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NASUAD Announces New Executive Board: Gloria Lawlah, Secretary of the Maryland Department on Aging, Named President
NASUAD is pleased to announce the newly-elected Executive Officers to NASUAD's Board of Directors. Incoming President Gloria Lawlah, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Aging, will lead the Executive Board. Joining Secretary Lawlah on the Executive Board is Vice President James Bulot, Director of the Georgia Division of Aging Services; Secretary Lora Connolly, Director of the California Department on Aging; and Treasurer Gary Jessee, Deputy Director of Program Operations-Medicaid/CHIP, Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Secretary Lawlah's predecessor, Lance Robertson, Director of the Oklahoma Aging Services Division, remains on NASUAD's Executive Board as the Association's Immediate Past President.
Welcoming Secretary Lawlah to her new role, NASUAD Executive Director Martha Roherty said, "Gloria has dedicated her career to public service, and to improving the lives of those around her. We look forward to the visionary leadership and strategic guidance she will bring to the Association as its President."
Click here to read the full press release.
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NASUAD-NASDDDS-NAMD Release Joint Statement on the DOL Final Rule on the Companionship Exemption
The Department of Labor (DOL) announced the Final Rule on Companionship Exemption on September 17, 2013. The Rule will take effect on January 1, 2015.
On September 18, 2013, NASUAD, National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) and National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) released a joint statement at a DOL briefing on the Final Rule. Present at the briefing were senior leadership from Department of Labor (DOL), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and Administration for Community Living (ACL). DOL leadership presented on the Final Rule and solicited early comments from the three organizations. NASUAD, NAMD and NASDDDS remain concerned that the rule could have significant unintended consequences to Home and Community Based Services. Over the next several weeks, NASUAD will be sharing additional information about DOL webinars, forums, and tools for states to use as they begin to think about implementing this new rule.
Click here to read the joint statement.
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The Information and Referral Support Center Monthly Call: Community Partnerships and Services for Veterans
On October 3, at 3:00 p.m. ET, the Information and Referral Support Center monthly technical assistance call will review creative and collaborative methods of providing services for veterans within their communities. The partnerships discussed reach beyond the Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services (VDHCBS) program, and can be duplicated in other communities. Presenter Barbara Diehl, MSW, CIRS-A, is a VDHCBS Program Service Coordinator for the Prince William Area Agency on Aging, in Woodbridge, VA. To join the call dial: 888-346-3659; Passcode: 382574
Find the PowerPoint presentation on the Support Center's website prior to the call.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CMS Releases Basic Health Program Proposed Rule
On September 20, 2013, CMS issued a proposed rule establishing the standards for the Basic Health Program (CMS-2380-P) which provides states the option to establish a health benefits coverage program for low-income individuals who would otherwise be eligible to purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This proposed rule sets forth a framework for Basic Health Program eligibility and enrollment, benefits, delivery of health care services, transfer of funds to participating states, state administration and federal oversight.
Public comments on the proposed rule are due November 25, 2013. For more information about how to submit comments, please refer to the instructions in the Federal Register.
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CMS Acts to Increase Public Understanding of Medicare Open Enrollment
To help providers disseminate information on Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15-December 7, 2013), and to reduce confusion about whether the Health Insurance Marketplace (with a similar open enrollment period) affects Medicare beneficiaries, CMS has released several drop-in articles, public service announcements and flyers. The attached documents include:
- A drop-in article for beneficiaries about Medicare Open Enrollment including a statement intended to reduce confusion about the Health Insurance Marketplace: "The new Health Insurance Marketplace won't affect your Medicare coverage and is not part of the Medicare Open Enrollment... "
- A drop-in article for providers about Medicare Open Enrollment
- A drop-in article regarding Medicare's Extra Help program that assists people with limited income to pay for their prescription medications
- Live-read radio public service announcements (30/60 second) on Medicare Open Enrollment for distribution to media, partners, providers and other stakeholders
- Writable flyers to help organizations advertise Medicare Open Enrollment events and get the word out
These materials will also be posted to the Medicare Open Enrollment Center. Spanish translations are now in development and will be posted upon completion.
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| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau |
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CFPB Releases a Guidance to Financial Institutions to Help Spot Elder Financial Exploitation and Abuse
Older Americans are often targeted by scam artists, family members, financial advisers, caregivers, home repair target, among others. Financial institutions often spot the red flags for abuse sooner than anyone else can, but their employees may be confused about whether privacy laws allow them to share information with authorities that can take action.
Along with other federal regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released guidance which clarifies for banks and other financial institutions that they generally may report suspected elder financial exploitation to the appropriate authorities without breaking a federal privacy law.
Click here to view the CFPB guidance.
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DOD Conducting Review of Suicide Prevention Efforts
The Defense Suicide Prevention Office is reviewing the hundreds of suicide prevention initiatives that exist across the military. Officials plan to identify which ones are most effective and eliminate any duplication.
Click here for more information.
