Less Hospice Use and Shorter Hospice Lengths of Stay for Connecticut Medicaid Decedents with Short-Term and Long-Term Nursing Home Stays Compared with Decedents Remaining in Community Homes.

The relationship between nursing home (NH) stays before death and hospice use is understudied. A retrospective cohort study of Connecticut Medicaid decedents with common hospice diagnoses who died between 2017 and 2020. Medicaid/Medicare claims identified NH stays, hospice use, short length of stay (LOS) (≤7 days), demographics, and diagnoses.

The Long-COVID Well-Being Scale (LCOVID-WBS): Development of a nascent measure of long-COVID symptoms and impacts.

As is now well-known, COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, which for some can cause symptoms that last long after initial infection. In 2021, a clinical set of symptoms referred to as long-COVID was identified. For many patients, long-COVID is a confusing and frightening multisystem disease, with the potential for myriad negative psychosocial effects, including significant impacts on employment and mental health, and requiring ongoing care.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Hospice Use Among Medicaid-Only and Dual-Eligible Decedents.

Importance: Hospice care enhances quality of life for people with terminal illness and is most beneficial with longer length of stay (LOS). Most hospice research focuses on the Medicare-insured population. Little is known about hospice use for the racially and ethnically diverse, low-income Medicaid population.

Predictors of Frailty Change in Home and Community-Based Services Populations.

Objectives: With unprecedented demand for Medicaid long-term services and supports, states are seeking to allocate resources in the most efficient way. Understanding the prevalence of frailty and how it varies across home and community-based services (HCBS) populations can assist states with more precise identification of individuals most in need of services. Early identification of individuals more likely to experience frailty changes could allow for enhanced care planning to prevent or slow the progression of decline.