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New NASUADiQ Course Available!
A new course is available on NASUAD's free online learning center, NASUADiQ.org. Affordable housing is a basic human need that many older adults and people with disabilities struggle to find and keep. This self-paced course entitled: "Affordable Housing for Older Adults and People with Disabilities," is designed to give an overview of the types of affordable housing that are available to these populations, and was written in association with Leading Age, an organization that focuses on advocacy, education and applied research for various services, supports and housing solutions for seniors, children and people with special needs.
Click here to register for NASUADiQ and to sign up for this course.
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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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President Obama Releases FY14 Budget Request
On April 10, President Obama submitted his $3.77 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget request to Congress. His plan outlines the Administration's overall fiscal policy and federal program priorities for the FY that will begin on October 1, 2013. Included in the Administration's budget are funding requests and corresponding justification data for all federal executive departments and independent agencies. To access the President's proposed budget, please click here.
In part, the proposal seeks to replace sequestration with a mix of spending cuts and revenue increases that would achieve $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over ten years, significantly more than sequestration's projected $1.2 trillion savings over this same time period. The budget request's deficit reduction package includes the savings outlined in the Administration's last offer to Speaker Boehner during the December 2012 fiscal cliff negotiations.
Of these savings, nearly $400 billion would come from mandatory health care programs, with Medicare absorbing the majority of the cuts - $371 billion over 10 years. The largest single Medicare savings proposal would net an estimated $123 billion over 10 years by aligning Medicare drug payments with Medicaid policies for low-income beneficiaries. Medicaid is largely exempt from proposed cuts, as the Administration wants to encourage states to move forward with the ACA's now optional expansion of the program. Accordingly, the budget achieves $22 billion in Medicaid savings largely by reducing payments for prescription drugs and durable medical equipment and targeting waste, fraud, and abuse. The budget also proposes to delay the ACA's Disproportionate Share (DSH) cuts by one year, from 2014 to 2015, "to better align DSH payments with expected levels of uncompensated care." This proposal would save the program $500 million next year. The remaining $8 billion in mandatory health savings would come from changes to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
The budget also proposes to adopt a new inflation measure for calculating increases in Social Security benefits, the chained Consumer Price Index (CPI). The switch would occur in 2015, netting $130 billion in benefit reductions and $100 billion in new revenue through 2023. Certain populations, including beneficiaries over age 76 and individuals with disabilities who have been receiving Social Security for at least 15 years, would receive modest protections from the calculation change.
Since the Administration for Community Living (ACL) was officially formed by Secretary Sebelius in April 2012, the President's FY14 proposal includes ACL's inaugural budget request. While FY12 funding levels for many Older Americans Act (OAA) programs are maintained in the FY14 plan, the Adult Protective Services Demonstration Program would see first-time discretionary funding of $8 million, while the Senior Community Employment Program (SCSEP) would face a nearly $70 million cut. As in prior years, NASUAD conducted a preliminary analysis of the President's budget request with a focus on agency-specific initiatives of particular interest to the aging and disability communities.
As a result of the unusual sequestration and appropriations processes for FY13, full-year appropriations were not enacted at the time the President's FY14 budget was prepared, and the final funding levels for 2013 have yet to be released. Therefore, the President's FY14 budget request includes estimates for 2013 funding based on amounts provided by the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013, PL 112-175. Additionally, as mentioned above, the President's FY14 request would cancel sequestration. As a result of these anomalies, the FY13 numbers included the Administration's budget request - and then cited in NASUAD's analysis - do not reflect the currently enacted funding levels for FY13 that include the across-the-board (ATB) cuts required by sequestration, as well as two separate rescissions. These reductions will result in lower FY13 funding levels compared to FY12.
Please note that NASUAD will update this document as additional information becomes available, particularly with respect to funding levels in 2013.
Click here for NASUAD's Draft Analysis of the President's FY14 Budget Request
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Administration on Community Living
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Have You Planned Your Older Americans Month Activities?
The start of Older Americans Month is less than one month away. The Administration for Community Living wants to help you get ready to Unleash the Power of Age and celebrate 50 years of Older Americans Month.
They have updated the Older Americans Month website for 2013. It contains resources and ways to help you spread the word about Older Americans Month and to plan an event in your community.
The website includes:
- Activity Ideas on how you can celebrate Older Americans Month locally.
- Social Media Gallery where you can promote Older Americans Month to your social media network, using Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
- Download Center which includes a collection of images for your organization's website, and text for newsletters. ACL has also provided a template for a proclamation your community can use to officially designate May as Older Americans Month.
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Unleash the Power of Age in Your Community Challenge
As a part of its Older Americans Month 2013 celebration, ACL is sponsoring the Unleash the Power in Your Community Challenge. This challenge invites organizations to recognize older Americans by nominating people 60 or older who are putting their talents and expertise toward inspirational achievements in their communities and beyond.
Nominees can be volunteers or paid professionals whose contributions are improving society as a whole. Examples of eligible activities include civic engagement, creative arts, and technology and innovation.
Don't forget to submit your nomination by 11:00 p.m. EST on Monday, April 22, 2013.
