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NASUAD Represented on HCBS Quality Panel
The National Quality Forum, the organization that endorses quality measures for the U.S. healthcare system, is embarking on a two-year project to identify new quality measures for home and community-based systems. That work will be guided by a 20-person committee beginning in February. NASUAD will be represented on the committee by Deputy Executive Director Camille Dobson. Ms. Dobson, who joined NASUAD last July after 10 years with CMS, will represent the interests of States providing HCBS services; she will be joined by Patti Killingsworth, Director of Tennessee's MLTSS program, TennCare CHOICES. The NQF project will provide three separate opportunities for public input and comment.
Click here to follow the project activities.
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NASUAD Publishes Updated State Medicaid Integration Tracker
NASUAD has published the January 2015 Edition of the State Medicaid Integration Tracker. The State Medicaid Integration Tracker is a monthly report summarizing state actions in Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), as well as State Demonstrations to Integrate Care for Dual Eligible Individuals and other Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Initiatives.
The Tracker also includes updates on state participation in other LTSS activities, including: the Balancing Incentive Program; Medicaid State Plan Amendments under §1915(i); Community First Choice Option under §1915(k); and Medicaid Health Homes.
Click here to view this month's Tracker.
Click here for comprehensive information on each state, as well as archived versions of the Tracker.
Click here to sign up for alerts on Tracker updates.
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Webinar: The No Wrong Door System in Virginia
On Wednesday, January 21, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, the National I&R Support Center will host a webinar on the No Wrong Door system in Virginia for serving older adults and individuals with disabilities. The development of this particular system reflects a unique public-private partnership approach to providing older adults and persons with disabilities with comprehensive information and streamlined access to available long-term supports through collaborative partnerships and shared technology. This webinar will highlight and share No Wrong Door system developments in Virginia, including the Communication, Referral, Information and Assistance (CRIA) system.
The webinar will feature Erika Yssel, No Wrong Door Expansion Specialist with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
Click here to join the visual component of the webinar.
To listen you must call 888-346-3659, Passcode: 33688.
For additional details on the webinar, click here.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
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CMS Announces Next Innovation Accelerator Priority Areas, Including HCBS
On a blog post from December 29, CMS provided updates on the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) as well as an announcement of future priority areas. Officially launched in July 2014, the Medicaid IAP is a new initiative launched by the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). The goal of IAP is to improve health and health care for Medicaid beneficiaries by supporting states' efforts to accelerate new payment and services delivery reforms. The IAP provides technical assistance and opportunities for rapid learning and will be closely coordinated with ongoing Medicaid delivery and payment reform activities, as well as the Medicare-Medicaid demonstrations and other CMMI initiatives. The first area of emphasis is services for Substance Use Disorders. In the blog post, CMS announced that the next three areas will be:
- Super-utilizers of health care services (target launch in Spring 2015);
- Community integration to support long-term services and supports (target launch Summer 2015); and
- Physical/Mental Health Integration (target launch Fall 2015).
NASUAD is pleased that CMS recognizes the critical role that LTSS plays in the overall Medicaid system, and that the IAP has decided to allocate resources to improve community integration under Medicaid LTSS. At our fall HCBS conference, attendees had an opportunity to provide feedback to CMS officials on the importance of LTSS for the health and wellness of Medicaid beneficiaries. We appreciate that CMS IAP staff heard state concerns and included LTSS as a part of this important initiative. To read the CMS blog post, click here.
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Key Staff Depart CMS This Month
CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner has announced the late January departures of both Cindy Mann, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS), and Melanie Bella, Director of the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office (MMCO), from the leadership ranks at CMS.
Cindy has served as the Director of CMCS since 2009 and during that time, has led CMS through the implementation of CHIPRA and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as well as the promulgation of significant regulations affecting Medicaid prescription drug benefits, Medicaid eligibility and enrollment as well as home and community based services. She has been a passionate advocate for increased health insurance coverage of low-income Americans and for a focus on quality improvement in public programs. NASUAD members have worked closely with Cindy and have appreciated her accessibility and willingness to discuss policy in an open and forthright manner.
