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National HCBS Conference: Call for Session: Deadline Approaching!
The National Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference is the premier event showcasing promising practices in long-term services and supports. It has earned a stellar reputation for bringing together our nation's leaders in the field while offering exceptional learning and networking opportunities for professionals who administer home and community based services throughout the country.
NASUAD, together with the District of Columbia Office on Aging, Maryland Department of Aging, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and an outstanding national committee, has opened the CALL FOR SESSIONS for this year's National HCBS Conference, September 9-12, 2013, in Arlington, VA. Those working on home and community-based programming for people of any age or ability are invited to submit their session's description now through March 29th.
Click here to submit your presentation for consideration.
Click here to learn more about the conference.
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Volunteers Matter: Excellence in Volunteer Services Award
NASUAD, with funding from the Volunteer Collaborative, is proud to announce the 2013 Volunteers Matter: Excellence in Volunteer Services Awards. This initiative is designed to highlight successful state-run programs that are leading the way in the creative use of volunteers in the long-term services and supports network. The award is open to programs that help older adults and persons with disabilities in the long-term services and supports system. Programs must be statewide in scope and operation. Winning programs will demonstrate innovations in one or more of the following:
- Promoting intergenerational interaction
- Incorporating Baby Boomers as volunteers
- Including Veterans as volunteers or recipients
- Creative strategies for recruitment and retention of volunteers of varying backgrounds, ages and abilities
Three awards will be given at the 2013 HCBS Conference. Winners will receive:
- A cash prize of $1,000 to be used to strengthen the winning volunteer program
- An all-expenses paid trip to the 2013 HCBS conference, September 9-12 in Washington, D.C. where each winner will be recognized and highlight their program's success with the other winners in a joint workshop
- A NASUAD press release highlighting the program along with recognition on the NASUAD website
Submissions will be accepted from January 31st through May 30th, 2013. Winners will be notified in June, 2013 to prepare for formal announcement at the 2013 HCBS conference.
Click here for descriptions from the 2012 winning programs.
Click here for a copy of the invitation to submit.
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Department of Health and Human Services
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HHS Announces 2013 Agenda to Bring Down Costs and Improve Quality of Care through Implementation of Health Information Technology
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner and the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Farzad Mostashari, M.D., last Thursday announced the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) plan to accelerate health information exchange (HIE) and build a seamless and secure flow of information essential to transforming the health care system.
Click here to read more, including the goals set for 2013.
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Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
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CMS Issues Proposed Rule on SHOPs
On March 11, CMS issued a proposed rule that would implement provisions of the ACA related to the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). Specifically, the proposed rule amends existing regulations regarding triggering events and special enrollment periods for qualified employees and their dependents and would implement a transitional policy regarding employees' choice of qualified health plans in SHOP. Comments are due by April 1.
The proposed rule, as published in the March 11 Federal Register, is available here.
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Army Supports NFL Brain Injury 'Innovation Challenge'
The NFL and Army have introduced a two-phased initiative, The Head Health Initiative, which is a major research consortium to study traumatic brain injuries. The first part will be to develop a program to detect and diagnose brain injuries, and the second is a two-year "Innovation Challenge". This challenge would be for up to $20 million toward research to create protective gear that could help to prevent these brain injuries. The Army will provide experts to sit on the boards that drive such research, and provide soldiers for clinical trials.
Click here to read the press release.
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Sequestration Now in Effect
As anticipated, President Obama sent out an official notice to begin the sequester on March 1. This triggered the release of OMB's report detailing the reductions that each federal agency must make. In its analysis, OMB calculated that all non-defense discretionary (NDD) programs, like those authorized by the OAA, must be reduced by approximately five percent over the course of the current fiscal year to meet the sequester's reduction targets. Because these cuts must be achieved over seven months instead of 12, the effective percentage reductions for NDD programs will be approximately nine percent.
