May 23, 2014
In This Issue
*NASUAD, NAMD and NASDDDS Host Department of Labor Call on FSLA Rule
*ACL Releases Funding Opportunity for No Wrong Door LTSS Planning Grants
*ACL: How the OAA Helps More Americans Stay "Safe Today, Healthy Tomorrow"
*April 2014 Youth Employment Rate Numbers
*CMS Announces Funding Opportunity for State Innovations
*CMS Announces Plans to Expand Prior Authorization
*CMS Releases Final Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Rule
*CMS: Medicaid Expenditures for Long-Term Services and Supports Report
*DOL: Integrating Universal Design in Social Media
*DOL: ODEP Releases START-UP Report
*DOT: ATTRI Online Dialogue onTechnology Solutions for Travel
*EEOC: Federal Agencies to Be 'Model Employers' of Individuals with Disabilities
*Congress: Deal Struck to Modernize, Reauthorize Federal Workforce Programs
*ASA: Earn up to 6 CEUs in June
*ASA: Aging in America Conference Call for Sessions
*LEAD: Employment, Health Care and Disability Policy Update
*NFESH: New Study Shows More Seniors Facing Hunger
*RRTI: Webinar: Pharmacology and Developmental Disabilities
*Events
*Job Announcements
*Just for Fun
*Friday Updates Archive


Save the Date! 

30th Annual National HCBS Conference

September 15-18, 2014 

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From NASUAD  

NASUAD, NAMD and NASDDDS Host Department of Labor Call on FSLA Rule

On May 8, the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD), and National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) jointly hosted a webinar and conference call with the Department of Labor to discuss the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Home Care Final Rule and to provide guidance on shared living arrangements. The rule expands the types of home care services subject to FLSA standards, and will impact many programs where workers provide personal care to seniors and persons with disabilities. The rule will specifically impact certain arrangements where an individual lives with a provider of care. During the presentation, DOL provided an overview of the changes within the rule, as well as information about how the rule would apply to shared living arrangements. The rule is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2015.   

 

Click here to access the PowerPoint that was reviewed during the call.

Click here to access a recording of the presentation.

From the Administration
Administration for Community Living

ACL Releases Funding Opportunity for No Wrong Door LTSS Planning Grants

On May 15, the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Veterans Health Administration jointly issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to assist states in the planning of a No Wrong Door (NWD) System. This FOA will make it easier for all populations in need of long-term services and supports (LTSS) to learn about and access the services and supports they need. While most states have already developed programs to improve consumer access to LTSS using various federal grants and authorities, including Aging and Disability Resource Center grants, Money Follows the Person grants, and the Balancing Incentive Program, few states have developed statewide systems that reflect the functional and operational capacity of the NWD System described in this FOA.

 

Click here to view a copy of the FOA.

How the OAA Helps More Americans Stay "Safe Today, Healthy Tomorrow"

The U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) released a blog post by ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary of Aging Kathy Greenlee regarding the Older Americans Act (OAA) during Older Americans Month. "During the month of May, our nation observes Older Americans Month. This tradition dates back to 1963 when President John F. Kennedy encouraged Americans to celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of older people with a month-long commemoration. Within two years, this annual tribute was translated into action through the passage of the Older Americans Act (OAA). For nearly half a century, the OAA has helped older adults stay healthy, live independent lives, and remain physically and socially engaged. And along the way, Older Americans Month has given us a means of publicly honoring our older population, while raising awareness about issues that affect them. This year, injury prevention is the focus of Older Americans Month. The theme, "Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow," could not be more relevant."  

 

Click here to view the entire blog post.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

April 2014 Youth Employment Rate Numbers  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Youth Employment Rate Numbers for April 2014. The employment data for youth with and without disabilities is obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These numbers provide the most accurate data available of the national employment rate of youth.

 

Click here to view the April 2014 Youth Employment Statistics.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CMS Announces Funding Opportunity for State Innovations

On May 22, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a New Funding Opportunity Announcement for round two of the State Innovations Model Initiative. This initiative is intended to provide funding and technical assistance for states that wish to design and test new payment and service delivery models. The models should be designed to lower costs while improving the health and care given to individuals on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. There are two types of funding opportunities in the grant: Model Design agreements and Model Test agreements. CMS intends to award up to 15 Model Design agreements and up to 12 Model Test agreements.  According to CMS, all Round One Model Design states must apply for Round Two of the State Innovation Models initiative.

 

Click here for more information. 

CMS Announces Plans to Expand Prior Authorization to Ensure Consumer Access

CMS announced plans to expand a successful demonstration for prior authorization for power mobility devices. The demonstration program was previously launched in seven states and claims data showed expenditures for certain mobility devices decrease from $12 million to $4 million without affecting consumer access to the items. CMS seeks to extend this demonstration program to twelve additional states.

 

CMS also proposes to establish a prior authorization process for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies items that are frequently subject to unnecessary utilization.  Through a proposed rule, CMS will solicit public comments on this prior authorization process, as well as criteria for establishing a list of durable medical items that are frequently subject to unnecessary utilization that may be subject to the new prior authorization process. 

