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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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Administration on Community Living
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ACL Celebrates First Anniversary
On Tuesday, April 16, 2013, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) marked its first Anniversary. A year ago, ACL was created within the Department of Health and Human Services bringing together the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities into a single agency.
Click here to learn more about the ACL.
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ACL Moves to New Grants Management System
Effective April 1, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) switched to the GrantSolutions grants management system for their discretionary grants. GrantSolutions is a comprehensive grants management system that provides end-to-end grants management services. It makes grant administration easier and more cost effective, for both ACL and their grantees, by allowing for the electronic receipt of applications from www.grants.gov, application review, grantee reporting, information access, etc. The system also provides for grantee involvement in key stages of the grant process, including post award activities and official correspondence tracking.
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Two-Part Webinar Series on Expanding Oral Health Access for Older Adults
Expanding Oral Health Access for Older Adults is a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative involving the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, HHS Health Resources Service Administration, and the HHS Office of Women's Health. Older Adults and Oral Health: Inspiring Community-Based Partnerships for Healthy Mouths is the topic of the first of two webinars to be sponsored by this initiative.
The goal of this webinar is to describe the oral health status of older adults in the U.S., provide useful resources and highlight two innovative community approaches to improving oral health access for older adults.
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
Click here to register for the online event.
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Department of Health and Human Services
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AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange Web Event Series
The next webinar session of the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Health Care Innovations Exchange Web Series will focus on Accountable Care Organizations and Patient-Centered Medical Homes.
You are invited to join in the discussion on Payment Models that Support Medical Home and Accountable Care Organization Principles: Maryland's Experience to learn about Maryland's Multi-Payer Program, a statewide initiative that supports the development of patient-centered medical homes with novel financial incentive structures designed to promote provider participation.
Participants will explore questions such as:
- What are the challenges related to engaging multiple payers? What strategies have been used to overcome them?
- What types of challenges need to be overcome in engaging providers?
- What are lessons learned in establishing consistent payment methodologies?
- How do you realign reimbursement strategies to support evolving delivery systems?
Date: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Click here to register.
Click here to read the featured innovation profile.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Greater Value for Medicare Drug and Health Plan Beneficiaries
CMS has issued the 2014 rate announcement and final call letter for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and prescription drug benefit (Part D) programs. The announcements implement a number of policies designed to improve payment accuracy for Medicare Advantage. For the first time since the start of the Part D program, the deductible for the defined standard plan will be lower in 2014 than in previous years. The guidance will give people in Medicare health and drug plans more value in the care they receive and greater protections against increasing costs.
Click here f0r the rate announcement and final Call Letter.
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Part D Updates for 2014
CMS has released its annual call letter to all Medicare Advantage organizations and Part D sponsors to aid them in understanding all new guidance and review current policies and procedures as plans prepare to bid for the upcoming contract year. This 2014 letter offers good news for Part D clients, as most of the Part D cost-sharing amounts in a standard plan are lower next year as compared to 2013. In 2014, the Part D deductible will be reduced from $325 to $310.
Click here to read the call letter.
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CMS Awards New DMEPOS Contracts
CMS announced last week that an additional 799 suppliers have been awarded contracts as part of Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to provide certain medical equipment and supplies (such as scooters, wheelchairs and oxygen). The competition included areas in all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
With the new awards, beginning on July 1, the service areas will expand from 9 to 100 across the country, and the number of Medicare beneficiaries eligible for the service will increase from 550,000 to 3.4 million.
Additionally, CMS announced 18 suppliers that accepted contracts to provide mail-order diabetic testing supplies at competitively bid prices nationwide. 4.5 million Medicare beneficiaries will be affected by the National Mail-Order Competition.
Beneficiaries are expected to save an estimated $17.1 billion as a result of lower coinsurance and premium payments. The competitive bidding program, which has already resulted in $202 million in savings in its first year of implementation in nine areas, is expected to save the Medicare Part B Trust Fund an estimated $25.7 billion between 2013 and 2022.
Click here to learn more.
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Drug Enforcement Administration
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National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, April 27
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national and community partners are giving the public a chance to prevent accidental overdose, abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DEA and local partners will hold a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at sites nationwide. The service is free and anonymous, and in the four previous Take-Back events, more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications have been collected.
