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State Medicaid Integration Tracker
July 2013 Edition Published
NASUAD has published the July 2013 Edition of the State Medicaid Integration Tracker . The report is updated each month with information on the following state actions:
- Managed care for people who receive Medicaid-funded long-term services and supports (LTSS)
- State Demonstrations to Integrate Care for Medicare-Medicaid enrollees and other Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Initiatives
- Other LTSS Reform Activities including Balancing Incentive Program, Medicaid State Plan amendments under §1915(i), Community First Choice Option under §1915(k), and Medicaid Health Homes
You can download a PDF version of State Medicaid Integration Tracker here.
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National HCBS Conference
When: September 9-12, 2013
- Pre-Conference Workshops: September 9
- Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care
- Information and Referral/Assistance
- Network Basiscs 101 - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
- Prevention, Protection and Advocacy
- HCBS Conference: September 10 - September 12
Where: The Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA
Click here to register today.
The full HCBS Conference agenda is now available online! Click here to view the full agenda.
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Administration for Community Living
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2013 Webinar Series on Alzheimer's Disease and Resources
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) are collaborating to host a five-part webinar series with the goals of 1) improving coordination of federal resources available to assist people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias and their family caregivers and 2) encouraging awareness of research participation opportunities. NIA & ACL invite you to take advantage of these opportunities. You can register for all of the webinars or just the one or two that most interest you. Registration will open approximately two months in advance of each webinar.
The next webinar, Webinar #4: Younger Onset Dementia, will take place on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET. The focus of this webinar will be on dementias that typically occur before age 65: Alzheimer's disease, behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration and primary progressive aphasia. This session will also discuss the specific developmental, relational, and financial impacts of younger onset dementias, as well as detection, diagnosis, resources and research directions.
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Helpful Data Tools from U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released an interactive, online map pinpointing the wide array of languages spoken in homes across the nation, along with a detailed report on rates of English proficiency and the growing number of speakers of other languages. The 2011 Language Mapper shows where people speaking specific languages other than English live, the tool uses data collected through the American Community Survey from 2007 to 2011.
The Census Bureau also offers both web-based and in-person courses to help you access and use Census Bureau statistics. These free courses can teach you how to use our databases and mapping tools, find local and national demographic information for a variety of uses including grant proposals, economic data statistics for business plans, research papers, etc.
Click here to review the Census Bureaus' eTuturials; and
Click here to view their online course descriptions
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Centers for Medicaid & CHIP Services
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New Informational Bulletin on Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment and Coordination of Benefits for Dual Eligibles
On August 2, 2013, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) released a new Informational Bulletin, Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment and Coordination of Benefits for Beneficiaries Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (Dual Eligibles). It provides information for state Medicaid agencies and other interested parties about Medicare's Competitive Bidding Program for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS). It discusses Medicaid coverage for Medicare cost-sharing amounts for DMEPOS for dual eligibles and Medicaid enrollment of Medicare contract suppliers, including those providers located in another state.
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| Department of Health and Human Services |
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Next Steps in Implementation of the Health Insurance Marketplace
On August 5th, 2013, HHS Secretary Sebelius announced the addition of a new feature to HealthCare.gov, the official Health Insurance Marketplace website, that allows people to create a personal account - including a username and password - which is the first step to enroll in new coverage options in the Marketplace.
HHS has begun accepting applications from organizations interested in providing in-person assistance to consumers that want to enroll in the Marketplace and are beginning to make training resources available for those who will serve consumers in person during open enrollment.
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| Federal Emergency Management Agency |
UN Invites Persons Living with Disabilities to Take a Survey on Living with Disabilities and Disasters
On October 13 the UN International Day for Disaster Reduction will focus on the issues surrounding some one billion of the world's people who live with disabilities and disaster risks.
Given the lack of data on disability issues generally, The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) is conducting a survey to ascertain the needs of persons living with disabilities and disasters.
