Contracting with health care entities offers an avenue for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to be reimbursed for providing services that improve health and avoid the need for expensive health care among older adults. However, we have little systematic evidence about the organizational characteristics and policy environments that facilitate these contractual relationships. Using survey data on AAAs from 2017-18, we found that contracting with health insurers was significantly more likely if AAAs had strong business capabilities and access to a state CBO contracting network. AAA contracting with health care delivery organizations trended with different factors, becoming more likely if states had implemented more integrated health care delivery programs, and becoming less likely if states had managed long-term services and supports. Contracting could be facilitated by supports for AAA business capabilities, as well as state policies that increase demand for their services among health insurers and health care delivery organizations.
Keywords: area agencies on aging; care coordination; case management; health; health services; policy.