Federal Policy
ACS Data Shows Direct Care Worker Demographics Amid Federal Policy Shifts
Analysis of 2024 American Community Survey data examines demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of direct care workers, including home health aides, personal care aides, and nursing assistants across long-term care settings. The workforce profile covers workers in nursing facilities, residential care, home health, and nonresidential services for older adults and people with disabilities. Federal policy changes affecting workforce stability, reimbursement, and recruitment directly impact Medicaid managed care organizations' ability to build adequate LTSS provider networks and meet access standards.
Why it mattersMedicaid managed care organizations contracting for LTSS must understand direct care workforce composition to address network adequacy requirements, develop recruitment strategies, and respond to federal reimbursement policies that affect provider availability.