November 22, 2013
In This Issue
*NASUAD: Register for 2013 Hawaii HCBS Conference!
*Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative: Webinar: Volunteers & Risk Management: Senior Medicare Patrol Resources
*Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative: PowerUp! Webinar: Learn from Experiences of Self-Directed Success
*National I&R Support Center: Webinar: Resources for People with Alzheimer's and Related Dementias
*HHS: OIG Releases Report on State and CMS Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care
*NCD: New Report on the State of Disability Policy in the US
*NCD: Report on Scope and Solutions to Veterans Claims Backlog
*CMS: The ACA Gives Medicare Beneficiaries Major Savings
*CBO: Budget Conferees Continue Negotiations
*CBO: CBO Releases Report on Options to Reduce the Federal Deficit
*NIA: Online Resource to Promote Smart Food Choices
*Senate: Second Senate Hearing on International Disability Treaty
*Senate: Senate Special Committee on Aging, Fraud Hotline
*White House Hosts Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Developmental Disabilities Act
*DC Office on Aging Issues First Ever Alzheimer's Plan
*NDD: New Report on the Impact of Sequestration
*N4A: Home for the Holidays Conversations Campaign
*N4A: New Reports on How National Budget Cuts are Hurting Older Adults
*NCOA: New Online Tools for Aiding Medicare D Decisions
*NCOA:Center for Benefits Access Webinar: Benefits for Same-Sex Couples, Post-DOMA
*KFF: Updated Health Reform Calculator
*KFF: Two New Resources Focus on States' Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Policies
*November Observances
*Friday Updates Archive
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From NASUAD  

Hawaii HCBS Conference: A National Perspective for Local Aging and Disability Professionals

The Hawaii Executive Office on Aging has partnered with the NASUAD to host the 2013 Hawaii HCBS Conference.  Participants will include federal, state, and local policymakers and those who administer, manage and deliver waiver and other HCBS programs. Presentations and workshops will be provided by leaders from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration; the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities; the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging; the National Council of Independent Living,and many others on national trends and innovations in aging and disability programs.

 

When: December 2-5, 2013

Where: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, Honolulu, HI

 

Click here to register.

Click here to learn more.

Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative

Webinar: Volunteers & Risk Management: Senior Medicare Patrol Resources We Can All Use

Join the Aging Network's Volunteer Collaborative on December 4th from 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EST to learn about Senior Medicare Patrol's Volunteer Risk and Program Management (VRPM) policies and their impact on the larger Aging Network, including data to show how many SHIPs, AAAs and Ombudsman programs have already been effected.  

Hear from both Rebecca Kinney, SMP Program Manager at ACL, and Ginny Paulson, the SMP Resource Center Director, about how flexibility of the VRPM policies and procedures is an ACL strategic objective to allow for local level customization and implementation.  In addition learn how the resources developed in support of VRPM have been created in a way to allow for them to be used as broadly and constructively as possible. Q & A will be taken in the last 15 minutes of presentation.

 

Click here to register.

PowerUp! Webinar: Learn about Experiences of Self-Directed Success

Join the Aging Network's Volunteer Collaborative on December 19th form 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST to learn from two presenters on why and how self-directed teams are critical to the future of volunteerism with older adults and the impact they have achieved in their organizations and local communities.

 

Presentations will be from Christine Beatty, Director, Madison Senior Center, Wisconsin and Scott Martin, Self Directed Volunteer Network Facilitator, Delaware

 

Click here to register.

National I&R Support Center

Webinar: Resources for People with Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, and Their Caregivers
 
The National Information and Referral Support Center will hold a webinar on Tuesday, December 10, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, entitled, Resources for People with Alzheimer's and Related Dementias and Their Caregivers. The December technical assistance call will include an overview of the National Alzheimer's Call Center, as well as their numerous available on-line resources.  Presenters will focus on various special populations such as aging parents of adult children with physical and developmental disabilities where dementia may be affecting the parent and/or adult child with disabilities, and younger people with dementia. Amy Wiatr-Rodriguez, Aging Services Program Specialist at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) will provide a brief overview of ACL-supported dementia resources; and Ruth Drew, Director of Family and Information Services at the Alzheimer's Association will present on the Call Center.

Click here to register for the webinar: 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/683856978

After registering, you will receive a link to join the webinar.

