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Early Bird Registration Ends Next Week! Register Now For the 30th Annual HCBS Conference
Don't forget to register for the 30th Annual National Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Conference from September 15-18, 2014 in Arlington, VA. Each year this Conference hits capacity, so reserve your space soon!
Monday, September 15th, the National HCBS Conference offers a full day of Pre-Conference Intensives to develop a deep understanding of one topic area.
These intensives include:
- Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports
- Information and Referral/Assistance Retreat
- Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
- Money Follows the Person and Balancing Incentive Program
- Testing Experience and Functional Tools in Medicaid HCBS
- Review of the New 1915(i) and 1915(c) HCBS Regulation
- Review on Department of Labor New Rules on Fair Labor Standards.
To learn more about our exciting agenda, click here.
Early Bird Registration Ends August 15th. Click here to register.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CMS Releases June Medicaid Enrollment Report
On August 8, CMS released a monthly Medicaid enrollment report that covers June 2014. The report is the latest in a series of releases that detail Medicaid enrollment in each state and that track enrollment growth since the ACA became effective. According to today's report, national Medicaid enrollment exceeded 66 million individuals in June 2014. CMS indicates that 602,210 more individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in June compared to May in the 48 states and District of Columbia that submitted data. Additionally, total Medicaid enrollment has grown by approximately 7.2 million individuals since the ACA open enrollment period began in October 2013. This enrollment growth is in addition to approximately 950,000 individuals who enrolled before October 2013 through ACA early expansion options.
To read the full report, click here.
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CMS Issues Final Rule to Update the Medicare Hospice Payment Rates and the Wage Index for 2015
On August 4, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule [CMS-1609-F] to update the Medicare hospice payment rates and the wage index for fiscal year 2015. The hospice payment increase would be the net result of a hospice payment update to the hospice per diem rates of 2.1 percent, and a 0.7 percent decrease in payments to hospices due to updated wage data and the sixth year of CMS' seven-year phase-out of its wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF).
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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Medicare and the Marketplace Fact Sheet
On August 1, 2014, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a document listing the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the relationship between Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Topics discussed include general enrollment, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), and coordination of benefits.
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Medicare Trustees Report Released
The Medicare Trustees report released on July 28 projected that the trust fund that finances Medicare's hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030, four years beyond what was projected in last year's report. According to the report, a number of factors have contributed to the improved outlook, including lower-than-expected spending in 2013, and lower projected utilization in the types of health care needed by Medicare patients. Medicare spending per beneficiary has grown quite slowly over the past few years and is projected to continue to grow slowly over the next several years.
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DOJ Proposes New Rule to Require Closed Captioning at Movie Theaters
The August 1 Federal Register includes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the Department of Justice, which proposes to amend regulations of title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This regulation will require movie theaters to exhibit movies with closed captioning and audio description at all times and for all movies that were produced with captioning and audio description. Additionally, the regulation will ensure that theaters have staff available who can provide information to patrons about the use of these services. The Department of Justice welcomes comments on this proposed rule by September 30, 2014.
Click here to view the NPRM and comment submission instructions.
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Government Accountability Office
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Medicaid Payment Rates: Fee-for-Service, Managed Care and Private Pay
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, Medicaid Payment: Comparison of Selected Services under Fee-for-Service, Managed Care, and Private Insurance. This report compares payments for evaluation and management (E/M) services under Medicaid fee-for-services (FFS), managed care, and private insurance prior to 2013, when temporary Medicaid payment increases for these services took effect, as mandated by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA). The report also examines how payments for E/M services under Medicaid FFS and Medicaid managed care compared with private health insurance prior to the HCERA-mandated increases; and how payments for E/M services under Medicaid managed care compared with Medicaid FFS prior to the HCERA-mandated increases
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Health and Human Services
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HHS Marks 49th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid
Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965, Medicare and Medicaid provide health care to millions of older and low-income Americans and their families. More than 60 million people are now covered by Medicaid, while Medicare serves more than 50 million seniors and people with disabilities. Nearly 9 million people are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, including low-income seniors and younger people with disabilities with complex health care needs. To mark the 49th anniversary of the signing, Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a statement highlighting the programs, and noting that Medicare and Medicaid "have improved the length as well as the quality of life for countless Americans over the years, providing health and economic security to the most vulnerable in our nation."
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Secretary Burwell Announces Region II Director of HHS
On August 6, 2014, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced her appointment of Jackie Cornell-Bechelli as Region II Director of HHS. Prior to her appointment, Cornell-Bechelli was Director of Outreach for Representative Rush Holt. She has also held leadership positions with New Jersey Citizen Action, Organizing for America, and Planned Parenthood. As Region II Director, Cornell-Bechelli will be working with officials in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
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Social Security Administration
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Social Security Trustees Release Annual Report
Last week, the Social Security Trustees released their annual report on the current and projected financial status of the Social Security trust funds. Similar to 2013, the 2014 findings show that Social Security is fully solvent until 2033, but faces a moderate long-term shortfall. In 2013, Social Security took in roughly $32 billion more than it paid out. Its reserves were $2.76 trillion in 2013, and are projected to grow to $2.9 trillion at the beginning of 2020. The 2014 Trustees Report also continues to project that the Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund by itself can pay all scheduled benefits until 2016.
Click here to view the press release.