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Five Members of Federal Long-Term Care Commission Issue Alternative Report
On September 23, 2013, five members of the Commission on Long-Term Care issued an alternative report, A Comprehensive Approach to Long-Term Services and Supports, outlining and discussing their recommendations to address the challenges facing our country's long-term services and supports (LTSS) system. The five Commissioners include: Laphonza Butler, Henry Claypool, Judith Feder, Lynnae Ruttledge, Judith Stein.
In explaining their decision to author a minority report, the Commissioners "acknowledge[d] the efforts of the entire Commission and staff," but expressed their dissatisfaction with the full Commission's recommendations, which they did not endorse. Accordingly, to "express [their] shared vision of what is necessary to meet Congress's mandate to establish and finance a high-quality, comprehensive LTSS system for Americans who need such services," the dissenting Commissioners decided to issue their own set of recommendations, which incorporate their articulated vision to create "an inclusive LTSS system for people of all ages - a system that will meet individual's functional and cognitive support needs with quality care in the most integrated setting. We are convinced that no real improvements to the current insufficient, disjointed array of LTSS and financing can be expected without committing significant resources, instituting federal requirements, and developing social insurance financing" (Excerpt from A Comprehensive Approach to Long-Term Services and Supports, September 23, 2013).
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Senator Harkin's New Report Offers Steps to Improve Employment of Young People with Disabilities
On September 26 ,2013, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and co-author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), released a report, High Expectations: Transforming the American Workforce as the ADA Generation Comes of Age. The report offers bold steps to improve the employment of the 'ADA Generation' - young men and women who have come of age since ADA was enacted, and who are now seeking competitive employment.
Chairman Harkin's report identifies four key areas of opportunity to improve support for members of the ADA generation as they seek competitive employment:
- Increasing support for high school students as they plan for their transition into the workforce
- Improving the transition of the ADA generation as they enter postsecondary education and the labor market
- Changing the assumptions in disability benefit programs that discourage young people with disabilities from working
- Leveraging employer demand, correcting misconceptions about employing people with disabilities, building strong pipelines from school to the competitive workforce, and establishing supportive workplaces.
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Senate Hearing on Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2013 to Take Place on October 2
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to mark up legislation to reauthorize the Older Americans Act on Wednesday, October 2. The legislation, which has yet to be formally introduced, represents the bipartisan efforts of the HELP Committee leadership, and that of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging. NASUAD applauds the bipartisan working group, and will continue to monitor and engage on the draft bill's movement. The text of the bill will be available at www.nasuad.org when it is released.
Click here to view the Executive Session notice.
Click here to view the draft bill.
Click here to view a summary of the bill's contents.
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| The ARCH National Respite Network |
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15th National Lifespan Respite Conference
On October 15-17, 2013, the ARCH National Respite Network, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition, will host the next National Lifespan Respite Conference in Boston, MA. Over 30 workshops and plenary sessions will focus on State Lifespan Respite best practices, respite for individuals with Alzheimer's, respite for veterans, innovations in respite service delivery and access, community and faith-based volunteer respite initiatives, crisis respite models, the latest on respite evaluation and research, among other topics.
Click here to review the preliminary agenda.
Click here to register.
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The Consumer Voice 37th Annual Conference
The Consumer Voice Annual Conference will be held in the Hilton Crystal City, October 24th to 27th, 2013.
The 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; and attend skills training and acquire tools and resources.
Click here for more conference information.
Click here to register.
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| Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio |
Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio to Host a Two-Day Seminar for AAA Leaders
On November 14 & 15, 2013, the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio will be hosting a two-day seminar for Area Agencies on Aging leaders entitled, "Moving from Area Plans, Advocacy and Allocations to Strategic Planning, Positioning and Pricing." In this interactive seminar, participants will learn practical ways to begin shifting AAA culture, position their agency to compete, adapt to the new pay-for-performance marketplace and develop a business model. The seminar will provide attendees with tools to create a strategic plan and develop pricing and performance management programs that work.
This seminar is intended for AAA leaders responsible for readying their organization to shift from the fee-for-service to the pay-for-performance model of health and long-term care delivery. It is highly recommend that both Finance and Program staff attend this seminar together.
Location: Miami University Voice of America Campus (7847 VOA Park Drive, West Chester OH 45069)
Click here for more information on the seminar. |
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The Hilltop Institute Releases Second Issue Brief on Hospital Community Benefits
The Hilltop Institute's Hospital Community Benefit Program has just released a second issue brief related to its online resource, the Community Benefit State Law Profiles. This brief, Hospital Community Benefits after the ACA: Policy Implications of the State Law Landscape, describes state community benefit requirements organized into eight categories that largely reflect either pre-existing federal community benefit standards or additional requirements set forth in §9007 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It also compares and contrasts various states and discusses the policy implications of the findings.
The first issue brief, Hospital Community Benefits after the ACA: The State Law Landscape, presented the Community Benefit State Law Profiles' initial findings. This brief also began the analysis to facilitate a better understanding of each state's community benefit landscape, and its significance in the context of national health reform.
The Community Benefit State Law Profiles are a compilation of each state's community benefit laws and regulations, analyzed in the context of the ACA's community benefit framework. Each state's Profile can be individually accessed through an interactive map on the Hospital Community Benefit Program website.