You must also call in by dialing 888-346-3659;

Passcode: 38257

From the Administration
Department of Health and Human Services

OIG Releases Report on State and CMS Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care Credentialing Process 

The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services released a report on November 12th concerning state and CMS oversight of the Medicaid Managed Care Credentialing Process. This report analyzed six states to determine whether or not states and Medicaid managed care enterprises were compliant with provider credentialing requirements. It found that, out of the six states examined, Medicaid managed care enterprises (MCEs) in five states were not compliant with federal law that forbids MCEs from discriminating against providers serving high-risk populations or individuals needing expensive care. MCEs' failure to contract with such providers could limit access to needed care for consumers in state Medicaid Managed care plans with chronic conditions and long-term care needs. For more information, read the full OIG report here.

National Council on Disability

New Report on the State of Disability Policy in the US
The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency that recommends disability policy to the President, Congress, and other federal agencies, released its annual report on the nation's progress in achieving equality of opportunity, independent living, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for an estimated 57 million Americans with disabilities.
 

NCD's report, 2013 National Disability Policy: Strength in Our Differences, highlights federal achievements from August 2012 to September 2013, and identifies opportunities for public policy change and additional engagement.  The report presents this information under four broad categories: (1)  Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); (2) Economic Empowerment; (3) Health Care and Access to Medical Treatment; and (4) Community Integration. Other topics addressed within these primary subject areas include employment, vocational rehabilitation, mental health care, education, housing, transportation, voting, and veteran-specific issues.  The report includes a number of recommendations designed to address barriers to inclusion and full participation in society for the President and Congress to consider.

The report, along with a comprehensive executive summary and overview of highlights is available here.
To learn more about NCD, please visit www.ncd.gov.

Report on Scope and Solutions to Veterans Claims Backlog

When active-duty service members separate from the military, many face service-connected disabilities and health issues, financial uncertainty, and other adjustments. Seamless transition from military service to civilian life often depends on how well service members understand their entitlement to benefits and how quickly they can take advantage of training, jobs, and other opportunities. The National Council on Disability (NCD) released a report entitled, Clearing the Backlog and Facilitating Benefits for Veterans with Disabilities, on finding long-term effective solutions to the disability claims backlog for veterans. Recommendations include opinions and evaluations by key stakeholders and experts engaged in the Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims-processing backlog. In its report, NCD made the voices and experiences of the veterans themselves a central focus, along with the efforts of federal entities and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). 

 

Click here for more information and to view the report.

 

CMS

The Affordable Care Act Gives Medicare Beneficiaries Major Savings

 CMS recently announced that health care reform efforts are eliciting significant out-of-pocket savings for Medicare beneficiaries, pointing to zero growth in 2014 Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles, and more than $8 billion in cumulative savings in the prescription drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole." The health care law gave those who reached the donut hole in 2010 a one-time $250 check, then began phasing in discounts and coverage for brand-name and generic prescription drugs beginning in 2011.  The Affordable Care Act will provide additional savings each year until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.

 

Click here for the full CMS announcement.

Congressional Budget Office

Budget Conferees Continue Negotiations
On November 13, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Budget Conference Committee held its second public meeting.  Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Doug Elmendorf joined the budget-conference meeting to brief conferees on CBO's recently updated long-term budget and economic outlook.  The bipartisan Committee is charged with examining short and long-term solutions to federal deficit reduction, including a possible agreement on FY14 discretionary spending levels and sequestration.  The Committee's recommendations are due by December 13.

Director Elmendorf's presentation to the Budget Conference Committee is available here.
The archived webcast of the hearing is available here.
CBO's Long-Term Budget Outlook is available here.

CBO Releases Report on Options to Reduce the Federal Deficit
 
This week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued an updated report on policy options for reducing the federal budget deficit.  CBO periodically issues such a compendium to help inform lawmakers about the budgetary implications of various approaches to changing federal policies.

The most recent report presents over 100 options that would decrease federal spending or increase federal revenues over the next ten years, from Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 - FY 2023. The potential changes cover many areas - ranging from defense to energy, Social Security, and provisions of the tax code - and come from a variety of sources.  Some are based on proposed legislation or on the budget proposals of various Administrations; others came from Congressional offices or from entities in the federal government or in the private sector.  CBO intends for these options to reflect a range of possibilities, not a ranking of priorities or an exhaustive list. Inclusion or exclusion of any particular option does not imply endorsement or disapproval by CBO, and the report makes no recommendations.