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President Obama Nominates New Deputy Commissioner of Social Security
Last week, President Obama announced the nomination of Andrew LaMont Eanes as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security. Mr. Eanes has been Vice President of Agile Government Services Incorporated, an Overland Park, Kansas-based technology firm, since 2012. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of Dynis, Chief Operations Officer of BT Conferencing, Executive Vice President of IT/Services Operations with Premiere Global Services, and Vice President and General Manager at Sprint, Inc. Mr. Eanes received a B.A. from Ohio Northern University and an M.B.A. from Baldwin Wallace College.
Click here to view the White House press release about the nomination.
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California Superior Court Allows California Duals Demo to Proceed
California Healthline reported that a California Judge ruled that the state may proceed with its initiative to integrate Medicare and Medicaid benefits. In the ruling, the Judge rejected a lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles County Medical Association, three Independent Living Centers, and a Physician that sought an injunction to halt the state's Cal MediConnect Demonstration. Plaintiffs had requested that the courts cease all passive enrollment and disenroll individuals already in the demonstration. The ruling allows the state to continue with the Cal MediConnect demonstration. However, plaintiffs have indicated that they may appeal. Additionally, the state has delayed the implementation of the demonstration in Alameda and Orange Counties.
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Center for Health Care Strategies
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High-Performing Integrated
Health Plans
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) recently released a policy brief outlining a framework for high-performance for plans serving the dual eligibles. CHCS used existing research as well as a national advisory panel to develop five domains of health plan performance and quality including:
- Leadership and Organizational Culture
- Infrastructure to "Scale Up" and "Stretch Out While Maintaining Quality and Value
- Financial and Non-financial Incentives and Related Mechanisms that Align Plan, Provider, and Member Interests
- Coordinated Care Provided through Comprehensive, Accessible Networks and Person/Family-Centered Care Planning
- Capacity to Attract and Retain Members, Expand Enrollment, and Increase Retention
Seven community-based plans were selected by CHCS to join PRIDE (Promoting Integrated Care for Dual Eligibles) - a consortium of health plans brought together to advance strategies for providing high-quality and cost-effective care for dual eligibles. The PRIDE members are now beginning to improve their performance using this framework as well as serve as a learning laboratory for each other. The policy brief acknowledged that 'a dynamic person/family-centered plan of care built on significant individual/caregiver involvement and comprehensive assessments and reassessments over time to capture changes in people's circumstances and preferences' is a cornerstone of high-quality integrated care for individuals with LTSS needs.
Click here to view the brief.
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Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Chart Book
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released a report that focused on the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Chart Book. The Chart Book provides important background information about Social Security Disability Insurance. Disability Insurance (DI) is an integral part of Social Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA) administers the DI program. DI provides modest but vital benefits to workers who can no longer support themselves on account of a serious and long-lasting medical impairment. According to the SSA, 8.9 million people received disabled-worker benefits from Social Security in December 2013.
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Family Caregiver Alliance
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Deadline Extended: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Awards Application
The Family Caregiver Alliance is requesting nonprofit organizations, government agencies and universities to apply for the seventh annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Award. 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 deadline for applications is September 5, 2014.
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KU Research and Training Center on Community Living
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Infographics: Barriers to Community Participation Experienced by People with Mobility Disabilities
The Kansas University Research and Training Center on Community Living has produced two infographics that highlight barriers in the home that prevent people with mobility disabilities from community participation The infographics are based on data from the 2011 American Housing Survey. The first infographic informs the public on barriers faced by people with disabilities in housing across the U.S., the second inforgraphic offers information regarding barriers faced by people with disabilities living in rural households. Both infographics note legislative measures that can be taken to address housing accessibility needs for this population.
Click here to view the publication.
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National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
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Deadline Extended: 2014 Resident's Voice Challenge
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care designated October as Residents' Rights Month to honor residents living in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, sub-acute units, assisted living, board and care and retirement communities. It is a time for celebration and recognition offering an opportunity for every facility to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect, and the value of each individual resident. This year's theme for the Residents' Rights Month 2014 is "Better Staffing: The Key to Better Care." The Resident's Voice is an opportunity for residents from facilities across the country to share their ideas about this year's Residents' Rights Month theme with other residents, ombudsmen, families, community members and nursing home staff. All submissions are due August 11, 2014.
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National Council on Aging
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Webinar: Fall Prevention Community Programming
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is holding a free webinar entitled, Implementing Effective Falls Prevention Programs in Your Community: Reaching New Audiences, on August 21, 2014, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. The webinar is sponsored by NCOA's Falls Free Initiative and IlluminAge, in anticipation of Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 23, 2014. The webinar will discuss developments in falls prevention programming, successful programming practices in communities nationwide, how organizations are integrating falls prevention programming, among other topics.
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National Senior Citizens Law Center
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Tips for Consumer Advocates on Medicaid HCBS Settings Rule - State Transition Plans
The National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) released a Fact Sheet that described four tips for consumer advocates on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule-State Transition Plans. According to the Fact Sheet, states are now beginning to release their transition plans to bring their Medicaid HCBS systems into compliance with the new federal regulations on community-based settings therefore consumers and their representatives need to be prepared to
evaluate those plans and advocate for improvements.
These tips include:
- Don't Confuse a Work Plan with a Transition Plan
- Don't Accept a State's Unsupported Claims of Compliance
- Don't Accept Inordinate Reliance on Providers' Self-Reported Data
- Compliance Should Not Be Seen as a One-Time Event
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