According to UNISDR, this is the first survey of its kind and the data gathered could help governments and international organizations put in place preparedness policies aiming to protect persons with disabilities during disasters. The survey results will be announced on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction which is marked each year on October 13.
If you are a person living with a disability, click here to complete the survey.
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AgingCare.com Provides Free Online Resources for Caregivers
AgingCare.com recently created a program specifically for Area Agencies on Aging to help meet the needs of family caregivers. The website provides free online resources, including Caregiver Support Forum organized by various topics caregivers will find helpful.
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Assisted Living Comparison Experts
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ALCE Releases Recommendations on Public Reporting for Residential LTSS
Assisted Living Comparison Experts, a non-profit website based in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, recently released new recommendations issued by key stakeholders regarding the future of public reporting for assisted living and similar non-nursing home residential care. The recommendations were generated from an invitational conference funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality with support from LeadingAge.
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| Association of Travel Instruction |
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Association of Travel Instruction to Hold Annual Conference in August
The Association of Travel Instruction (ATI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the professional development of public transportation travel trainers and travel instructors for individuals with disabilities and seniors, will hold its 13th Annual Conference at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza Hotel in downtown Chicago from August 15 to August 18, 2013. Interested persons who become ATI members and who register for the ATI Conference on or before July 15, 2013 receive a $125 discount. Presentations at the ATI Conference include developing community connections to expand a travel training program, and growing two separate senior citizen travel training programs in one community.
Click here to register and for more information on the conference.
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The Consumer Voice Holds 37th Annual Conference
The Consumer Voice Annual Conference will be held in Hilton Crystal City at Washington Reagan National Airport from October 24 to 27, 2013. A preliminary draft agenda is now available.
2013 Conference attendees will:
- Engage in one-on-one dialogue with consumers of long-term services and supports;
- Get the latest policy updates directly from key experts at the federal level;
- Learn about best practices nationwide;
- Attend skills trainings and acquire tools and resources;
- Leave the meeting with specific information and takeaways to help you put your systems or individual advocacy into action.
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Join 2013 Walking Summit in DC in October
2013 Walking Summit, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, will take place in Washington, DC on October 1-3, 2013. Join national and local leaders to engage in inspiring conversations and sessions that will build capacity, develop strategies, increase momentum, and showcase best practices to increase investments in walking and walkability.
Click here to register. Early-bird registration ends on August 12, 2013. |
| Mathematica Policy Research |
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Outcomes of State Medicaid Infrastructure Grants Released
Authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) program gave states the opportunity to develop infrastructures and initiatives to help people with disabilities find competitive employment. From 2001 to 2011, CMS awarded over $450 million in MIG funding to 49 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2012, Mathematica Policy Research, in conjunction with CMS, conducted a survey of 44 states that received MIG funding in 2011. The survey asked states to report the top three to five outcomes of their own MIG grants. Survey results indicate that over 11 years, MIG funding has enabled states to:
- Conduct training and outreach to consumers and employers
- Make policy and programmatic changes that extended health and support services to workers with disabilities
- Improve development, implementation and/or support for the states' Medicaid Buy-In programs
- Establish collaborative relationships across state government agencies and other organizations
- Develop data systems, initiate research and evaluation activities, or build the capacity for such work
The survey results show that the MIG program facilitated both immediate and lasting changes to state Medicaid infrastructures. Three-fourths of the states reported that all or most of their MIG activities would continue beyond 2011.
Click here to access the full Mathematica Policy and Research brief. |
| National Council on Aging |
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NCOA, UnitedHealthcare, and USA TODAY Release the 2013 Edition of the United States of Aging Survey
Relationships with friends and family outweigh financial concerns among older Americans seeking fulfillment in their senior years, according to the 2013 edition of The United
States of Aging Survey
. When asked what is most important to maintaining a high quality of life in their senior years, staying connected to friends and family was the top choice of 4 in 10 seniors, ahead of having financial means (30 percent). For this survey, NCOA, UnitedHealthcare, and USA TODAY surveyed 4,000 U.S. adults including a nationally representative sample of seniors ages 60 and older. The survey also included a nationally representative sample of adults ages 18-59 to provide contrasting perspectives on aging and explore how the country could better prepare for a booming senior population.