Melanie Bella joined CMS shortly after passage of the ACA to implement efforts to better align Medicare and Medicaid in providing services to those dually-eligible for both programs. As the first director of MMCO, Melanie designed and launched demonstrations across the country to test new delivery system and payment models for dual eligible beneficiaries. Melanie has also partnered with our members on these demonstrations and worked to minimize administrative burdens on the States to the extent possible.
The leadership of both Cindy and Melanie will be missed. Coupled with the departure of Barbara Edwards, Director of CMCS' Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, at the end of December, CMS will have new leadership driving policy on home and community based services. While permanent replacements are sought, the interim leadership at CMCS, MMCO, and DEHPG includes:
- Vikki Wachino (vikki.wachino@cms.hhs.gov) - Acting Director of CMCS
- Tim Englehardt (timothy.engelhardt@cms.hhs.gov) - Acting Director of MMCO
- Alissa DeBoy (alissa.deboy1@cms.hhs.gov) - Acting Director of DEHPG
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Update on Advance Payments of the Premium Tax Credit and Cost-sharing Reductions
As a part of its State Operations and Technical Assistance initiative, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services released an update on advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). The update covers issues of changed eligibility regarding Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage that may arise during Open Enrollment.
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Webinars: Monthly Update & Review of Medicare's Compare Sites
On Tuesday, February 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, CMS will host its monthly update webinar, featuring subject matter experts who share information on current topics. Participants can join the visual webinar here, and join the audio portion by calling 1-800-603-1774, conference ID: 43063162.
As part of the Medicare Learning Series, CMS will host a webinar on a Review of Medicare's Compare Sites, including Hospital Compare, Home Health and Dialysis Compare, and Nursing Home Compare. The webinar will take place on Thursday, February 12, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. Participants can join the webinar here. Audio for the webinar will be provided though the speakers of your computer.
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Ruling on Fair Labor Standards Act Home Care Rule
On December 31, 2014, D.C. District Court Judge Richard Leon issued a temporary restraining order to stay the Fair Labor Standards Act Home Care Rule's revised definition of "companionship services." The ruling is a temporary order, lasting until January 15, 2015. This ruling is separate from the Court's December 22nd ruling that vacated the third party exemption portion of the regulation. The Court is holding a hearing today, January 9, regarding a preliminary injunction.
Click here to read the complete DOL press release.
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DOL Announces Members of Disability Employment Advisory Committee
On January 5, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez announced the 17 public members who will serve on the new Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities. As a part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Committee will advise the Secretary of Labor on ways to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities.
Click here to read the complete press release.
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Federal Communications Commission
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FCC Accepting Nominations for Chairman's Accessibility Awards
The Federal Communications Commission is accepting nominations for the 4th Chairman's Awards for Advancement in Accessibility from January 5 - March 5, 2015. The awards recognize innovative products, services, technologies, and practices that advance accessibility of communications or video programming technologies for people with disabilities. Nomination categories include wearable devices, real-time text, and video description.
Nominations may be submitted to ChairmansAAA@fcc.gov no later than March 5, 2015.
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Health and Human Services
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Funding Opportunity: Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Workforce is accepting applications for the FY2015 Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). The funding opportunity aims to establish and operate geriatric education centers that will implement the GWEP project to develop a health care workforce that maximizes patient and family engagement and improves health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care. Special emphasis will be on providing the primary care workforce with the knowledge and skills to care for older adults and on collaborating with community partners to address gaps in health care for older adults through individual, system, community, and population level changes.
The focus areas for this announcement are:
- Transforming clinical training environments to integrated geriatrics and primary care delivery systems to ensure trainees are well prepared to practice in and lead these kinds of systems.
- Developing providers who can assess and address the needs of older adults and their families/caregivers at the individual, community, and population levels.
- Creating and delivering community-based programs that will provide patients, families and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to improve health outcomes and the quality of care for the older adult(s).
- Providing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) education to families, caregivers, direct care workers and health professions students, faculty, and providers.
The application deadline is Thursday, March 5, 2015.
Click here for the full announcement.