Since this percentage must applied uniformly at the program, project, and activity (PPA) level within each federal budget account, federal agencies have no discretion to decide what programs to reduce, or by how much. For some background information on the sequester, please see NASUAD's FAQ on Sequestration and the States.
The documents released by OMB on March 1 are available here:
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President Obama Announces Key Administration Posts
On March 13, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint Henry Claypool, Julian Harris and Carol Raphael to the Commission on Long-Term Care.
President Obama stated, "I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."
Click here to learn more about each appointee.
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House and Senate Release Dueling FY14 Budget Proposals
This week, the House and Senate Budget Committee chairs Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) unveiled their respective FY14 budget resolutions. As anticipated, the two chambers lay out vastly different approaches to long-term deficit reduction.
Overall, the House plan would reduce projected spending by $4.6 trillion through cuts to domestic programs, relative to the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) current-law baseline. In part, Rep. Ryan would achieve these savings by extending the Budget Control Act (BCA)'s ten year spending caps by two years, from FYs 2012-2021 to FYs 2022-2023, further jeopardizing future funding for non-defense discretionary (NDD) programs. Like last year's version, the FY14 House budget resolution would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), turn Medicare into a defined contribution system for individuals currently under the age of 55, and convert Medicaid into a block grant program to states, tying the federal contribution to inflation and population growth, but not actual health care costs. The committee's various documents related to the FY 2014 budget resolution can be found here.
Unlike the House plan, which would balance the budget over ten years without new tax increases, Senate Democrats, in their framework, seek to reduce the deficit by $1.85 trillion over the next decade through a one-to-one ratio of spending cuts and revenue increases. Additionally, while Rep. Ryan's proposed domestic savings are in addition to the $1.2 trillion currently scheduled to be achieved through sequestration, Sen. Murray calls for additional legislation to replace the sequester, using a balanced approach that reflects the framework laid out in the Senate's budget resolution.
The deficit reductions in the Senate plan consist of $975 billion in new tax revenue and $975 billion in spending cuts over ten years, including $275 billion from health care, $240 billion from defense, $142 billion from NDD spending, and $76 billion from other mandatory programs. The plan also claims $242 billion in savings from reduced interest payments. The Senate's budget plan and supporting documents are available here.
Notably, both the House and Senate plans use the same overall discretionary spending cap for FY14, $966 billion; this number is consistent with the level of spending set by the BCA. However, the two plans set different priorities on defense and domestic spending for FY14 within those caps. Sen. Murray's budget would reflect the BCA's provision requiring the discretionary defense cap to be lowered from $552 billion to $497 billion, and the NDD cap to be reduced to $469 billion. Rep. Ryan, meanwhile, would protect defense spending by maintaining the pre-sequester cap of $552 billion, compensating for this prioritization by lowering the NDD cap to $414 billion, $55 billion below the number agreed upon by lawmakers in the BCA. Importantly, this change would require enactment in other legislation, since a budget resolution does not become law.
Next week, each chamber is expected to pass its budget resolution. Given the stark differences between the House and Senate FY14 budget plans, the two chambers are not expected to reach a compromise agreement, or joint resolution. The President's budget request to Congress, due in February each year, has been delayed until early April, largely due to the uncertainty about FY14 spending as a result of sequestration.
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Congress Seeking Six-Month CR
With the Continuing Resolution (CR) currently funding the federal government set to expire on March 27, both chambers have been working on proposals to fund federal programs for the remainder of FY13.
Last week, the House passed a six-month CR (HR 933), which includes the sequester's across-the-board (ATB) spending cuts, indicating that the CR will not be the vehicle to retroactively address sequestration. Similarly, this week, the Senate released its version of a CR, which would fund the government through FY13 and does not attempt to reverse the sequester. This is largely in line with the expressed desire from the leadership of both parties, who sought to decouple sequestration from the funding bills to avoid the threat of a government shutdown.