Click here to read the USA Today article on the survey. |
| National Health Policy Forum |
New NHPF Brief Provides Update on Medicare Advantage Post-ACA
National Health Policy Forum recently released a new brief entitled, "Medicare Advantage Update: Benefits, Enrollment, and Payments After the ACA". Recently, evidence that the Medicare program was paying more per beneficiary in Medicare Advantage (MA) relative to what would have been spent under Medicare Fee for Service (FFS), prompted policymakers to reduce MA payments in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). So far, plans continue to participate in MA and enrollment continues to grow, but payment reductions in 2012 through 2014 have been partially offset by payments made to plans through the quality bonus payment demonstration. This brief contains recent data on plan enrollment, availability, and benefits and discusses Medicare Advantage (MA) plan payment policy, including changes to MA payment made in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and their actual and projected effects.
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Call For Applications: Practice Change Leaders for Aging and Health Program
Practice Change Leaders is accepting 2014 applications for Practice Change Leaders for Aging and Health Program. This is a national program to develop and expand the influence of organizational leaders who are committed to achieving transformative improvements in care for older adults. State and local leaders will be considered if they have direct responsibility for care, sufficient agency support and meet other selection criteria. Especially encouraged to apply are leaders in mental health and community-based organizations. The application deadline is Monday, September 23, 2013 5:00 p.m. ET. Interested persons are encouraged to join one or more of the informational teleconferences on this application opportunity.
Click here for more information on the Practice Change Leaders program.
Click here to view the application announcement.
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Webinar: Health Care for Aging Adults with Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities
Examining the Organization of Healthcare for Aging Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, a Canadian research project funded by the Vancouver Foundation, examines the implementation of healthcare policies into practice for adults aging with intellectual disabilities. Health Services for Community Living (HSCL) is a British Columbia provincial program established following the closure of large institutions to specifically address the healthcare needs of people with ID living in the community. The webinar will examine policy-practice gaps in the implementation of HSCL and other relevant services and policies across five regional health authorities.
Held on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET, the webinar will focus on the following key areas: 1) the practical policy implications of transitioning from "Person with Disabilities" to "Senior Citizen" status; 2) the lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals to provide appropriate care for this population; 3) the availability of informal supports for aging parents and siblings; and 4) end of life care.
Click here to register for the webinar.
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Rosline Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Award
Nonprofit organizations, government agencies and universities are invited to apply for the sixth annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Award. The application is available on the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) website.
Through a grant to FCA's National Center on Caregiving from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, three awards of $20,000 each will be given to organizations to recognize unique programs that address the needs of Alzheimer's caregivers. One award will be granted in each of three categories:
- Creative Expression
- Diverse/Multicultural Communities
- Policy and Advocacy
The Family Caregiver Alliance oversees this national awards program. The deadline for applications is August 16, 2013, and winners will be announced in late November 2013.
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Rapid Secondary Analysis to Optimize Care for Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Grant Title: Rapid Secondary Analysis to Optimize Care for Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC)
Agency Issuing Grant: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Eligible Applicants: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Close Date: August 28, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-HS-14-001
CDFA Number: 93.226
Grant Amount: $1,600,000 for 4 grants
Description: This opportunity seeks to fund research studies that can be conducted rapidly and will provide evidence to optimize processes, care, treatments and health of MCC patients. The goal is to provide scientific evidence and information for use by patients and the clinical community to best manage care of MCC patients.
Click here for more information on this funding opportunity.
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov.
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Network and Infrastructure Support for Development of Interdisciplinary Aging Research
Grant Title: Network and Infrastructure Support for Development of Interdisciplinary Aging Research
Agency Issuing Grant: National Institutes of Health
Eligible Applicants: State governments, Nonprofits, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Close Date: September 25, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-13-287
CDFA Number: 93.866
Grant Amount: Not announced.
