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HCBS Conference Hosts White House Conference on Aging Listening Session
This year, the National HCBS Conference will offer an opportunity to participate in a Listening Session on the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. On Wednesday, September 17, Nora Super, White House Conference on Aging Executive Director, and Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, will gather input from HCBS Conference attendees on issues regarding retirement security, healthy aging, long-term supports and services, and elder abuse prevention.
The 2015 White House Conference on Aging is an opportunity to recognize the importance of key programs as well as to look ahead to the issues that will help shape the landscape for older Americans for the next decade. To listen and learn from key aging leaders and older Americans, the Administration will participate in listening sessions with older Americans and advocates across the country starting in August and continuing throughout the year.
Click here to learn more about the 2015 White House Conference on Aging.
Click here to learn more about the agenda.
Register for the conference here.
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NASUAD Hosts Call with ACL About Person-Centered Planning Guidance
On Tuesday, August 26th, NASUAD hosted Shawn Terrell with the Administration on Community living (ACL) to discuss person centered planning guidance that ACL issued in July 2014. This guidance was released under the authority of Section 2402(a) of the Affordable Care Act, which directed HHS to develop regulations that promote better coordination, consistency, and improved resource allocation for LTSS programs. It also directed HHS to improve the person-centered nature of a wide range of home and community based services. Although the release is not a regulation, it still has significant implications for HHS funded programs - including a wide range of programs administered by State Aging and Disability organizations. Similarly, it will likely lead to new requirements and expectations for community-based organizations that perform assessment, care planning, and intake/referral services.
ACL indicated that these principles will be embedded into all HHS-funded HCBS and, presumably, be used within other non-HHS HCBS and LTSS programs. The guidance states that all HHS entities that provide funding for HCBS are expected to incorporate the paper's principles within their regulations, guidance, and/or the technical assistance they provide to states.
According to ACL, the agencies most directly affected by this guidance include:
- Administration for Community Living
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- Indian Health Service
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Administration for Children and Families
Powerpoint Presentation
Audio File of the Conference Call
Click here for Section 2402(a) of the Affordable Care Act - Guidance for Implementing Standards for Person-Centered Planning and Self-Direction in Home and Community-Based Services Programs.
Click here for information on the CMS Home and Community-Based Services Settings Rule via NASUAD.
Click here for information on the CMS Home and Community-Based Services Settings Rule via Medicaid.gov.
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Now Available: MIPPA Outreach Materials for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries with Disabilities
In collaboration with consumers and professionals in the aging and disabilities network, NASUAD has developed outreach materials to promote Medicare low-income subsidies to beneficiaries with disabilities. NASUAD created 3 posters to educate Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities about subsidies that may help them save on Medicare costs. NASUAD also developed a Tip Sheet for MIPPA outreach professionals to use as a quick reference tool about Medicare low-income subsidies and referral resources. The posters include an editable space wherein outreach professionals may add contact information for their preferred referral source.
Click here to view or download the Posters and Tip Sheet.
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| Administration for Community Living |
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Robin Williams: Raising Awareness About Depression
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) and
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) released a blog post by Administrators Kathy Greenlee and Pamela Hyde regarding the American Actor Robin Williams and topic of depression. "Robin Williams was only age 63. He was in the prime of his life. Yet we know that men age 45-64 have one of the highest suicide rates of any age group - rates that, according to the latest national data, grew by 40% between 1999 through 2011. And much of the suicide prevention and research efforts to date have been focused on other at-risk groups. What we do know is that most suicides are preventable. There are treatments that work, and individuals can recover from mental health problems. But that takes awareness, support, and treatment. If you know someone who may be depressed, reach out and talk to them. Ask them if they are feeling down or contemplating suicide and give them the opportunity to open up and share their troubles, so you can work together to find solutions."
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Join the Discussion: Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a series of free in-person conversations designed to share information about priority areas of the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) and to get input on the initiative from stakeholders. IAP was launched by CMS in July 2014 to improve health and health care for Medicaid beneficiaries by supporting states' efforts to accelerate new payment and service delivery reforms. The program will provide technical assistance to states and will be closely coordinated with ongoing Medicaid delivery and payment reform activities, as well as Medicare-Medicaid demonstrations and other CMS initiatives. The sessions and locations are scheduled as follows:
- Denver, Colorado: September 10, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MT. The deadline to register is September 3, 2014.
- Baltimore, Maryland: September 15, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. The deadline to register is September 8, 2014.
- Chicago, Illinois: September 25, 2014, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT. The deadline to register is September 18, 2014.
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CMS Approves Pennsylvania Medicaid Expansion
On Thursday, August 28th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they have approved Pennsylvania's "Healthy PA" plan. Under the program, authorized by an 1115 waiver, Pennsylvania will expand Medicaid to individuals earning below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. The coverage expansion is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2015 with enrollment activities beginning in December 2014. Newly eligible individuals will be served through entities called Private Care Options, which are health plans that are subject to all Medicaid Managed Care regulations. Individuals above 100% FPL will have some premium obligations. Additionally, the Healthy PA waiver will be enacted in tandem with some changes to the Medicaid program for currently eligible individuals. This includes the creation of "high risk" and "low risk" benefit packages.
Click here for more information, as well as the CMS approval documents.
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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Preventing Financial Abuse in LTC Facilities
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently released a guide to protecting residents from financial exploitation. The guide aims to equip assisted living and nursing facility staff with the knowledge to prevent and recognize the warning signs of elder financial abuse. The guide will give facility staff the tools to:
- Prevent financial exploitation and scams by educating staff, residents, and family members about warning signs and precautions
- Recognize, record, and report financial abuse as early as possible using a model protocol and a team approach
- Get help from first responders in the community
Click here to view the CFPB Director talk about elder financial exploitation.
