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Health Insurance Marketplace Deadline - March 31
Individuals without insurance have until March 31, 2014 to purchase coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace during the initial enrollment period. After March 31, these individuals will have to wait until the next enrollment period from November 15, 2014 to January 15, 2015.
Click here to enroll clients for 2014 coverage.
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30th Annual HCBS Conference Call for Sessions Deadline Approaching
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) announced the Call For Sessions for the 30th Annual National Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Conference on September 15-18, 2014 in Arlington, VA. The conference offers a blend of policy, program and practice issues for professionals interested in home and community-based waivers and services for all ages and abilities. Last year's conference had a strong presence from the agencies of the US Department of Health and Human Services including Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Administration on Aging (AoA). Proposals are currently being accepted for workshops and the due date is March 31, 2014.
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National Information and Referral Support Center
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Webinar: 2-1-1s and Aging and Disability Resource Centers: Partnership Successes and Challenges
On April 3, 2014, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, join AIRS and the National Information and Referral Support Center in a webinar on partnerships between 2-1-1 agencies and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Presenters will review general information about 2-1-1 organizations and ADRCs, and highlight both successes and challenges they have faced in pursuing partnerships between the two types of organizations. Presenters include Lisa Clark, 2-1-1 Manager, Brown County United Way; Devon Christianson, Director, ADRC of Brown County; Jim Macgill, Executive Director, 2-1-1 Maryland, Inc.; Mary Ellen Mendl, Director, Vermont 2-1-1/ United Ways of Vermont; and Sara Tribe, Director of the National I&R Support Center, NASUAD.
Click here to register for the webinar (this is required to join). Participants will receive a unique link after registering.
When the webinar begins, participants will be connected to audio using their computer's microphone and speakers (VOIP). Participants can connect to the webinar beforehand (download software if necessary), and trouble shoot any difficulties prior to April 3.
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Webinar: Are you Looking for New Volunteers? Ideas on How to Reach More People
Join us on March 25, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET to learn about new resources for growing your volunteer base. The"Got an Hour?" Campaign is designed to help local agencies attract volunteers to programs that work with seniors. The webinar will review the "Got an Hour?" Campaign's downloadable materials, webinars, and a search tool (powered by VolunteerMatch.org) to help connect prospective volunteers with opportunities and programs in their own neighborhood.
The "Got an Hour?" Campaign was developed to help local agencies throughout the country attract volunteers to programs that work with seniors.
Click here to join the visual component of the webinar. To join the audio component, call 888-346-3659, Passcode: 39660
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Administration for Community Living
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National Nutrition Month - Setting a New Table: More than a Meal
In a recent blog post, Assistant Secretary and Administrator Kathy Greenlee emphasized the importance of good nutrition during National Nutrition Month. She states: "[The saying] "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" is as true now as it was in 360 BC when Hippocrates gave this prescription to his patients. Good nutrition promotes health and helps prevent and manage many diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and high blood pressure. As the Older Americans Act's largest health promotion program, the Elderly Nutrition Programs do more than just provide food."
Click here to read more about the ACL Elderly Nutrition Programs and the importance of nutrition as we age.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Two Webinars: Training in Disability-Competent Care and Supports Series
The CMS Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office is facilitating two webinars in the Disability-Competent Care Webinar Roundtable Series. On March 25, 2:00-3:00pm ET, the webinar Providing Home Modifications, will help participants understand the scope of home modifications commonly funded by home and community-based waivers, the value of in-home functional assessments and components of the home modification assessment process.
On April 1, 2:00-3:00pm ET, the webinar Establishing Linkages between Medical (Health Care) and Community Providers and Resources, will highlight strategies to facilitate timely communication between care coordinators and medical and long-term services and supports (LTSS) providers.
Click here to register in advance for the webinars.
Click here to learn more about the webinar series.
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Comments on Proposed Changes to Durable Medical Equipment Payments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to accept comments on different methodologies it may consider using with regard to applying information from the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies competitive bidding programs. CMS also seeks comments on ideas for potentially simplifying the payment rules and enhancing beneficiary access to items and services under the competitive bidding programs for certain durable medical equipment and enteral nutrition. The deadline for submitting comments is March 28, 2014.