Description: This opportunity provides network and infrastructure support to foster development of novel interdisciplinary research approaches on aging research related to multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). It uses the Resource-Related Research Project activity code (R24) to support research networks that will advance interdisciplinary collaboration through activities such as meetings, conferences, data exchange, small scale pilots, short term training opportunities, visiting scholar programs and dissemination activities to encourage growth and development in the science related to older adults with MCCs.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity.
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov. |
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Support for Demonstration Ombudsman Programs Serving Beneficiaries of Financial Alignment Models for Medicare-Medicaid Enrollees Modification 1
Grant Title: Support for Demonstration Ombudsman Programs Serving Beneficiaries of Financial Alignment Models for Medicare-Medicaid Enrollees Modification 1
Agency Issuing Grant: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Eligible Applicants: State governments
Close Date: 2nd Round: October 3, 2013; 3rd Round: January 14, 2014
Funding Opportunity Number: CMS-1J1-13-001
CDFA Number: 93.634
Grant Amount: $3 million for 10 awards
Description: This opportunity provides financial assistance to States to plan, develop and provide Demonstration Ombudsman Program services to individuals who participate in the Financial Alignment model. States will ensure that individual beneficiaries have access to person-centered assistance in resolving problems related to the Demonstration. The program will inform States, Plans, CMS, and other stakeholders regarding beneficiary experience with the Plans and will recommend areas of improvement in States Financial Alignment Initiatives.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity.
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov.
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CMS MFP Tribal Initiative Funding
On July 23, 2013, CMS announced a Money Follows the Person (MFP) Tribal Initiative (TI) funding opportunity. The MFP-TI offers existing MFP state grantees and tribal partners the resources to build sustainable community-based long term services and supports (CB-LTSS) specifically for Indian country. The TI may be used to advance the development of an infrastructure required to implement CB-LTSS for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) using a single, or a variety of applicable Medicaid authorities.
Funding is intended to support the planning and development of:
- An in-state Medicaid program CB-LTSS (as an alternative to institutional care) tailored for AI/AN who are presently receiving services in an institution; and
- A service delivery structure that includes a set of administrative functions delegated by the state Medicaid agency to Tribes or Tribal organizations (T/TOs), such as enabling tribe(s) to design an effective program or package of Medicaid community-based LTSS, and operating day to day functions pertaining to the LTSS program(s).
- The TI may be used to cover costs necessary to plan and implement activities consistent with the objectives of this funding and within Federal grant regulations. The funds are subject to all the terms and conditions of the MFP Program.
Click here for more information on MFP and the funding opportunity.
Applicants must apply for this grant through
www.grants.gov.
Closing date for applications is October 17th, 2013.
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Building Evidence: Effective Palliative/End of Life Care Interventions
Grant Title: Building Evidence: Effective Palliative/End of Life Care Interventions
Agency Issuing Grant: National Institutes of Health
Eligible Applicants: State governments, Nonprofits, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Close Date: June 9, 2016
Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-13-289
CDFA Number: 93.361
Grant Amount: Not announced.
Description: This opportunity announcement seeks to stimulate research that develops and tests optimal palliative and end-of-life care interventions (models of care) based on measurable outcomes. Palliative Care and End-of-Life (PCEOL) interventions are increasingly needed for all individuals with Life Limiting Illnesses (LLI's) in some form or other, including those who are culturally diverse or aging. Adverse impacts have been shown to extend to the caregivers and families of patients with LLIs. Many individuals with LLI's also may concurrently be suffering from multiple complex comorbidities (MCC's), placing an increasing burden on health, health systems and costs.
Click here for more info on this funding opportunity
Applicants must apply for this grant through www.grants.gov. |
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care Invites Candidates to Apply for Governing Board
The Consumer Voice is looking for new members for its Governing Board who are individuals receiving long-term care services (in a facility and/or home and community-based setting), long-term care ombudsmen and representatives from consumer/citizen advocacy groups.
Click here for more information about the the opportunity.
Applications are due August 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
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