The House bill also provides new FY13 appropriations for Defense and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, with the remaining appropriation bills funded through a CR. The Senate version, however, includes separate divisions for FY13 Agriculture; Commerce-Justice-Science; Defense; Homeland Security; and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations acts. The Senate is still in the process of considering several program-specific provisions that reflect items that were agreed to last year during House-Senate negotiations on potential FY13 compromise versions of individual spending bills. Senate leaders are expected to resume work on the CR next week.
For more information, on the Senate's bill, please follow this link.
To view the legislative text of the House-passed bill, please
click here.
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Senate Aging Committee March 13th Hearing: "876-SCAM: Jamaican Phone Fraud Targeting Seniors"
The Senate Special Committee on Aging is holding a hearing on March 13, at 2:00 PM EST in 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building to investigate a growing scam that is robbing many seniors of their life savings. Scam-artists, many of whom are from Jamaica, have been conning seniors out of their savings by promising lottery winnings after they pay supposed taxes or fees. These con artists convince victims to wire transfer companies or prepaid debit cards to send their money. During this hearing, the Committee will hear the stories of victims from Florida to Maine.
Click here to learn more.
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Alliance for Information and Referral (AIRS)
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AIRS Conference Registration Open
The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) Conference will be held June 2-5, in Portland, Oregon. In partnership with the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), NASUAD's I&R/A Support Center is coordinating the Aging and Disability Track for the AIRS Conference. Join us for the Aging and Disability Symposium including a pre-conference I&R/A Summit for Aging and Disability Professionals, and a full complement of workshops, panel discussions and lively conversation throughout the week.
The Aging and Disability Pre-Conference Summit on Sunday June 2, 9a-3p, will be different from pre-conference gatherings in past years and will include:
- A networking breakfast
- A discussion focused on state-to-state interaction and technical assistance where participants will share their experiences and ask questions about current trends, new initiatives and upcoming national events in I&R/A service delivery.
- The kick-off of the National I&R/A Support Center's Train-the-Trainer Initiative for the National coordination of CIRS-A (Certification for I&R Specialists in Aging) and Aging/Disability-related CRS (Certification for Resource Specialists) training.
There is no charge to attend this pre-conference event, though pre-registration is requested. Please contact Support Center coordinator, Sara Tribe at 202-898-2578 x305 or stribe@nasuad.org, to register, and to suggest topics that you would like to discuss at the Aging and Disability I&R/A Pre-Conference Summit.
Register for the AIRS Conference.
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Webinar: Translating the Medicaid Expansion Into Increased Coverage: The Role of Application Assistance
In 2014, under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) all states will employ technology-driven enrollment systems to aid people in signing up for health insurance exchange marketplaces and insurance affordability programs. The Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured will be holding a webinar on March 19 at 2:00 PM EST to examine the role of application assistance in ensuring eligible individuals effectively enroll in health coverage. Application assistance will be crucial for these systems to be successful, and the webinar will overview its importance and the lessons learned from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) implementation. KFF will also release a case study that highlights the experience of in-person application assistance for Medicaid in community health centers in Utah.
Click here to register.
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National Council on Aging
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Webinar: What the Pension Rights Center Can Do for You and Your Clients
The National Council on Aging will be hosting a webinar with the Pension Rights Center on March 29, from 2-3PM EST. The Pension Rights Center is a consumer organization committed to protecting and promoting the retirement security of American workers, retirees, and their families. Through its pension assistance activities, the Pension Rights Center has worked to ensure that people receive the retirement benefits they have earned. Speakers will include the Legal Director and Outreach Manager at the Pension Rights Center.
Click here to register.
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Getting More Out of SNAP
The National Council on Aging has published a brief on maximizing the SNAP medical expense deduction for older adults. Many older adults mistakenly believe that if they qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), they'll only receive $16 a month in benefits. This brief explains how the medical expense deduction works and who is eligible. Older adults may be missing out on higher benefits because they do not take advantage of this deduction.
Click here to view the brief.