Click here for more information. |
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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Weaving It Together: A Tapestry of Transportation Funding for Older Adults
AARP Public Policy Institute recently released a report on funding transportation for older adults. Weaving It Together: A Tapestry of Transportation Funding for Older Adults provides insight into how human service and public transportation providers are weaving together and leveraging scarce funding sources for transportation serving older adults and persons with disabilities. This paper highlights the major sources of federal funding that providers can tap for these populations and presents seven case studies showing how local providers combine federal, state, and local funding to put quality service on the street. The paper also provides examples of how local and state coordination efforts can expand the reach of services funded.
Click here for the full report (PDF).
Click here for the AARP website on the report.
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State Studies Show Home and Community-Based Services are Cost-Effective
State Studies Show Home and Community-Based Services are Cost-Effective, a new report from the AARP Public Policy Institute, reviews 38 state evaluations of publicly funded HCBS programs. According to the report, studies that evaluated the cost effectiveness of HCBS supported Medicaid "balancing" and other efforts to move more resources toward HCBS rather than institutional care. The authors also found that the studies consistently provided evidence of cost containment and a slower rate of spending growth as states have expanded HCBS.
Click here for the full report (PDF).
Click here for the AARP website on the report.
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Screening for Mental Health
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Webinar on Feel Good Bingo for Older Adults
Screening for Mental Health® (SMH), a national nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce the opportunity for you to be involved with Feel Good Bingo®, a depression education program for older adults. The program kit and webinar training is being made available at no cost.
Feel Good Bingo® helps seniors start the conversation about the signs and symptoms of depression in a comfortable, social environment. Instead of letters and numbers, each player's game card contains various icons depicting common symptoms of depression. The game includes enough materials for 25 participants, including bingo game boards, bingo chips, screening forms, an educational flyer, facilitator cards and an implementation guide.
After the training, you will be able to identify the warning signs and symptoms of depression and suicide as it pertains to a population of older adults. Also, you will be able to successfully implement and facilitate the Feel Good Bingo® program.
Webinar Training (Pick One):
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Register
Or
Tuesday, May 22, 2013
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Register
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New Community Opportunities Center
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A National On-Location Training: Expanding CIL Capacity Through Community-Based Service Programs
The New Community Opportunities Center is offering a new three-day training opportunity for centers for independent living (CILs) to learn about how to expand their programs in Home and Community Based Services. It will also provide the latest information on the latest trends in federal programs and some of the most strategic prospects for CILs to be strong players in long-term services and supports.
The training will take place on June 24 - 26, 2013, in Houston, TX.
Click here to learn more about the training and register.
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Academy Health Annual Research Meeting
For 30 years, Academy Health's Annual Research Meeting (ARM) has been a forum for health services research, where more than 2,400 attendees gather to discuss health policy implications, sharpen research methods, and network with colleagues from around the world. The ARM program is designed for health services researchers, providers, key decision makers, clinicians, graduate students, and research analysts.
The forum will take place on June 23-25, 2013, in Baltimore, MD.
Click here for more information.
Click here to register. Early Bird Ends April 26.
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National Council on Aging
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Older Americans Behavioral Health: Issue Brief Series
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Administration on Aging (AoA) have partnered with the National Council on Aging to develop a series of Issue Briefs that address behavioral health issues that are important to older Americans. The Issue Brief series focuses on issues of suicide, anxiety and
depression, prescription drug misuse and abuse, and alcohol abuse. The target audiences the Issue Briefs are the local and State Aging Services Network, behavioral health community, and substance abuse providers.
A webinar series will provide an opportunity to learn about critical behavioral health conditions and problems affecting older adults, including prescription medication misuse and abuse, suicide, depression, and anxiety and evidence-based prevention and treatment programs to address these problems.
Click here to see the upcoming webinars and learn more about the issue briefs.
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MIPPA: What We've Learned, What's Next
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008 brought significant changes and opportunities related to Medicare, especially for low-income beneficiaries.
