The Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) is thrilled to be partnering with The John A. Hartford Foundation to improve care for older adults with long-term and chronic conditions. With the Foundation’s generous grant, CMA will be able to focus on solutions for older adults caught in the web of hospital “outpatient” Observation Status which reduces access to key health and therapeutic care, as well as other emerging Medicare issues.
Over the grant period, CMA, will gather existing resources and collect stories from beneficiaries, produce and update advocacy materials, and conduct extensive outreach and education. We hope to reduce the impact of Observation Status on patients. The grant funding for this project will also strengthen CMA’s advocacy on other important issues, including increasing access to home health care and oral health care for older adults, and informed choice in health care decisions.
“We are very pleased to support the passionately driven and highly expert staff at CMA, led by the indomitable Judith Stein,” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “As our Foundation works to create age-friendly hospitals and health systems, CMA’s important policy work will raise visibility and diminish the negative impact of the Observation Status classification of older hospitalized adults through outreach and education.”
Learn More About Observation Status & Other Emerging Issues:
- More information on Observation Status
- More information on Medicare and oral health care
- More information on Medicare home health coverage
- More information on the "Improvement Standard"
- More information on Prior Authorization for Medicare services
- More information on Therapy Caps
- More information on Medicare, hearing care and audiology services
About The John A. Hartford Foundation
Founded in 1929 by John and George Hartford of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P), The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. Every eight seconds, someone in America turns 65. The largest-ever generation of older adults is living and working longer, redefining later life, and enriching our communities and society. Comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous care that keeps older adults as healthy as possible is essential to sustaining these valuable contributions. The John A. Hartford Foundation believes that investments in aging experts and innovations can transform how care is delivered, lowering costs and dramatically improving the health of older adults. Additional information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.jhartfound.org.
About The Center for Medicare Advocacy
Established in 1986, The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan law organization that provides education, advocacy and legal assistance to help older people and people with disabilities obtain access to Medicare and quality health care. CMA focuses on the needs of Medicare beneficiaries, people with chronic conditions, and those in need of long-term care. The organization is involved in writing, education, and advocacy activities of importance to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.