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New Report: Two-Thirds of States Integrating Medicare and Medicaid Services for Dual Eligibles
New research from AARP, NASUAD, and Health Management Associates finds that two-thirds of states either have or will launch new initiatives to better coordinate care for people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid services over the next two years. To contain the growth of costs and improve care, many are moving to risk-based managed long-term services and supports models. This research finds that a number of states are exploring approaches to dual services integration outside of the CMS models.
Click here for the report.
Click here for the press release.
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National HCBS Conference: Call for Sessions Deadline Extended!
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 April 12th.
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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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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$6 Billion in Medicare Drug Savings
CMS has released the state-by-state figures for savings in the prescription drug coverage gap, or "donut hole", which shows that more than 6.3 million people with Medicare have saved over $6 billion on prescription drugs. In 2013, the health care law increases the discounts and savings to 52.5% of the cost of covered brand-name drugs and 21% of the cost of generic drugs.
Click here for the state-by-state savings.
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Proposed Rules for Helping Consumers Navigate the New Health Insurance Marketplace
On April 3, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule outlining standards that Navigators in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Health Insurance Marketplaces must meet, and clarifying earlier guidance about the Navigator program. The proposed rule describes the role of Navigators--which are organizations designated to provide accurate and impartial assistance to consumers about their health insurance options, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans, and public programs including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) establishes insurance exchanges, or Health Insurance Marketplaces, in each state, where consumers who do not get insurance through their employer can compare and buy plans. Navigators cannot be paid by insurance companies, they do not have to be licensed as agents or brokers, cannot select a plan for their clients, and are not in charge of eligibility determinations. Exchanges themselves will handle eligibility determinations, and are also intended to have a strong customer-service component, including call centers and physical offices.
Exchanges are directed to select at least two different types of entities as Navigators, one which must be a community and consumer-focused non-profit organization. Exchanges will establish a program that awards grants to Navigators who will carry out the following required duties:
- Maintaining expertise in eligibility, enrollment and program specifications
- Conducting public education activities to raise awareness about the Exchange
- Providing information and services in a fair accurate and impartial manner including info that acknowledges other health programs such as Medicaid, and CHIP
- Facilitating consumer selection of a Quality Health Plan
- Providing referrals for consumers with questions, complaints or grievances to any applicable office of health insurance consumer assistance or health insurance ombudsman established under section 2793 of the Public Health Service Act or any other state agency or agencies
- Providing information in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, including to persons with limited English proficiency
- Ensuring accessibility and usability of Navigator tools and functions for persons with disabilities
According to the proposed rule, Navigators will be required to fulfill a specific set of training standards prescribed by the state or Exchange, requiring up to 30 hours of HHS-approved training, including standards for certification and recertification, and including passing and exam.
Comments on the proposed rule are due by 5p ET on May 6, 2013.
Open enrollment in the Marketplace begins Oct. 1, 2013, with coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2014.
Click here to access the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on April 5.
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Department of Health and Human Services
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HHS Finalizes Rule Guaranteeing 100 Percent Funding for New Medicaid Beneficiaries
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a final rule, effective January 1, 2014, that the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These payments will be in effect through 2016 and will be phasing to a permanent 90 percent matching rate by 2020. States will claim the matching rates available for Medicaid expenditures of individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of poverty and who are enrolled in the new eligibility group.
Click here to read the press release.
Click here for the full text of today's final rule.
Click here for more information on the improvements made to Medicaid.
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The Aging Workforce: The Role of Medical Professionals in Helping Older Workers and Workers with Disabilities to Stay at Work or Return to Work and Remain Employed
The Department of Labor has released a brief on the role of medical professionals in helping older workers and workers with disabilities retain employment and return to work. Due to the low employment rates for these individuals and growth in Social Security Disability Insurance caseloads there has been an increasing need to create new policies to provide supports encouraging the employment of these workers. The brief highlights several strategies and recommendations to address these issues.
Click here to read the brief.