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Health and Human Services
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ACA Supports Patient-Centered Medical Homes in Health Centers
Secretary Sylvia Burwell of the U.S Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) has announced $35.7 million in Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding to 147 health centers in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The funding will support patient-centered medical homes through new construction and facility renovations. According to Secretary Burwell, "Health centers provide access to quality health care for millions of Americans regardless of their ability to pay. We're making these investments so that health centers will be able to provide even higher quality services to the patients that rely upon them." Currently, there are nearly 1,300 health centers that provide care to over 21.7 million patients in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin.
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Notes on OIG Report: Nursing Facilities' Compliance for Reporting Allegations of Abuse or Neglect
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a new study entitled, Nursing Facilities' Compliance with Federal Regulations for Reporting Allegations of Abuse or Neglect, which examines nursing homes' compliance with the CMS regulations issued following the Elder Justice Act (EJA) requirements for reporting abuse. The study stated that while 83% of facilities reported abuse to the OIG, only 53% of all allegations were actually reported as federally required. The OIG recommended that CMS reissue the guidance on nursing facility reporting for clarity. CMS recently responded to the OIG report.
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August Recess
The House and Senate have adjourned for the August recess. Both chambers will reconvene on Monday, September 8, 2014.
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| Banner Alzheimer's Institute |
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New Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Study Planned for 2015
Banner Alzheimer's Institute (BAI) and Novartis recently announced their partnership to launch a large-scale study aimed at preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD) rather than treating its symptoms. The study, which will take place in North America and Europe, will test two drugs in people who are at highest risk for the most common form of Alzheimer's but show no signs of it yet. To date, much of the research has focused on slowing or halting the disease's dementia. According to Pierre Tariot, director of BAI, "This approach shifts the research paradigm from trying to reverse disease damage to attacking and preventing its cause years before symptoms could surface." The study is funded in part by $15 million from BAI and a $33.2 million grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health.
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Advanced Dementia Meeting
Click here for more information.
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National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services
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Webinar: FLSA Home Care Rule Toolkit
On September 8, 2014, 3:00 p.m. ET, the National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS) will host a webinar to guide attendees through a forthcoming NRCPDS resource: Fair Labor Standards Act Home Care Rule Toolkit. Presenters include James Toews, Senior Adviser at the Administration for Community Living, and Alison Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Space is limited so attendees should register as soon as possible. A recording of the webinar will be made available after the webinar ends.
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Wider Opportunities for Women
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2014 Elder Index Data
Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) recently released the updated 2014 Elder Index data for every state and county in the U.S. The Elder Index is used to advance the economic security of seniors in many areas. These include:
- Help lawmakers and the public to understand true levels of senior need
- Fight the misperceptions and indifference that block action for change
- Evaluate policy and program effectiveness in closing the economic security gap
- Support the case for preserving and strengthening programs that make a difference
In addition, families and individuals can use the Elder Index for retirement planning, as a retirement savings floor, and basis for identifying income support needed.
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2014 National Lifespan Respite Conference
The Tennessee Respite Coalition will host the 2014 National Lifespan Respite Conference in Nashville, TN on October 7-9, 2014. The conference will include breakout sessions on any aspect of planned or emergency respite service delivery, access, research, evaluation, best practices or innovation. The conference theme, Get in Tune with Respite, reflects the great musical city of Nashville and challenges conference attendees to learn and share how respite can create harmony for families in care-giving situations.
Click here for more information and to register for the conference.
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The Florida Area Agencies on Aging in affiliation with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs is hosting the 2014 Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A) Annual Training Conference. The theme is Embracing Aging - Oceans of Opportunities. The 2014 SE4A Conference will be held from September 21-24, 2014 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia Island, Florida. The conference will offer participants essential aging updates, training and networking opportunities.
Click here for more information and to register for the conference.
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Health Policy and Advocacy Director
The Legislative Practice Group (LPG) at the Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville law firm is seeking an experienced health policy and advocacy director to conduct regulatory and legislative research and analysis, as well as to advise on the development of policy positions and advocacy strategy for national health and disability clients and coalitions. In conjunction with LPG and the managing attorneys, the Director will serve as a policy analyst and advocate for client organizations, which are primarily health care provider and consumer associations with a wide range of issue areas, including but not limited to post-acute care and disability; Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement issues; the Affordable Care Act (Exchanges, Essential Health Benefits, Delivery Reform); health information technology; medical devices and assistive
technologies; and behavioral and mental health. The candidate should also have experience advocating on Capitol Hill and to federal regulatory agencies.
Click here for more information and to apply.
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Program Director, Health System, Health Care, Public Health, Medicaid/Private Insurance Reform
The Center for Best Practices at the National Governors Association (NGA) is seeking a senior professional to serve as a program director in its Health Division. The position is full time and located in Washington, D.C. The NGA Center's Health Division focuses on six key areas: (1) health system transformation including payment and delivery reform (2) health care workforce (3) behavioral health and the social determinants of health (4) data and analytics (5) public health and (6) Medicaid and private insurance reforms. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) develops innovative solutions to today's most pressing public policy challenges and is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation's governors.
Click here to contact Asha Gillus for more information.
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Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Ice Bucket Challenge
Secretary Brian Duke of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from Michael
Wolf, Secretary of Health in Pennsylvania. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an activity that involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone's head to promote awareness of the disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and encourage donations to research. As of Monday, August 25, The ALS Association has received $79.7 million in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 25). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.7 million new donors to The Association. Secretary Duke recognizes the power of people and community to make a difference and extends a challenge to all State Unit on Aging leaders across the country. Watch the video here.
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