Written by Partnerships Intern, Alison Hayden
C-TAC kicked off member programming on February 14th with our first Policy Meet-Up of 2023. These virtual sessions, hosted every other month, are open to all coalition members. These meetings are critical opportunities for our coalition to share policy updates and re-establish policy priorities. Most importantly, the Policy Meet-Up allows us to collaborate in moving the needle on legislative and regulatory policy that will improve quality of life for all individuals with serious illness and their caregivers.
Over 70 individuals from across our membership attended February’s Meet-Up. Senior Policy Advisor Brian Lindberg began with legislative updates including C-TAC’s priorities for the 118th Congress. Priorities for this year include: the re-introduction of the Standalone Advance Care Planning Bill, the potential for input on a Chronic Care Act 2.0, RAISE Family Caregiver Implementation, and advocating for further community-based organization support. One example of this includes expanding funding for Area Agencies on Aging and other community-based organizations that provide direct support to those living with serious illness. In addition, C-TAC has been involved in discussions with both those in Washington D.C. and major hospice organizations regarding hospice modernization efforts.
Senior Regulatory Advisor Marian Grant, DNP, discussed key Medicare Advantage (MA) proposed rules for 2024 which are now available for comments. These regulations are increasingly relevant to all organizations serving those with serious illness. MA enrollment continues to grow with current estimates showing 50% of Medicare beneficiaries are also enrolled in a MA plan. C-TAC is proud to collaborate with coalition members in our Regulatory Task Force, where C-TAC’s regulatory experts come together to further review proposed rules and discuss and draft comments on behalf of those with serious illness. The Task Force also pays special attention to rules including efforts to promote equity, advance care planning measures, and palliative care and hospice services. If you are interested in learning more about the Regulatory Task Force, please reach out to Marian Grant at mgrant@thectac.org.
C-TAC also continues to focus on the state policy landscape. Strategic Advisor Torrie Fields reviewed the newly launched CMCS Health Equity Framework and the importance of aligning our local policy priorities with this federal and now required state-level equity frameworks. Embracing the many policy routes at the state level was discussed, focusing not just on legislation, but also: state mandates, waivers, state plan amendments, or services embedded into another program (i.e. Palliative care initiatives in Health Homes, Total Cost of Care, or Duals Alignment Initiatives). Legislative and administrative wins from the last year were shared, highlighting Hawai’i, Maryland, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon.
The Policy Meet-Up also provides a key opportunity for members to share their policy focus areas and successes. All our coalition members bring unique insight and opportunity to further this work. Here’s what attendees are saying about this month’s Policy Meet-Up:
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
“As a new member of CTAC, I was excited to attend my first policy meet-up last week. The meeting had all of the elements I hoped for – welcoming, informative, efficient, and on-task. One of the strategic goals at National Breast Cancer Foundation is to increase our services and support to metastatic breast cancer patients and improve their quality of life. These patients are living longer, and as a result, are more reliant on the complex cancer care system. By collecting the expertise, passion, and strategic work to transform the healthcare landscape, our organization will be better suited to accomplish this goal. We can’t improve outcomes for patients with advanced disease unless every aspect of their care is meticulously considered. CTAC provides an environment for that kind of coordination to happen and I’m very thankful to be a part.” – Douglas Feil, Chief Program Officer
Denver Regional Council of Governments
“Information on new bills or proposed bills is very important we are in the process of contracting with a new federal lobbying firm and the information I got at the last meeting helped me prepared for my meetings with the new firm. The meetings provided clarity on Medicare regulations. A good example of this is last meeting when Medicare Advantage was reviewed. My AAA operates a SHIP program, and I got a better explanation of some of the changes in Medicare Advantage from the CTAC than I received from any other meeting I have attended.
The policy meet-ups align closely with our AAA’s strategic plan and policy priorities. Our AAA contracts with 50+ community service providers to provide services like transportation, nutrition, in-home services and caregiver support. We are struggling to keep up with demand in the service need and would like to diversify our funding. One of CTACs priority is strong community based services to support people with advanced illness and this is an important alliance for us.
Partnership development with health payers is a goal for our AAA and CTACs meetings give me information and contacts that help me with this goal.” – Jayla Sanchez-Warren, Director of the Area Agency on Aging
COMPASSUS
“The policy meetup includes many of the MA, ACO, and Health System innovators that Compassus’ home health, hospice and advanced care management works with every day caring for the serious illness population in many states and communities. CTAC meetups provide leverage to step away from our day to day coordinated care delivery to instead focus on collaboration to align on positive change in government policies.” – Craig Jeffries, SVP Public Policy
At its’ core, C-TAC’s policy agenda is advancing equity and dismantling systemic barriers to high quality serious illness care for traditionally underserved communities and removing financial obstacles to care for low-income BIPOC individuals and caregivers. C-TAC is grateful for the diversity of expertise within our coalition and looks forward to advancing critical policy together this year.