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National Council on Disability
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NCD Chairperson Announces Intent to Appoint Rebecca Cokley Executive Director
Chairperson Jeff Rosen announced his intent to appoint Rebecca Cokley as the Executive Director of the National Council on Disability (NCD), who previously served on NCD's Youth Advisory Commission as Vice Chair during the George W. Bush administration.
"As we near the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rebecca's appointment as Executive Director honors NCD's history and builds on that foundation as we work toward a more inclusive and equitable future," said Jeff Rosen, NCD's Chairperson. "Her outstanding experience in disability policy work includes bringing different racial, ethnic, and religious groups, the LGBT community, veterans, and people with disabilities together to address common causes. Rebecca brings a proven track record to NCD's efforts to ensure that the American Dream is accessible for the growing number of Americans with disabilities from diverse backgrounds with different needs and identities."
Click here to see the announcement.
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Congressional Briefing
Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children
When: Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. EST Where: U.S. Capitol, Cannon Building, Room 340
Estimates indicate that 6.1 million children in the U.S. have parents with disabilities - nearly 1 in 10. However, twenty-two years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), parents with disabilities continue to be the only distinct community who has to fight to retain and sometimes gain custody of their own children without cause. Their fundamental right to parent is often impinged by disparate treatment they receive in the court and service systems.
Please join the National Council on Disability, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, and the Child Welfare League of America for a robust discussion in light of the recent release of the Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children report by the National Council on Disability.
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Social Security Administration
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More than Five Million Individuals Created My Social Security Account
My Social Security is an online account that allows registered users immediate access to their personal Social Security information. The service is available during a person's working years to obtain a Social Security Statement to check their earnings record, and to obtain estimates of future retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. One of the most popular uses of the account is the ability to quickly access benefit information. People who currently receive benefits can use the online account to obtain a benefit verification letter, check benefit payment information, and change address, phone number, and direct deposit information.
Click here to learn more about my Social Security accounts.
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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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The New AIRS Standards (Version 7.0)
AIRS has changed the title of the Standards slightly to better incorporate the concept of quality indicators.
This edition continues the strong commitment by AIRS to promote standards that further its mission: "To provide leadership and support to its members and Affiliates to advance the capacity of a Standards-driven Information and Referral industry that brings people and services together." The process to revise and update the standards has taken more than a year and has involved input from many I&R professionals, including a group of I&R technology experts who conducted a line-by-line review. Version 7.0 of the AIRS Standards is a comprehensive upgrade. Some of the changes are relatively minor such as modifications in the wording of the Standard or relocation of a Quality Indicator to another Standard, to add clarity. In addition to these changes, there is the creation of a new Technology Standard (Standard 25).
Summary of changes:
- Adds a new Technology standard and incorporates recommendations from a technology workgroup commissioned by the Standards Committee.
- Adds quality indicators that reference the use of social media.
- Adds a quality indicator requiring procedures for managing challenging inquirers.
- Restructures Standard 6: Additional Channels for Access, to describe methods for accessing I&R service
- Rearranges contents of several standards to be more user-friendly
- Revises Standard 17, Emergency Operations and Business Contingency Plan
A workshop on the new Standards will be presented at the AIRS Conference in Portland, OR in June, 2013.
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American Society on Aging
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Webinar: Hiring a Caregiver
The American Society on Aging will be hosting a webinar on April 4 at 1:00 p.m. EDT on hiring a private caregiver, including what the right questions are to ask during the interview process. Participants will also learn the four most important points families should consider when hiring a caregiver, and the eight points of compatibility for a caregiver to ensure a safe and happy environment. This webinar includes free CEUs.
Click here to register.
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Webinar: Alzheimer's Care
The American Society on Aging will be hosting a webinar on April 10 or 17 at 1:00 p.m. EDT on managing family care for Alzheimer's patients. Participants will learn effective ways to cope with cognitive challenges, as well as the difference between mild cognitive impairment and serious cognitive problems. The potential causes will also be discussed. This webinar includes free CEUs.