 

The proposed rule is can be reviewed here and will be published in the Federal Register on May 28, 2014.  The deadline to submit comments is July 28, 2014. 

CMS Releases Final Regulations on Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Programs

On May 19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released a final regulations implementing changes to the Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Prescription Drug Program (Part D). Although the rule does make some significant changes to the program, including placing new requirements on Medicare providers, CMS did not include some significant changes that were contained in the proposed rule. Notably, CMS did not finalize a provision that would have applied new criteria to protected classes of prescription drugs in Part D.  Medicare Part D plans are required to cover all, or substantially all, of available products within protected classes. The proposed change would likely have resulted in antidepressants, immunosuppressants, and antipsychotics losing protected status. In a March letter, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced that they would not finalize the proposed changes. However, CMS did finalize some proposed changes, including requiring Prescribers under Part D to either be enrolled in Medicare or have a valid record of opting out of Medicare; creating new powers for CMS to revoke a provider's Medicare enrollment based on abusive prescribing practices and patterns; expanding incentives for health promotion activities; and expanding the ability of CMS to release certain Part D data. 

 
Click here to view a fact sheet on the rule.
Click here to view the final rule.

Medicaid Expenditures for Long-Term Services and Supports Report

Last month, CMS published the 2012 Medicaid Expenditures for Long-Term Services and Supports report which includes information on spending in this key area compared to past years. FY 2012 marked the second consecutive year with little or no growth in national Medicaid spending for long-term services and supports (LTSS). This report also highlights the growth of home and community-based services spending as a percent of total LTSS spending.

 

Click here to view the report.

Department of Labor

Join the Conversation About Integrating Universal Design in Social Media

Members of the public are invited to participate in an online dialogue to continue the conversation between the disability community and the social media industry on the importance of technology accessibility and usability, and to encourage universal design in the development of workplace technology products. Co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the National Council on Disability, the event began on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, May 15, and ends on May 30. Titled "Advancing Accessibility and Inclusion in Social Media - The Tech Industry Perspective," the event is the second in a series of three online events on social media accessibility. Participants are also asked to consider the input received from the first dialogue in the series, "Advancing Accessibility and Inclusion in Social Media - The User Experience," which generated user-driven, creative solutions and recommendations for making social media features and services more accessible. An archive of the first dialogue is available for viewing on ePolicyWorks.

Click here to view the news release.

ODEP Releases START-UP Report

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released the final report of the START-UP initiative, a 2007 three year grant project to identify policies and practices then in place that either made it difficult for individuals with disabilities to become self-employed or supported them in becoming self-employed. The report, Self-Employment for People with Disabilities, describes the barriers experienced by the grantees, the self-employment models tested, the achievements of the grant programs, and case studies of several individuals with disabilities who successfully became self-employed. The report also makes recommendations for adoption by agencies and individuals for realizing self-employment goals.

Click here to learn about self-employment for people with disabilities.

Department of Transportation

ATTRI Online Dialogue onTechnology Solutions for Travel

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) is hosting a national online dialogue for the public to share their ideas about transportation and technology. Participants can also share travel glitches that could be solved by a new app or device.

 

The purpose of the online dialogue is to gather input on mobility and transportation technology preferences and needs from transportation riders who have disabilities. By participating in this dialogue, participants will assist leaders in the travel/technology field by identifying devices that could assist all transit riders - especially people with mobility, hearing, vision, or intellectual disabilities - to plan, navigate, and use transportation options in their communities, including safely walking around as well as getting from one station to another. The discussion will be open from May 15 - 30, 2014.

 

Click here to view the online dialogue site and join the conversation.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Public Input on Regulations Requiring Federal Agencies to Be 'Model Employers' of Individuals with Disabilities

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that seeks public comments on potential revisions to the regulations implementing Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This law governs employment of individuals with disabilities by the federal government, including the requirement that federal agencies be "model employers" of individuals with disabilities. The EEOC welcomes input from federal agencies, individuals, employers, advocacy groups, agency stakeholders, and other interested parties on how it can amend its regulations to clarify the federal government's obligation to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The ANPRM is now available on the Federal Register website. Responses must be submitted on July 14, 2014, 5:00 pm ET.  

 

Click here to view the press release.  

Click here to view the ANPRM on the Federal Register website. 

From Congress

Deal Struck to Modernize, Reauthorize Federal Workforce Programs

Earlier this week Congressional negotiators unveiled long-overdue bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would reauthorize and update federal job training programs.  Known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA),  the measure represents a compromise between the SKILLS Act (H.R. 803), which passed the House of Representatives in March 2013 with bipartisan support, and the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (S. 1356), which passed through the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee with a bipartisan vote in July 2013.

 

The negotiated bill, which contains the Rehabilitation Act and moves Independent Living Programs to the Administration for Community Living, appears to have a clear track to final passage next month.   