 The CBO report is available here.

National Institute on Aging

Online Resource to Promote Smart Food Choices

The National Institute on Aging released an updated, easy-to-navigate online resource on older adult nutrition. "What's on Your Plate? Smart Food Choices for Healthy Aging" explores healthy lifestyles, plans for healthy eating, food safety, nutrients to know, shopping tips, and common questions. A printed version of this resource is also available for free here.

From Congress
Senate

Second Senate Hearing on International Disability Treaty
 
On November 21, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held its second hearing on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, Treaty Doc 112-7), an international treaty that sets global standards for the treatment of people with disabilities. 
 

Endorsed by more than 150 countries, the CRPD is closely based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, PL 101-336) and addresses the equal rights of persons with disabilities.  Signed by the US in 2009, a two-thirds Senate majority is required to make US participation official.  NASUAD supports the treaty and its goals, and sent a letter to Committee leadership in advance of the hearing, encouraging them to ratify the CRPD.

For more information on the treaty, please see www.disabilitytreaty.org.
 

To view the November 21 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, please follow this link.
 
NASAUD's letter of support is available here.  

Senate Special Committee on Aging, Fraud Hotline
 
The Senate Special Committee on Aging recently introduced the Aging Fraud Hotline which will make it easier for older Americans to report suspected fraud and find assistance for themselves or for someone they know. A team of investigators will help figure out what steps to take to combat possible investment scams, identity theft, bogus sweepstakes and lottery schemes, Medicare and Social Security fraud, and a variety of other consumer issues.

Click here to access the Aging Fraud Hotline.

From The White House

White House Hosts Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Developmental Disabilities Act

On Friday, November 15, the White House hosted an observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, signed into law by President Kennedy in 1963. At the event, a series of panel discussions among leaders of the intellectual and developmental disability community was convened to celebrate the accomplishments of the past, examine current challenges, and look ahead to the future of disability policy. Speakers included notables from the Administration as well as several disability organizations.

Click here to see a White House video of the event's introductory remarks.

From the States

DC Office on Aging Issues First Ever Alzheimer's Plan

The DC Office on Aging has issued its first five-year Alzheimer's Plan which calls for more services for patients and caregivers. A new report released Tuesday, November 19th, by the DCOA shows the city's rate of Alzheimer's deaths to be 18.9 per 100,000 people. 
 

The report calls for greater collaboration among Alzheimer's organizations and researchers and the dissemination of more information on the disease to District residents. It also calls for increased participation of at-risk residents in research trials and more training for government agencies and professional and family care providers.

From Other Organizations
NDD United

New Report on the Impact of Sequestration, Deficit Reduction Efforts
 
A recently released report, titled "Faces of Austerity: How Budget Cuts Have Made Us Sicker, Poorer, and Less Secure" highlights the cumulative impact that years of federal deficit reduction efforts have had on critical non-defense discretionary (NDD) programs, such as Meals on Wheels, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation programs.

 Issued by NDD United, a coalition of more than 3,200 national, state, and local organizations working to advance balanced solutions to the country's fiscal challenges that do not harm NDD programs, the report provides a comprehensive snapshot of federal budget cuts across sectors, including education, job training, public health, safety and security, housing, science, natural resources, infrastructure and international affairs.  It features more than 40 distinct stories of individuals living with federal budget cuts in 22 states, as well as an interactive map.

 To download Faces of Austerity and view the interactive map, NDD Across America, please follow this link.
To learn more about NDD United, please visit www.nddunited.org

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Home for the Holidays Conversations Campaign
 This week, the Eldercare Locator will launch its eleventh annual "Home for the Holidays" campaign for older adults with a focus this year on conversations on health, legal, financial and end-of-life issues.  The annual holiday campaign is a national media outreach effort that provides tips for discussions when older adults and their families get together.

As part of the campaign, the Eldercare Locator and The Conversation Project have created a new guide entitled, Let's Talk: Staring the Conversation about Health, Legal, Financial and End-of-Life Issues, which features information for older adults, family members and professionals who are seeking information about starting difficult conversations with family and friends, topics of consideration for those discussions and what resources can help them.

Consumers can request and receive the brochure free of charge. Agencies can order the guide in bulk, the first 25 are free. The print version of this brochure will be available November 29, but you can place your order starting today. Click here to order print copies of the guide, or call Jackie at 202-464-9473 with questions.
Click here to access the "Let's Talk" guide.
Click here to access the Eldercare Locator.