For three years, state aging organizations have used MIPPA funding to increase access to Medicare Part D among rural beneficiaries, help low-income people with Medicare access benefits that make Medicare affordable, and promote Medicare's free preventive and wellness services.
In this webinar, sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a number of topics will be examined, including:
- The achievements of MIPPA grantees, including who they've helped, and the return on investment of MIPPA grant dollars.
- Lessons learned about the implementation of MIPPA activities, including the challenges that remain.
- Trends occurring across the states, and how these may influence the future of MIPPA activities.
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST
Click here to register.
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NCOA Launches New Resource for Older Adults Seeking Employment
Last week, NCOA launched JobSource, a new online portal to help older adults assess their work skills, identify job training opportunities and find employment.
JobSource includes a quick job match system that enables users to assess their work interested and transferable skills. Users can also register on the site to earn job skills certifications and enroll in over 30 free online courses.
Click here to read more.
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Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Awareness Day
April 2nd: Autism Awareness Day
National Volunteer Week
April 21-28, 2013
National Crime Victims' Rights Week
April 21-27, 2013
This is a joint effort of the Office for Victims of Crime at the US Department of Justice and the National Center for Victims of Crime. This week is set aside each year to pay special recognition to the rights of victims, including victims of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Resources: NCVRW Resource Guide; Year of Elder Abuse Prevention webpage
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Health Care Fraud Prevention Program Expansion and SMP Capacity Building Grants
Grant Title: Health Care Fraud Prevention Program Expansion and SMP Capacity BuildingGrants
Agency Issuing Grant: Administration for Community Living
Eligible Applicants: Current SMP project grantees only
Close Date: May 28, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-SP-0049
CDFA Number: 93.048
Grant Amount: $7.3 million for 54 awards
Description: This opportunity seeks to expand the capacity of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program to reach more Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers, with the message of fraud prevention and identification. Grant opportunities are being made available to the 54 current SMP project grantees.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov
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2013 Lifespan Respite Care Program: Building Integrated and Sustainable Lifespan Respite Care Programs
Grant Title: 2013 Lifespan Respite Care Program: Building Integrated and Sustainable Lifespan Respite Care Programs
Agency Issuing Grant: Administration for Community Living
Eligible Applicants: State governments
Close Date: May 20, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-LR-0048
CDFA Number: 93.072
Grant Amount: $1 million for 5 awards
Description: This opportunity will fund up to five grants to those states originally funded in FYs 2009 and 2010, with a federal funding level of up to $250,000 per award for a project period of seventeen (17) months and twenty-nine (29) days, pending the availability of Federal funds.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov
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The Association for Community Affiliated Plans Seeks Program Assistant
The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) is looking for a Program Associate to provide policy and research support on projects related to Medicaid, CHIP, Exchange Qualified Health Plans and Medicare Special Needs Plans for low-income populations. This position offers an excellent opportunity to be a part of a leading organization committed to increasing access to quality health services for vulnerable populations. The position requires excellent verbal, computer, organizational, writing and interpersonal skills, and the ability to perform independently in a fast-paced environment under general supervision. The successful candidate must be able to customarily and regularly exercise judgment and discretion.
ACAP is a national organization of 58 Medicaid and Medicare focused, not-for-profit managed care plans serving over 10 million people. ACAP's mission is to represent and strengthen not-for-profit, safety net health plans as they work with providers and caregivers in their communities to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in a cost-effective manner.
The position is located in Washington, DC.
Click here for more information about the position.
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Research Assistant with Scripps Gerontology Center
Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH, is seeking a Research Assistant to work with their Opening Minds through Art (OMA) program.
The qualified candidate will ensure continued growth, sustainability and the highest quality of the Scripps OMAprogram; be responsible for the day-to-day project management tasks of the program, to include serving as the central person for communication between the Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University students and faculty, and facilities that have adopted the OMA program; placing, scheduling and coaching student volunteers; organizing OMA involvement in community events; maintaining social media pertaining to OMA; supervising and monitoring OMA programs at several sites; maintaining general and evaluative information for OMA; preparing OMA annual reports for different facilities; working with Scripps accounting staff to track budgetary items; other duties as assigned.
Click here to view the posting.
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Additional Job Opportunities
To see more job postings, please visit the NASUAD website.
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