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2015 Healthy Aging Summit Call for Abstracts
The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion requests abstracts addressing the science of healthy aging for presentation at the 2015 Healthy Aging Summit, to be hosted July 27-28 in Washington, DC. The goals of the summit are to: 1) explore the science on healthy aging; 2) identify knowledge gaps that need to be filled; 3) promote prevention in improving quality of life in later years; and 4) mobilize action to improve the delivery of care for those aging in place or in transition between care settings. Submissions should address these goals. Presentations that focus on collaboration with diverse partners and have international applications are encouraged.
Click here for more information on the Summit. Submission deadline is Monday, February 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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Commemorative Resolution on Medicare and Medicaid
On January 8, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced a resolution commemorating 50 years since the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid Programs by President Lyndon Johnson. The resolution was cosponsored by 44 members and calls for support of the Medicare and Medicaid programs as a safety net for millions of Americans.
Click here to view the resolution in full.
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AARP Public Policy Institute
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Reports on the Experience of Americans 50-64
A series of new reports by the AARP Public Policy Institute and the Urban Institute assesses the experience of Americans 50-64 in the initial phase of implementing health reform. Based on a survey taken in late 2013 to early 2014, the reports show: strong awareness of new health insurance marketplaces; marketplace use varied widely by income and insurance status; and falling rates of uninsurance, particularly in states that expanded Medicaid. Click here to view the reports and the full findings of the survey. |
Alliance of Information and Referral Systems
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AIRS Releases 2015 Conference Call for Proposals
The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) has released the call for proposals for the 2015 Annual Information and Referral (I&R) Training and Education Conference. Next year's conference is being held in Dallas, Texas with pre-conference intensives on May 27 and the regular conference May 28-30.
AIRS is seeking workshops addressing the breadth of I&R service delivery. The Aging and Disability track provides a valuable opportunity to share developments and effective practices in serving older adults and persons with disabilities with I&R colleagues across the country. This track is coordinated by NASUAD's I&R Support Center, which strongly encourages aging and disability I&R agencies to review the call for proposals and consider a submission. Past topics are listed on the AIRS site here, and the current call for proposals is available here. For ideas on workshop topics, please see these suggestions from conference attendees. Additionally, topics such as elder justice, mental health, aging with a disability, developments in home and community-based services, cross-sector partnerships and collaboration, no wrong door system building, ADRC funding and sustainability, business acumen, and data collection and quality assurance are topics of interest in aging and disability I&R.
The deadline for proposal submissions is February 10, 2015. Send submissions for the Aging and Disability track to Nanette Relave at nrelave@nasuad.org.
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2014 State Adult Guardianship Report
The American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging has released its annual report on state legislation regarding adult guardianship. The 2014 State Adult Guardianship Legislation: Directions of Reform report describes 18 state enactments passed in 15 states during last year.
Click here to view the report.
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National Academy for State Health Policy
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New Learning Collaborative: Request for Applications
The NASHP has announced a new learning collaborative for states developing and implementing programs to integrate primary care, behavioral health, and social services for individuals with chronic medical conditions and comorbidities-- particularly vulnerable, low-income populations. Up to six selected states will receive 18 months of targeted technical assistance tailored to supporting the development and implementation of integration programs. Applications must be submitted by Friday, January 9 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Click here to view the full request and application.
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National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative
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Webinars: Helping People with Disabilities Enroll
The NDNRC is involved in three webinars this month. All three of the webinars will explain how the NDNRC is helping lead efforts to conduct outreach to the disability community to encourage enrollment, and will detail ways participants can get involved in helping people with disabilities get the healthcare coverage they need. On Wednesday, January 14 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, NDNRC will present on a webinar hosted by the United Spinal Association. On Thursday, January 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, the American Association on Health and Disability and NDNRC will host a webinar featuring a representative from the White House Office of Public Engagement on healthcare coverage outreach and enrollment for people with disabilities. On Tuesday, January 20 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET, NDNRC will present on a webinar hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Click on the links included above to register.