New Reports on How National Budget Cuts are Hurting Older Adults

Two new reports show how sequester cuts and a lack of investment have hurt nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs like aging services. A National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) report entitled, Squeezing Seniors: Aging Community Fears National Crisis as a Result of Federal Budget Cuts, highlights the looming crisis in the aging network's ability to meet the needs of frail older adults. And a report from NDD United entitled, Faces of Austerity: How Budget Cuts Have Made Us Sicker, Poorer, and Less Secure, includes stories about cuts to Meals on Wheels, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and housing and job training programs for seniors. These reports come at a key time for advocacy, with a December 13 deadline for the Congressional budget conference committee to reach an agreement, and a January 15 effective date of the next round of sequester cuts.

National Council on Aging
My Medicare Matters: New Online Tools for Aiding Medicare D Decisions
Open enrollment for Medicare D ends December 7, giving Medicare beneficiaries just a few more weeks to join or switch their Medicare drug and health plans. To help understand the available options, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) has enhanced its My Medicare Matters website with two new tools to help people with Medicare decide what to do:

The Rx Savings Calculator quickly estimates how much consumers could save in 2014 by switching Medicare Part D plans, and the Medicare QuickCheck™ helps people with Medicare review their current coverage, find ways to save money, and connect to options for shopping around during Open Enrollment.

Center for Benefits Access Webinar: Benefits for Same-Sex Couples, Post-DOMA
 
The Supreme Court's historic ruling striking down Section 3 of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), was an enormous victory for same-sex couples and their families, and affirms that they deserve equal treatment under the law.  NCOA's Center for Benefits Access is holding a webinar on December 4, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST to help participants understand the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down sections of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and how it may or may not affect individuals applying for benefits such as Medicare, Social Security, and others.

 Click here to register for the webinar.

Kaiser Family Foundation

Updated Health Reform Calculator Now Provides Estimates in all 50 States and DC

The Kaiser Family Foundation has updated its health reform subsidy calculator to provide premium estimates in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia for people who buy coverage through the new state health insurance marketplaces starting in 2014. The calculator is also available in Spanish.

 

Other organizations, including media, healthcare providers and non-profit groups, are encouraged to share the calculator with the public by embedding it on their websites using these embed instructions. These embed instructions are available for the Spanish language calculator.

Two New Resources Focus on States' Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Policies

The Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has released two new resources which provide detailed new information on Medicaid eligibility levels and enrollment policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia taking effect January 2014 as a part of the Affordable Care Act.

 

Getting into Gear for 2014: Shifting New Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Policies into Drive provides an overview of the new Medicaid eligibility levels for adults and children as of January 2014, both in states that are expanding the program under the ACA and those that are not..

Fast Track to Coverage: Facilitating Enrollment of Eligible People into the Medicaid Expansion examines state experience with new "fast track" enrollment options provided to states that allow them to enroll eligible individuals into coverage using data already available from their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance programs (SNAP) and/or their Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Programs for children.

November Observances

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

On October 31, 2013, President Obama proclaimed November 2013 as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.

Click here for resources and information on living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease

Click here to view Presidential Proclamation.

Click here to access resources by ACL Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services Program.

November is National Diabetes Month

As the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, diabetes affects nearly 26 million Americans of all ages. Another 79 million adults are estimated to have prediabetes, a condition that places them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. 

 

The theme of HHS's National Diabetes Education Program for National Diabetes Month this year is "Diabetes is a family affair." Diabetes strikes not only individuals, but families, communities, and our Nation.

 

To learn more about what you can do to prevent or control diabetes, please visit www.YourDiabetesInfo.org and  www.cdc.gov/diabetes.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy, which affects roughly 2.3 million Americans, is a common, yet poorly understood, neurological disorder. Epilepsy can have a devastating effect on individuals as well as their families.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is committed to boosting public awareness and improving the lives of those with epilepsy, as well as their loved ones.  

 

Click here for more information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

November is National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month.   This year's theme is "Family Caregivers - Now More Than Ever!"  The media toolkit is now available for download.  The toolkit includes:

Click here for more information on the theme, "Family Caregivers - Now More Than Ever!"

Friday Updates Archive

 

Did you miss a previous issue?  

Check out past Friday Updates.