More than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.1 In 2024, unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 19+ billion hours of care valued at more than $413 billion, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. Health and long-term care costs … Read more
The adolescent years are a time of significant physical, emotional, and behavioral development for young people, making them especially vulnerable to the detrimental effects of untreated mental health and substance use disorders. Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (also known as dual diagnosis) are becoming an increasingly prevalent issue among adolescents and leave families … Read more
March is Women’s History Month, with a theme of “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” set by the National Women’s History Alliance.1 This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. At ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School, we are proud … Read more
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory infection among infants and young children; in fact, 90 percent of infants will experience RSV infection by their second year of life.1 What’s less known is that older adults and individuals with compromised immune systems are also vulnerable to RSV infections and associated complications. According … Read more
Active duty, National Guard, and retired service members—as well as their families and survivors—deserve the best access to healthcare. Many receive their benefits through TRICARE, a Department of Defense healthcare program. If an individual doesn’t qualify for TRICARE, they may be able to get health insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the … Read more
Medicare is a valuable benefit for Medicaid members and states. It is a source of expanded benefits and coverage for qualifying Medicaid beneficiaries and the largest single source of Third Party Liability (TPL) savings for states. Medicaid members may not understand the difference between Medicaid and Medicare, or how the programs can work together. The … Read more
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year,1 and this number is exacerbated in our country’s jails and prisons, where about 44 percent of people in jails and 37 percent of those in state or federal prisons have been diagnosed with a mental illness,2 compared to about … Read more
Approximately one in four Americans have a disability.1 When someone is hurt or disabled and unable to work, they need an objective evaluation of their level of injury or disability to confirm their eligibility for appropriate financial, and sometimes vocational, support. Disability services administered by states and retirement plans may help provide disability applicants with … Read more
In late 2023, I became Executive Director of the Massachusetts Nursing Council for Workforce Sustainability. With over a decade of nursing operations experience, the Nursing Council was very much a new endeavor for me. Nevertheless, I embraced the challenge, moved by the desire to make a difference in the nursing profession and help other nurses … Read more
Every March, we celebrate National Women’s History Month, and 2024’s theme is women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. According to the National Women’s History Alliance, “the theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.” At … Read more
UPDATED SEPT. 10, 2024 More than 1.2 million older adults and people with disabilities live in over 15,500 Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes nationwide.1 As a substantial portion of our population continues to age, this number is expected to rise. It is critical we ensure that safe, high-quality care is available for our aging Americans. Effective … Read more
The past few years have been tumultuous for the healthcare system and have caused more uncertainty and even fear among Americans relying on federal and state benefits. Unfortunately, many older Americans may not be taking advantage of all the sources of healthcare coverage available to them. Medicaid members aged 65 and older may not have … Read more