Click here for the detailed Federal Register entry to learn how to submit comments.
Click here to view the CMS fact sheet on the announcement.
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Olmstead Videos for 15th Anniversary
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking videos from people with disabilities, their families, friends and advocates to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1999 decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The decision requires states to ensure that people with disabilities receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Participants should send in a short video (five minutes or less), along with a signed Release Form, describing their personal story about how Olmstead has positively affected their life or the life of someone they know. The deadline for Video Submissions is March 31, 2014.
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Updated Consumer Information About Funeral Planning
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has updated free information for consumers about funeral planning. Two revised brochures, available in English and Spanish, provide information to help consumers examine funeral choices.
Paying Final Respects summarizes consumer rights under the Funeral Rule, enforced by the FTC. For example, consumers have a right to buy only the funeral goods (such as caskets) and services (such as embalming) they want, and to get a written, itemized price list when they visit a funeral home.
Shopping for Funeral Services is a detailed guide to the different types of funerals, goods and services consumers may choose. It includes a full-page pricing checklist, glossary of funeral terms and contact information for national organizations.
Click here to order free copies.
Click here to access a series of online articles that explain consumer rights, describe types of funeral products and services, and help shoppers compare providers.
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Veterans Health Administration
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Information and Support for In-Home Dementia Caregivers
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health has developed an educational series entitled, Information & Support for In-Home Dementia Caregivers. The series is designed to aid caregivers who are helping a loved one suffering from dementia including home safety, legal matters, dealing with problem behaviors and learning relaxation techniques.
Click here to watch the full trailer for the series.
Click here to contact Christopher Turner for any questions or feedback on the series.
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Congressional Recess
The House and Senate are in recess this week.
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National Council for Behavioral Health
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Webinar: What Great Managers Do Differently
The National Council for Behavioral Health is holding a webinar entitled, What Great Managers Do Differently, on April 1, 2014, 1:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will highlight how to encourage employees by focusing on their strengths and fueling their passions. The webinar will also focus on how to foster a strong workforce, and ensure organizations are using effective management practices.
Click here to register for the webinar.
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| National Council on Aging |
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Updated SNAP Resources Tools
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has recently updated and expanded their online resource materials about senior hunger and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps). The online resource includes the latest statistics on program participation and benefits, sample outreach materials that have worked in other states, advocacy tools, and more information about senior hunger in general.
Click here to explore the resource toolkits.
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Dental, Vision and Hearing: Help for Services Medicare Does Not Cover
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has released a new fact sheet entitled, Dental, Vision, and Hearing: Where to go for services Medicare does not cover. Medicare covers a range of inpatient and outpatient services, but regular screenings and care for dental, vision, and hearing is not included. The fact sheet explains general Medicare coverage rules, and highlights options for your low-income clients to get help accessing dental, vision, and hearing care and equipment at low or no cost. This is the first fact sheet in a series arising from last month's webinar, When Core Benefits Are Not Enough.
Click here to download the fact sheet.
Click here to access the webinar slides and recording.
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National Senior Citizens Law Center
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Webinar: Consumer Protection in MLTSS: Good (and Not-So-Good) Enrollment and Disenrollment Practices
The National Senior Citizens Law Center is holding a webinar on March 31, 2014, 2:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will examine and discuss how states handle enrollment to and disenrollment from Medicaid managed care long-term services and supports (MLTSS) plans. This webinar is the second in a series based on the Advocate's Library of Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Contract Provisions and will help advocates navigate and make best use of the Advocate's Library. Lessons learned in this webinar will help advocates work more effectively with their states to design new or improve existing MLTSS programs
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Fourth National Conference on Employment and Education Law Impacting Persons with Disabilities
The American Bar Association is holding the 4th National Conference on Employment and Education Law Impacting Persons with Disabilities on April 9, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA. The Conference will recognize the key leadership role that the legal profession plays in eliminating barriers and ensuring that persons with disabilities have full and equal opportunity and access to participate wholly in society.