For more information on the compromise legislation, please see:

  •  The full text of the bill is available here 
  • A one-page summary of the legislation is available here. 
  • The Manager's Statement, which includes a section-by-section summary of the legislation, is available here
  •  A summary of key improvements WIOA makes to current workforce development programs, is available here. 
From Other Organizations

American Society on Aging

Earn up to 6 CEUs in June

The American Society of Aging (ASA) is offering six new webinars that include complimentary CEUs. ASA members can attend ASA webinars for free and earn complimentary CEUs, while select webinars are open to non-members at no charge. Below are some upcoming June webinars:

Click here to learn more about the webinars.

Aging in America Conference Call for Sessions 

Next March, Aging in America, the annual conference of the American Society on Aging, returns to the vibrant city of Chicago from March 23-27 for five days of intensive learning, networking and community-building. Aging in America is the nation's largest multidisciplinary conference for professionals who work with older adults, including the businesses increasingly interested in this growing market.

 

The Call for Proposals is now open! Submit a proposal to share your research, business or program model, policy agendas and successful outcomes. We are especially interested in sessions pertaining to home and community-based services for older adults. Workshop opportunities are limited and eagerly sought-after, so plan to submit your proposal soon! The deadline to submit is June 30, 2014.

 

Click here for details and to submit your proposal.

LEAD Center

Employment, Health Care and Disability Policy Update

The LEAD Center announced the April Edition of their monthly update that focuses on the intersection of employment, disability and health care policy. This publication features stories on the closing of the initial ACA Open Enrollment period, and various reports on topics such as housing, Medicaid eligibility, and family support for people with disabilities.  

 

Click here to learn more and view the policy update. 

National Foundation to End Senior Hunger
New Study Shows More Seniors Facing Hunger

The National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH) has released a new study entitled, The State of Senior Hunger in America 2012: An Annual Report, which revealed that 15.3 percent of seniors or 9.3 million individuals in the United States faced the threat of hunger in 2012. The study, which contains the most recent statistics on senior hunger, is featured in The Washington Post. This study examines the extent and distribution of hunger threat among seniors in 2012. In just five years from 2007 to 2012, the number of seniors facing the threat of hunger increased by 49%. The study also shows the rates of senior hunger among each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

 

Click here to view the press release. 

Click here to view the rates of senior hunger by state.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Institute

Webinar: Practical Considerations Related to Pharmacology and Developmental Disabilities

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Institute is holding a free webinar on pharmacology and developmental disabilities  on June 2, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. This webinar is designed for service providers who are involved in assessing the medical and psychiatric status of individuals with developmental disabilities. It covers information related to intake and assessment, communication with recipients and caregivers, explanations for behavior changes, and pharmacology options including strategies for monitoring the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of medications. Clinical presentation of multiple medications and developmental disabilities will be covered. Free CEUs are available. 

 

Click here to register for the webinar.
Events

n4a Answers on Aging Annual Conference and Tradeshow

Join n4a in Dallas, Texas on July 12-16, 2014 for its 39th Annual Conference & Trade show to see the most innovative policies, programs and services that assist older adults, and persons with disabilities and their caregivers lead independent and productive lives showcased. Participants will learn the benefits of partnerships with a range of health providers, how new volunteer roles are expanding service capacity and leveraging resources, and uses of technology and social medial to increase visibility and support.

 

Click here to learn more and register for the event. 

Job Announcements
Director of the Information and Referral Support Center

NASUAD is seeking a new Director of the Information and Referral Support Center. The position is responsible for managing all programmatic aspects of a federal grant including communication with Information and Referral/Aging network, participation in and development of programming for the annual AIRS conference, in-person, electronic and remote training for I&R/A professionals, and provision of technical assistance to state agency staff . The position is also responsible for representing NASUAD at various meetings, contributing to the website and weekly newsletter, preparing for the annual HCBS conference and other tasks including membership surveys.

 

Click here to apply and learn more about the position.  

Program Manager

Springwell Inc. is seeking an experienced Program Manager who will lead an established agency program and supervise case managers in Waltham, MA. The individual should be able to develop and maintain good relationships with community partners, provide administrative and clinical supervision that inspires his/her team to do their jobs and do them well. He/she will have a natural ability for policy writing, excellent organizational skills, an interest and ability to implement quality improvement practices and strong management skills to make it all happen. Other responsibilities include leading orientation, training, meeting program reporting requirements and taking day-to-day challenges in stride. The individual will wear many hats - one in the community, one as a team player with the case managers, and one as the unwavering leader of this program. 

 

Click here to apply and learn more about the position.  

Click here to view other job opportunities at Springwell Inc.  

Just for Fun

Campaign for Disability Employment Films New PSA  

Last week, the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) started filming its new public service announcement (PSA) to be released in the fall. The CDE's previous two PSAs, "I Can" and "Because," both received tremendous response for their positive portrayal of the skills and talents of people with disabilities of all ages. Learn more here.

Friday Update Archive

 

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Check out past Friday Updates.