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Webinar: Improving Care Transitions: Engaging Older Patients on the Issue Preventing Re-Hospitalization
The National Council on Aging will be hosting a webinar on April 4 from 1:30-2:30 PM EST on best practices and resources in avoiding re-hospitalization for older patients. Medicare has stopped paying hospitals for additional costs that result when preventable conditions result in re-hospitalization. The webinar will examine the role that senior care and aging professionals can play in providing support services, as well as the importance of educating and empowering older patients and caregivers as part of the efforts to reduce re-hospitalization.
Click here to register.
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The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
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2013 Disability Policy Seminar
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, along with five other organizations will be hosting a Disability Policy Seminar from April 15-17 in Washington, D.C. During this seminar, advocates will learn more and discuss the most recent topics in intellectual and developmental disability public policy. There will be two days of informative in-depth sessions from disability policy experts, as well as opportunities to network with others from your state. The third day of the seminar will include breakfast on Capitol Hill before the opportunity to personally meet with elected representatives and their staffs. This seminar is an opportunity to advance the grassroots movement for people with I/DD and make sure elected officials know what's important to the disability community.
Click here to register.
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Webinar: Revising the ICD Definition of Intellectual Disability: Implications and Recommendations
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and The Association of University Centers on Disabilities are jointly sponsoring a webinar to provide more information on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), a tool for practitioners, researchers, consumers, administrators, policy makers, and governments published by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 11th iteration of the ICD is under development, and AAIDD and AUCD have been part of the WHO process for stakeholder input on the condition previously known as "mental retardation." The webinar will take place on March 19 at 3:00 PM EST.
Click here to register.
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National Academy for State Health Policy
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Webinar: Strategies for Payment Reform in States: Selecting Innovative Models
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) will be hosting a webinar on March 19, from 3-4 PM EST on the range of payment reform strategies available for states to help ready them for multi-payer approaches in payment and delivery reform. This webinar will also highlight approaches from two leading states, and emphasize how the states chose their models with attention to differing political landscapes. NASHP is hosting this webinar as the second in a multi-part series to aid states in moving beyond the medical home and begin discussing multi-payer approaches to payment.
Click here to register.
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National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
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NASDDDS Mid-Year Conference
The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services will be holding a mid-year conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from May 8th-10th. This conference will provide opportunities for state developmental disabilities leaders to gain practical ideas for supporting families as a vital component of an effective service system. There will be opportunity for extensive exchanges with thought leaders from other countries and the U.S., and the chance to discuss strategies with states engaged in efforts to support families.
Click here for more information.
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Grant Title: Acute Kidney Injury in Older Adults
Agency Issuing Grant: National Institutes of Health
Eligible Applicants: State governments, Nonprofits, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) & Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Close Date: May 7, 2016
Funding Opportunity Number: PA-13-141, PA-13-142, PA-13-143
CDFA Number: 93.847& 93.866
Grant Amount: Contingent upon NIH appropriations. Direct cost limitation of $275,000 for two year period.
Description: This opportunity invites applications that propose basic, clinical, translational and outcomes research on acute kidney injury (AKI) in older persons. Research supported by this initiative should enhance knowledge of the increasing incidence of AKI in older persons and its consequences and provide evidence-based guidance in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AKI in this expanding segment of the population.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov
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Grant Title: Pension Counseling & Information Projects
Agency Issuing Grant: Administration for Community Living
Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted
Close Date: April 22, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-PC-0041
CDFA Number: 93.048
Grant Amount: $1.2 million for 6 awards
Description: This program will help individuals understand and exercise their pension rights. The counseling projects promote protection of the rights, financial security, and independence of older individuals and empower them to make better choices in planning for long-term care. Successful applicants will demonstrate a proven record of advising and representing individuals who have been denied employer or union-sponsored pensions or other retirement savings plan benefits, and will have the capacity to deliver services on a regional basis.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov
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Additional Job Opportunities
To see more job postings, please visit the NASUAD website.
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