Click here to learn more about the challenge and to nominate someone.
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Department of Health and Human Services
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Let's Move Faith and Communities Online Training Opportunities
The HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships invites you to join Let's Move Faith and Communities for a special series of online training opportunities that will equip health leaders to run the National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) We Can! program in their communities. We Can! is a science-based national education program that provides parents, caregivers and communities with tools and strategies to help families improve food choices, increase physical activity and reduce screen time.
The focus topic for the April We Can! Sessions is "Energize Our Families: Parent Program." The multiple-session curriculum is designed to provide parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills they need, along with practical tools, to help families maintain a healthy weight.
To learn more about each training session and to register for one or all of the We Can! webinars, click on one of the dates below.
Webinars on "Energize Our Families: Parent Program":
Tuesday, April 23, 12-2pm EDT
Saturday, April 27, 1-3pm EDT
(This webinar is geared toward faith community nurses and is being co-hosted by Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries, Portland, OR.)
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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New Managed Care Technical Assistance Center
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the new Medicaid Managed Care Technical Assistance Center on Medicaid.gov. In collaboration with Mathematica Policy Research, Centers for Health Care Strategies, Manatt Health Solutions, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), CMS will provide individualized technical assistance to the states on managed care program operations, including planning and procurement, benefit design and serving the needs of complex populations, access and quality, and the use of data for program oversight and management. The Medicaid Managed Care Technical Assistance Center is part of CMS's larger efforts to provide comprehensive information and guidance on Medicaid managed care program operations.
In the coming months, the managed care content on Medicaid.gov will include enhanced state profiles, a map depicting managed care penetration, and new issue briefs and toolkits. To request individualized technical assistance, please visit the website and submit the completed technical assistance request form to ManagedCareTA@cms.hhs.gov.
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National Institutes of Health
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New Funding for two Autism Centers of Excellence
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $5.3 million in initial one-year funding to the latest two recipients of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program, bringing the total number of centers funded for up to five year to 11. With these awards, announced on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, these and nine other ACE centers around the country are now being funded for up to five years. The program was created in 2007 to launch an intense and coordinated research effort aimed at identifying the causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and finding new treatments.
The new ACE awards, to Sally J. Rogers, Ph.D., University of California @ Davis MIND Institute and Daniel Geschwind, M.D., Ph.D., University of California @ Los Angeles, will fund two research networks, or consortia of research centers, each focusing on specific aims.
Click here to read the full press release.
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National Council on Disability
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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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Agency for Healthcare Research Quality
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New YouTube Channel Focuses on Health Information Technology Successes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a new YouTube channel. AHRQ HealthIT highlights successful health information technology (IT) projects that focus on ways to enhance quality measurement, preventive care and medication management. These videos provide insights for health services researchers, health care providers and patient advocates on how AHRQ research supports the use of health IT to improve quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of care. |
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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AARP PPI Report: State Studies Show HCBS are Cost-Effective
The AARP Public Policy Institute has just released a report entitled: State Studies Show Home and Community-Based Services are Cost-Effective.
The vast majority of people in need of long-term services and supports (LTSS) want to live in their own homes and communities. States have made progress in providing greater access to home and community based services (HCBS) for people with low incomes. Many states have also conducted studies to ensure that HCBS are cost effective. This report contains a summary of a collection of relevant state studies as well as Web links.
Click here to read the full report.
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AARP PPI Releases New Paper on Funding Specialized Transportation
The AARP Public Policy Institute has just released a report entitled: Weaving it Together: A Tapestry of Transportation Funding for Older Adults. This paper highlights the major sources of federal funding that providers can tap to fund transportation for these populations. Federal sources of funding include those from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Administration for Community Living, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 offers indirect incentives for investment in transportation.
As there is no comprehensive data set that tracks state and local expenditures on specialized transportation, the authors have included seven case studies of local providers from around the country to illustrate how they combine federal, state, and local funding to put quality service on the street. Providers interviewed include River Cities Public Transit of South Dakota, Pelivan of Oklahoma, Peoplerides of Iowa, the Marin Access Mobility Management Center of California, the Delta Area Rural Transportation System of Mississippi, Medical Motor Service of New York, and Seniors' Resource Center of Colorado.
Weaving it Together describes in detail (by using case studies of seven geographically diverse transit systems) both the enormous challenge of funding and the sustained entrepreneurialism required to develop efficient, convenient transportation for older Americans and people with disabilities. The study found that it is impossible to fund a transportation service without combining funds from multiple sources - all with different requirements. It also found that it unlikely a city or region will be able to put together and sustain an effective and convenient service without hefty amounts of creativity and entrepreneurial zeal.
Click here to read the full report.
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Understanding Social Security before Your Claim: What You Need to Know before Your Turn 62
AARP experts discuss the facts about Social Security retirement benefits before you claim. Discussion topics include information about claiming your benefits early, the increase you can receive from delaying claiming and the impact of working and claiming before full retirement age.
Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Click here to register.
