Policy Summit 2026 – The Future of Health and Long-Term Care
We’re in a constrained yet catalytic policy moment. As demand for long-term care rises and system gaps deepen, this session explores near-term reforms spanning Medicare and Medicaid as well as bold new ideas like a Medicare home care benefit. A common theme is readiness: having the policy ideas, coalitions, and messaging in place to act […]
Policy Summit 2026 – Opening Plenary: The Future of Benefits in a Time of Change
As we mark 90 years since the New Deal, we’re reminded that bold ideas and collective action can meet the toughest challenges, and that our society is strongest when we refuse to leave anyone behind. This panel discusses the new Benefits Futures Studio, explores the core principles of a people-centered benefits system, connects social insurance […]
The Case for Enhanced Wage Records: Lessons from States
New research by Michele Evermore of the National Academy of Social Insurance and Will Raderman of the Niskanen Center explores how states are using enhanced wage records (EWRs) to better understand today’s labor market. Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Wyoming are among a growing number of states collecting enhanced wage records—expanded unemployment insurance data […]
National Academy of Social Insurance Names Alison Barkoff Senior Fellow
Washington, D.C. — The National Academy of Social Insurance is excited to announce that Alison Barkoff, a nationally recognized expert on disability rights, health law, and long-term care policy and professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, has been named a Senior Fellow of the Academy. “Alison’s work is grounded […]
Academy CEO Rebecca Vallas Reacts to Reports SSA Will Not Move Forward with Disability Proposal
Washington, D.C. — Following reports that the Social Security Administration will not move forward with a proposal that would have significantly restricted access to Social Security disability benefits for older workers, Rebecca Vallas, CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance, issued the following statement: “I’m incredibly pleased to see Commissioner Bisignano and the Administration decide not to pursue proposed […]
Introducing the Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab!
Thanks to a major multi-year commitment from The SCAN Foundation, the Academy is honored to serve as the home for a new Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab. Led by Tim Engelhardt, former director of CMS’s Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office, this new independent, nonpartisan Lab will support the growing ecosystem of organizations advancing the needs of […]
Marking 90 Years of Unemployment Insurance
The National Academy of Social Insurance hosted an evening reception on November 13th marking the 90th anniversary of Unemployment Insurance. Together, we reflected on the program’s origins, its essential role in stabilizing the economy and supporting workers, and the opportunities ahead to strengthen UI for the next generation. Speakers included: Watch Here:
Building the Workforce Behind Long-Term Care
This blog is the third and final part of a three-part series—”Long-Term Care Social Insurance Programs and the Home Care Workforce: A Crucial Investment”—exploring how states can strengthen long-term care for older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers—by designing sustainable financing models and investing in the workforce that makes care possible. The first installment […]
The Promise of Long-Term Care Social Insurance
This blog is the second part of a three-part series—“Long-Term Care Social Insurance Programs and the Home Care Workforce: A Crucial Investment”—exploring how states can strengthen long-term care for older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers—by designing sustainable financing models and investing in the workforce that makes care possible. This first installment examined the […]
2025 Robert M. Ball Award Gala
The National Academy of Social Insurance hosted its annual Robert M. Ball Award gala on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event brought together hundreds of leaders across government, business, labor, academia, and advocacy to celebrate bold, visionary leadership advancing the future of economic security for all Americans. The event honored former […]