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| Integrated Care Resource Center |
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ICRC Releases New Resources To Promote Integrated Care For Medicare-Medicaid Enrollees
The Integrated Care Resource Center (ICRC) recently released a brief, Developing Health Homes to Effectively Serve Medicare-Medicaid Enrollees. This brief outlines the challenges facing states when including Medicare-Medicaid enrollees in health homes and considerations for developing programs that will best meet the needs of this population.
Click here to view the brief.
ICRC also offers a library of Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) resources to aid the development of both integrated care initiatives and Medicaid managed LTSS programs. Resources span topics such as provider network development, rate setting, beneficiary assessment tools, and quality measurement.
Click here to access the library.
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| National Conference of State Legislatures |
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NCSL Webinar: State Activities to Help Veterans Access Transportation
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is hosting a webinar entitled, "A Mission to Serve: State Activities to Help Veterans Access Transportation," on October 2, 2013, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. In January 2013, NCSL produced an analysis of state activities that help military veterans access transportation, based on nationwide survey research. This webinar will provide an overview of the report and highlight ways in which states support veterans' transportation, including interagency coordination; funding; veterans' transportation programs; leadership; exemptions from fees, taxes, fares and tolls and more.
Panelists will include speakers from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and representatives of two states with unique approaches to facilitating access to transportation options for veterans.
Click here to register for the webinar.
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| National Hispanic Council of Aging |
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NHCOA to Hold National Summit in D.C.
National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) will hold National Summit: Working Together for a Stronger Golden America on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The 2013 NHCOA National Summit is a unique opportunity to bring together all levels of leadership and knowledge to develop and implement program and policy solutions through the lens of economic security to ensure better outcomes for older Americans through the generations.
The Summit will consist of a keynote address as well as three plenary sessions during which participants will discuss challenges and best practices, as well as provide feedback regarding three areas that impact economic security including health, wealth generation, and affordability of quality housing.
Click here for more information on the summit.
Click here to register. |
| National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services |
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2013 Financial Management Services Conference
The fifth biennial National Resource Center for Participant- Directed Services (NRCPDS) Financial Management Services Conference will be held November 4-5, 2013, in Baltimore, MD. This conference will feature workshops with participant direction tax experts within the IRS as well as other experts and specialists.
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ACL Veterans Transportation "Highly Rural" Transportation Grants
A funding opportunity provided by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) by the Veterans' Transportation Program to provide service in highly rural areas is accepting applications through October 9th, 2013.
The purpose of the program is to provide grants to eligible recipients to assist veterans in highly rural areas through innovative transportation services to travel to VA medical centers and to other VA and non-VA facilities.
Eligible organizations are Veteran Service Organizations and State Veteran Service Agencies recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Non-eligible organizations such as an AAA, ADRC, State Agency on Aging and Disability, or local transportation provider would have to partner with the above organizations and provide the services as sub-recipient.
Grantees can receive $50,000 for each highly rural area for which they provide transportation services. No matching funds are required.
Click here for more information or to apply.
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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.
Closing date for applications is October 17th, 2013.
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;
- A service delivery structure that includes a set of administrative functions delegated by the state Medicaid agency to Tribes or Tribal organizations;
- 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. |
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FEMA's Reservist Program Seeks Disability Integration Advisors
FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination is seeking to fill a Disability Integration Advisors position within FEMA's Reservist Program. As a part of FEMA's disaster workforce, Reservists serve the nation by assisting all citizens and first responders during disasters or emergency situations. As a Reservist you will have the opportunity to train, gain experience, and become qualified in a specific disaster role. Being a Reservist allows you to assist in the coordinated response and recovery efforts of impacted citizens, communities, local, tribal, and state governments.
Click here to view job description (Disability Integration Advisor AD-0301-00).
The application period for these positions in Reservist Program are from Wednesday, September 25, 2013 and closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.
These are FEMA Qualification System (FQS) incident management positions. To view other specific vacancy announcement select the appropriate position on the USAJOBS site. |
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September is National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month (NPM) is managed and sponsored by FEMA's Ready Campaign, which works closely with Citizen Corps and National Preparedness Community (NPC) members to increase emergency preparedness awareness and activities across the nation and to ensure the rollout of NPM events. Though preparedness is a year round activity, September is the month for recognizing national preparedness. The overall goal of this designation is to engage the public to make preparedness a part of their daily lives. NPM is geared towards building awareness and encouraging Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, organizations, businesses, and places of worship.
Click here to learn more about National Preparedness Month and access FEMA's NPM toolkit.
Click here to explore disaster benefits through the National Council on Aging's BenefitsCheckUp website.
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September is National Cholesterol Education Month
September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a good time to get your cholesterol checked and learn about the importance of keeping your cholesterol at healthy levels. Having high cholesterol puts you at risk of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Get information on the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) website about risk factors, LDL and HDL, medications, and steps you can take to lower your cholesterol:
All plans in the new Health Insurance Marketplace include cholesterol screening as a free preventive service for adults of certain ages and high risk individuals.
Reminder: Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1, 2013 for coverage starting January 1, 2014.
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