Click here to register.
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National Council on Aging
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MIPPA: What We've Learned, What's Next
The National Council on Aging will be hosting a webinar on the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008 and its achievements and granted opportunities, as well as the challenges that still remain. MIPPA funding has brought significant changes to Medicare, especially for low-income beneficiaries. It has been used to increase access to Part D among rural beneficiaries and help low-income individuals make Medicare affordable. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, April 30, from 2-3 p.m. EDT.
Click here to register.
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Independent Sector's Value of Volunteer Time
The Independent Sector, a leadership network for nonprofits and philanthropies, has published information estimating the hourly value of volunteer time at both a national and state level. The estimated value of volunteer time for 2012 is $22.14 per hour.
Click here to see your state's value.
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Two Day Workshop: Global Elder Abuse and Its Prevention
The Institute of Medicine will be hosting a free, public workshop on April 17-18 in Washington, DC, on issues of elder abuse around the world, focusing on its impacts on individuals, families, communities, and societies. Innovative approaches to elder abuse prevention will be illuminated, as well as opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
Click here for in-person registration.
Click here for webcast registration.
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CliftonLarsonAllen and LeadingAge
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Pathways to Greatness Call for Entries
Define what makes an aging-services organization great by participating in the Pathways to Greatness Recognition Program (P2G) this year. LeadingAge and CliftonLarsonAllen are sponsors of this national program that examines the many ways aging-services providers are successfully improving outcomes for their organizations and for residents.
"Pathways to Greatness is really an educational program at its heart," says Nicole Fallon, a health care consultant with CliftonLarsonAllen. "But it also persuasively demonstrates that where there is quality and a focus on the older adults we serve, strong financial performance follows."
Criteria
This program is designed to help LeadingAge members move forward on their Quality First journeys. Participation is open to Quality First Covenant signers that provide two or more services and programs for older adults.
Strive for greatness
Are you unsure about proclaiming your organization's greatness? Many past award recipients felt the same way, but they used the application process itself as part of their journey toward greatness.
Contact Nicole Fallon at: nicole.fallon@cliftonlarsonallen.com or 612-376-4843 for more information.
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Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Awareness Day
April 2nd: Autism Awareness Day
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Assistant Director: Alliance for Aging Research
The Alliance for Aging Research is seeking an Assistant Director to work with its senior leadership to expand the organization's fundraising and development activities and mobilize staff to achieve development goals. This position requires an energetic, creative development professional with a desire to work as a team to grow the organization. Experience with foundation and corporate prospect researching and fundraising is imperative.
The Assistant Director reports directly to the CEO and will be responsible for fundraising, development management, and strategy and planning. The successful candidate will have Enthusiasm for and commitment to the Alliance's mission, 5-7 years of fundraising experience, familiarity with healthcare sector helpful, and excellent written and oral communication skills, including writing proposals and other fundraising materials.
Click here for the announcement.
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Executive Director: Virginia Crater District Area Agency on Aging
The Director provides leadership and vision in planning services, coordinating community programs, developing new initiatives and fundraising. The Executive Director must work effectively with the Board of Directors, elected officials, local governments, advisory council, advocacy organizations, agency staff, volunteers and older individuals and families receiving services. The Executive Director is responsible for administration, personnel and financial management including the monitoring of programs and subcontractors.
The successful candidate will be expected to possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in business or public administration, gerontology, social work or a closely related field. A Master's degree is preferred. Strong written and oral communication skills and public relations skills are critical. In order for CDAAA to provide effective and efficient programs and services, the successful candidate must have experience and knowledge of basic principles and professional practices in planning and public administration. In addition candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible administrative or supervisory experience in either a public or private agency. Travel will include visits to service sites and contractors throughout the area and travel to Richmond and other areas of the state as necessary for meetings and conferences. The starting salary is $90,000 - $100,000.
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Additional Job Opportunities
To see more job postings, please visit the NASUAD website.
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