Conference topics include: * Reasonable accommodations in the workplace
* Discipline & bullying of students with disabilities
* Employee leave requests
* High stakes testing & students with disabilities
* Employer screenings for disability
* Transition from high school to adult life
* Unconscious bias in the workplace Attorneys at law firms, corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits will learn about the federal and state legal requirements, recent legal developments, and emerging trends in education and employment for persons with disabilities, as well as acquire skills, strategies, and best practices for trying cases. Early bird registration rates ends on March 24, 2014.
Click here to register and learn more about the conference.
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Establishing & Managing Fees-for-Service in Centers for Independent Living
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is holding a training on the nature and importance of Fees-for-Service from April 22-24, 2014 in Denver, Colorado.
By the end of this training, participants will gain the skills and knowledge to be able to:
- Know where to begin establishing contracts for fees-for-service
- Identify agencies and businesses that may purchase fee-based services
- Balance your role as advocate with being a contractor
- Prepare for common pitfalls and how to rebound if they occur
- Become a vendor, including application, referrals, billing, reporting, and more
- Analyze your capacity to move beyond grant funding to contracts/fees-for-service
- Plan fee-based services strategically, including research and buy-in
- Plan, analyze, and execute future expansion
- Decide when it's appropriate (or not) to provide a service that's not fully funded
Presenters include:
Participants should include rural and urban CIL executive directors, accountants, program managers, board members and others interested in expanding CIL capacity through fees-for-service. The training will be of most benefit to small or moderate Centers that are poised to expand their CIL's capacity through fees-for-service and contracts. It will also be of benefit to more experienced Centers who want to explore a diversity of ideas for expansion.
Click here to register and learn more about the training.
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CinemAbility Documentary on Disability in Entertainment
CinemAbility is a documentary focusing on the impact of how disability is treated in entertainment and the media. This film stars Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Gary Sinise, Marlee Matlin, Kyle MacLachlan, Beau Bridges, among others. Watch the trailer here.
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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
In February 2000, President Clinton officially dedicated March as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it.
As part of March and colon cancer awareness, the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) introduced the Blue Star as the symbol of the fight against colon cancer in 2004. The star represents the eternal memory of those whose lives have been lost to the disease and the shining hope for a future free of colon cancer.
Click here to learn more about colorectal cancer.
Click here for more information on how to start a fundraiser, download free material, get merchandise, and more.
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March is National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The 2014 National Nutrition Month Theme is "Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right."
Click here to learn more about National Nutrition Month®.
Click here to view the media materials.
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March is Social Work Month
Social Work Month 2014, aims to educate the public about improving social conditions and quality of life opportunities for everyone. These values are essential to improving relationships within families, making social support systems more effective, and building stronger communities. This year, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) selected a theme and logo to help raise awareness about the American social work profession's 116-year commitment inpursuing social change to benefit a wide variety of individuals, families and communities. Social workers across the globe continue to believe that all people have dignity and deserve respect. The 2014 Social Work Month theme is "All People Matter."
Click here for more information on 2014 Social Work Month.
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HKNC: Executive Director
The Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC) is seeking an Executive Director who is a dynamic leader and manager with the power and presence to advocate successfully and passionately on behalf of HKNC in the public and private sectors. Reporting to the President and CEO of Helen Keller Services for the Blind, the position of the Executive Director is a critical, highly visible position requiring demonstrated program ability, broad and in-depth knowledge of deaf-blind issues, strong business skills and managerial experience, exceptional leadership ability and a successful track record of working with or for government, quasi-public agencies, the public at large and not-for-profit organizations.
Click here to view, apply and learn more about the position.
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NICHD: Director
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as the Institute's Director of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR). The incumbent will serve as the Director's principal advisor on extramural scientific and policy issues in the field of medical rehabilitation research, oversee the activities of NCMRR's research programs and manage scientific peer review, award, and post-award activities related to research, development, and training grants and contracts in medical rehabilitation research. The incumbent will guide and direct NCMRR staff on various matters, conduct its extramural research and training activities; manage resource allocations including staff, physical, and financial resources; maintain staff through recruitment and training efforts; and ensure effective program operations.
Click here to apply and learn more about the position.
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