the U.S. health and long-term care systems can
and Benefits
be confusing and complex for some constituents. Older
ACL funds and administers grants for the following
adults and individuals with disabilities may face additional
activities that facilitate connections to programs and
challenges in identifying and accessing needed health care
benefits:
and long-term services and supports (LTSS), such as home
and community-based services that can assist individuals in
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
maintaining their quality of life and living independently.
Local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)
Decisions about rehabilitative services or LTSS may be
provide one-on-one options counseling and assistance with
made in response to an emergency or crisis. Older adults
accessing a wide range of publicly and privately financed
and individuals with disabilities, as well as their family
LTSS and caregiver supports. Examples of ADRC services
members, may have limited understanding of available
include application assistance, screenings and needs
options for home care versus institutional care, either for
assessments, care coordination, support services for
short-term rehabilitation or extended care needs. Moreover,
individuals transitioning from hospital-to-home and nursing
public programs may be financed through different funding
home-to-home, and services to mitigate social isolation.
streams (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Older Americans Act
ADRCs are part of the NWD system, which aims to
[OAA]), and some are state or locally administered. As a
streamline and make seamless the navigation of LTSS.
result, eligibility for certain public programs can vary by
state or local entity and may be limited only to individuals
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs
with low-incomes or high levels of care need. Private
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) offer
funding, such as long-term care insurance, for example,
one-on-one health insurance counseling to Medicare
may be one option for individuals to offset the potential
beneficiaries. SHIPs assist constituents with joining,
high costs associated with needed long-term care.
leaving, or switching their Medicare Advantage health
plans and/or Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans.
In an effort to simplify access to information about health
SHIPs assist Medicare beneficiaries with issues related to
care and LTSS options for older adults and individuals with
their other health coverage, such as retiree health benefits,
disabilities, many states have developed No Wrong Door
Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and Medigap
(NWD) systems, which are collaborations between the
(Medicare supplemental insurance). SHIPs answer
Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Centers
constituents’ questions about covered benefits, premiums,
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the
cost-sharing (such as deductibles and coinsurance), and
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the
complaints and appeals (e.g., about denials of coverage).
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) within the
Department of Veterans Affairs. State-administered NWD
Benefits Enrollment Centers
systems assist individuals and families needing information
Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) assist Medicare
about public programs or private resources and can assist
beneficiaries, including older adults and younger
with counseling and future planning for LTSS options.
individuals with disabilities, to identify and apply for
NWD systems also serve as the entry point to publicly
programs for which they may be eligible. Such programs
financed LTSS, including programs and services funded
may include Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition
under Medicaid, OAA, and VHA, as well as other state or
Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low-Income Home
locally funded programs.
Energy Assistance Program, Supplemental Security
Income, and pharmaceutical assistance programs. BECs are
This In Focus describes federally funded resources that
supported in part by the National Council on Aging’s
provide information, outreach, and assistance for
Center for Benefits Access.
congressional offices helping their constituents to find,
navigate, and access available public and private health care
BenefitsCheckUp
and LTSS. It is organized into three groups of resources: (1)
BenefitsCheckUp is an online tool and hotline that assists
health programs and benefits, (2) home and community-
older adults in identifying benefit programs for which they
based services, and (3) health care providers and facilities.
may be eligible. Constituents answer a confidential
Table 1 lists the websites and contact information for the
questionnaire, then they receive a contact list for potential
various resources described.
programs. These programs may address issues such as tax
relief, food, housing, utilities, discounts, employment,
prescription drugs, and health care. The National Council
on Aging operates the site.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Connecting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to Health Services: Resources for Congressional Offices
Connect to Home and
Disability Information and Access Line
Community-Based Services
ACL’s Disability Information and Access Line connects
ACL also administers and provides funding to states for the
constituents to accessible transportation, housing support,
following activities to assist individuals in connecting with
disability rights services, and COVID-19 tests and
home and community-based services:
vaccinations. Trained staff can assist people with various
communications abilities, including deaf and hard-of-
Area Agencies on Aging
hearing individuals.
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as local entities
that, either directly or through contracts with local service
Websites and Contact Information
providers, oversee a comprehensive and coordinated service
Table 1 lists the websites and contact information for the
system for the delivery of social, nutrition, and long-term
programs and resources described in this In Focus.
services and supports to older adults.
Table 1. Websites and Contact Information
Eldercare Locator
Resource
Contact Information
The Eldercare Locator is an information and referral service
that connects older adults and caregivers with local
Connect to Health Programs and Benefits
resources, benefits, and services. Examples of such services
Aging and Disability
1-800-677-1116 and ask to be
include meals, housing, rides to medical appointments,
Resource Centers
connected to the local ADRC.
home and community-based LTSS, caregiver training,
ADRCs are also listed in the
health insurance counseling, legal services, elder abuse
Eldercare Locator directory
prevention, and adult protective services.
https://eldercare.acl.gov
Centers for Independent Living
State Health Insurance
https://www.shiphelp.org/
Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are operated by and
Assistance Programs
for community members with disabilities. Core services
include information and referral, independent living skills
Benefits Enrol ment
https://benefitscheckup.org/article/
training, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy,
Centers
how-to-find-a-benefits-enrol ment-
assisting those at risk of entering nursing homes and other
center-near-you
institutions, and facilitating transition of youth to
BenefitsCheckUp
1-800-794-6559 or
postsecondary life. Examples of CIL services include
https://www.benefitscheckup.org
service coordination, services that facilitate transition from
institutions to the community, assisting with accessible
No Wrong Door
https://nwd.acl.gov/
housing and food insecurity issues, and advocating for
System
health equity in medical settings.
Connect to Home and Community-Based Services
Connect to Health Care Providers
Area Agencies on Aging 1-800-677-1116 and ask to be
and Facilities
connected to the local AAA, or
https://eldercare.acl.gov
Choosing a Doctor or Health Care Service
Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116 or
The National Library of Medicine’s Choosing a Doctor or
https://eldercare.acl.gov
Health Care Service is a compilation of tools for finding
Centers for
https://acl.gov/programs/centers-
and choosing providers (such as physicians) and health care
Independent Living
independent-living/list-cils-and-spils
facilities (such as hospitals). The “Find an Expert” section
includes directories. Health plan enrollees should also
Connect to Health Care Providers and Facilities
check their plan’s website for a provider directory.
Choosing a Doctor or
https://medlineplus.gov/
Care Compare
Health Care Service
choosingadoctororhealthcareservic
CMS’s
e.html
Care Compare has detailed information, including
selected quality measures, about hospitals, home health
Care Compare website
https://www.medicare.gov/care-
services providers, Medicare- and Medicaid-certified
compare/
nursing homes, Medicare-participating physicians and
Long-Term Care
https://theconsumervoice.org/
clinicians, hospice providers, long-term care hospitals,
Ombudsman Programs get_help
rehabilitation facilities, and dialysis facilities.
Disability Information
888-677-1199 or email
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs
and Access Line
DIAL@usaginganddisability.org or
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOPs)
https://acl.gov/DIAL
investigate and resolve complaints of residents in nursing
Source: Compiled by CRS.
facilities, board and care facilities, assisted living facilities,
and other adult care homes. LTCOPs also advocate for and
Kirsten J. Colello, Specialist in Health and Aging Policy
educate residents and their families about their rights, how
Michele L. Malloy, Research Librarian
to find a long-term care facility, and how to receive quality
Angela Napili, Senior Research Librarian
care. ACL funds and administers state LTCOPs.
IF11694
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Connecting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to Health Services: Resources for Congressional Offices
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
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wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
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