Improving quality in long-term services and supports (LTSS) is vital for Medicaid beneficiaries relying upon such services, particularly given current proposals by many states to implement managed care programs to deliver LTSS. A new advocates' guide provides information and recommendations to assist beneficiaries and their advocates. The guide, entitled Identifying and Selecting Long-Term Services and Supports Outcome Measures, has been prepared by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) and the National Senior Citizens Law Center.

The guide focuses on outcome measures based on individual experience, as a beneficiary's experiences are the best starting point for judging whether systems are performing well. The guide discusses existing and in-development quality measures, presents criteria for selection of LTSS outcome measures, suggests methods for building LTSS knowledge and infrastructure, and sets forth action steps for advocates.