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Protect Your Finances: Tips to Avoid Financial Fraud
AARP and North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) will discuss spotting common warning signs of a scam, researching if investment products are right for you, and checking out your financial professional.
Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
Click here to register.
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American Society on Aging
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Webinar: Alzheimer's Care
The American Society on Aging will be hosting a webinar on April 17 at 1:00 p.m. EST 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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Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement
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Forum on
Expanding Savings & Retirement Opportunities: A Dialogue among Generations
Sponsored by the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), this forum will feature the iOme Challenge winners-students from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville-who will discuss their essay response to the challenge question, "Prepare a policy proposal for Congress that creates incentives and removes barriers to financial savings that exist for the Millennial generation." A panel of congressional staff leaders will also discuss current legislative activities.
Invited participants include experts from women's and aging organizations, the financial and retirement communities, policy organizations, and government agencies.
A reception to honor the iOme Challenge winners will follow the discussion.
To see the complete agenda, click here.
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Forum: 3:00-5:30 p.m. EST
Reception: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Capitol View Conference Center, 101 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
To RSVP, email your contact information to Lara Hinz at Lhinz@wiserwomen.org
Questions? Call (202) 393-5452
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National Senior Citizens Law Center
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Capitol Hill Briefing on
The Need to Strengthen and Restore SSI
Register now for this National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) Capitol Hill briefing to learn about soon-to-be introduced legislation, the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act, that will provide needed updates to the SSI program and restore SSI to what it was originally intended to do.
SSI is an income support program that currently helps provide minimal economic security to eight million people, including two million older adults and six million younger people with serious disabilities. However, important aspects of the program have not been updated in 40 years.
Date: Wednesday April 17, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST
Site: Room 121, Cannon House Office Building, 283 First Street SE, Washington, DC
Click here to register.
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National Academy for State Health Policy
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States' Medicaid ACA Checklist for 2014
This checklist prepared by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) highlights the ACA Medicaid requirements that will take effect in the next two years, nearly all of which will apply to states regardless of whether the state chooses to expand Medicaid eligibility. The checklist also highlights a few important optional provisions that states may want to consider as they plan for modernizing their Medicaid programs and complying with federal requirements. The checklist is divided into five domains of work for states' Medicaid programs: eligibility and enrollment; operations; financing; benefits; and consumer assistance.
Click here to access the checklist.
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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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Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Awareness Day
April 2nd: Autism Awareness Day
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Navigators in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Marketplaces
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the availability of new funding to support Navigators in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Marketplaces (Exchanges). Navigators are individuals and entities that will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans, and public programs including Medicaid.
The funding opportunity announcement is open to eligible self-employed individuals and private and public entities applying to serve as Navigators in states with a Federally-facilitated or State Partnership Marketplace. This includes all I&R/A services as long as they are not health insurance issuers, subsidiaries of health insurance issuers, or recipients of any consideration from a health insurance issuers in connection with the enrollment of individuals in health plans.
The new funding opportunity provides up to $54 million in total funding and applications are due by June 7, 2013. Letters of intent for the Navigator grant are due by May 1.
Click here to access the full proposed rule.
Click here access the funding opportunity announcement. Once on Grants.gov, search for CFDA# 93.750.
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Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems
Grant Title: Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems
Agency Issuing Grant: Administration for Community Living
Eligible Applicants: State governments
Close Date: May 13, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-LE-0044
CDFA Number: 93.048
Grant Amount: $1,071,000 for 6 awards
Description: This opportunity continues and expands its support for state leadership efforts in implementing well integrated and cost effective legal service delivery systems that maximize the impact of limited legal resources targeted to older adults in greatest need.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant throug www.grants.gov
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2013 Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States
Grant Title: 2013 Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States
Agency Issuing Grant: Administration for Community Living
Eligible Applicants: State governments
Close Date: May 20, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-LR-0047
CDFA Number: 93.072
Grant Amount: $1,000,000 for 5 awards
Description: This opportunity is for eligible state agencies for implementing the requirements of the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-442). Grantees shall use grant funds for planning, establishing and expanding/enhancing Lifespan Respite Care systems in the states, including new and planned emergency respite services, training and recruiting respite workers and volunteers and assisting caregivers with gaining access to needed services.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant throug www.grants.gov
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The Association of University Centers on Disabilities: Executive Director
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a national not-for-profit organization, seeks an Executive Director to lead and guide activities that fulfill its mission to advance policies and practices that improve the health, education, social and economic well-being of people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and their communities by supporting its members in research, education, health and service activities. AUCD is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors that includes professionals, individuals with disabilities and family members. It has an annual budget of approximately $5 million and employs a staff of 21.
Reporting directly to the board of directors, the Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of AUCD. The Executive Director's primary responsibilities are to: provide visionary leadership for the Association; manage strategic planning and policy development; and supervise day-to-day operations that include finance, program development, staff supervision and development. The Executive Director provides information and counsel to the board to facilitate the board's decision making processes that support member needs and continued growth, ensures accountability to federal and congressional mandates, and responds to consumer and family needs.
Click here for additional information.
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Additional Job Opportunities
To see more job postings, please visit the NASUAD website.
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