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New Population-Specific Fact Sheets
The NDNRC has published "What to Know When Assisting a Consumer with Mental Illness," its newest fact sheet in a series of population-specific fact sheets. The fact sheets are designed to help Navigators identify what issues are unique to consumers with specific conditions so that they can assist them as they make decisions related to their healthcare coverage. Along with the population-specific fact sheets, the NDNRC will add four new topical fact sheets focused on: renewals and redeterminations; moving from coverage-to-care for people with disabilities; meeting the communication needs of specific disability populations; and disability etiquette.
Click here to view a complete list of published and soon-to-be released fact sheets. |
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National Legal Resource Center
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Webinar: Ethical Challenges of Legal Services Working on Elder Abuse Issues
On Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, the National Consumer Law Center will host Ethical Challenges of Legal Services Working on Elder Abuse Issues. As part of the National Elder Rights Training Project Webinar Series, this webinar will examine the critical need to establish clear policies and protocols to guide involvement in elder abuse and exploitation cases and to ensure adherence to professional responsibilities in dealing with ethical challenges while working with elders and their families/third parties in the field. Click here to view details on the webinar. |
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Webinar: Involuntary Transfer and Discharge from Nursing Homes: Prevention, Advocacy, and Appeals
Continuing with the National Elder Rights Training Project Webinar Series, the National Consumer Law Center will host Involuntary Transfer and Discharge from Nursing Homes: Prevention, Advocacy, and Appeals on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. This webinar will discuss strategies and best practices for preventing and advocating for residents facing involuntary discharge from a nursing home. The agenda includes a review of best practices for supporting residents and families, identifying legal support, and appealing discharge notices. Click here to view details on the webinar. |
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Webinar: WIOA & Employing People with Disabilities: Lessons from the Front Lines
On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, RespectAbility will host a webinar, Implementing the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act and the National Governors Association's "Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities"; Lessons from the Front Line. Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Rita Landgraf, will serve as the speaker. Click here to view details on the webinar. |
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2015 National Health Policy Conference
The NHPC brings together experts in health policy who will provide analysis and feedback on the health policy environment and will discuss how changes in government will impact ACA implementation. With input from leading health policy experts, the conference aims enhance your understanding of the current and future health policy landscape. Designed as an in-depth, two day interactive conference, the NHPC will take place February 9-10, 2015 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel. Sessions will address innovations in care delivery and financing, updates on state experiences with Medicaid and the exchanges, and opportunities and challenges for the evolving health care workforce.
Click here to view the full conference agenda and register.
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Alzheimer's Disease Research Summit 2015
The Alzheimer's Disease Research Summit 2015: Path to Treatment and Prevention will be held February 9-10, 2015 at the National Institutes of Health. The central goal of the Summit is to continue the development of an integrated multidisciplinary research agenda necessary to address critical knowledge gaps and accelerate the discovery and delivery of effective treatments for Alzheimer's patients at all stages of disease. Key to achieving this goal is the identification of resources/infrastructure and multi-stakeholder partnerships necessary to successfully implement this research agenda and strategies to empower patients and engage citizens.
Click here to register.
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2015 Aging in America Conference
Next March 23-27, Aging in America, the annual conference of the American Society on Aging, will take place in Chicago and will offer 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 aging service providers, policymakers, social workers, senior center professionals, healthcare providers, caregivers, and anyone with a passion for improving the lives of older adults.
Conference attendees, exhibitors, and presenters will:
- Learn about new and innovative ideas that will help you in your work with older adults;
- Discover practical solutions to the challenges you face on a day-to-day basis;
- Connect with peers and leaders who will transform the way you think about aging;
- Reach a community of professionals who collectively influence the lives of hundreds of thousands of older people through their everyday work.
NASUAD members can save 10% on registration fees by using the discount code NASUAD10 . Register by January 31, and save an additional $50. Click here to register. |
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Public Policy Intern at NASUAD
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), the membership organization of the agencies in state government that manage programs for older people and adults with physical disabilities, seeks a public policy intern.
Responsibilities include analyzing aging and disability data, developing and/or maintaining databases, assisting with project management, and conducting legislative and policy research.
Applicants must have strong data analytic, data management, research and written communication skills. Candidacy for a Master's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration or Public Health is required. Hours are flexible to accommodate classes.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to: cdobson@nasuad.org. NASUAD is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants for employment.
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