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NASUAD in Alaska
Camille Dobson, NASUAD Deputy Executive Director, spent three days this week providing technical assistance to the State of Alaska, at the invitation of Duane Mayes, NASUAD Board member. While in Anchorage, Camille participated as a national expert in a two-day planning summit redesigning the state's HCBS case management program to comply with new HCBS regulations requiring conflict-free case management. She also met with the State's new Medicaid expansion director, advising the State on the key steps they need to take to expedite CMS review and approval of the State's expansion plan, based on her CMS experience. NASUAD remains ready to provide similar intensive TA to any of our members.
 | NASUAD Deputy Executive Director Camille Dobson with Duane Mayes, Director of the Alaska Division of Senior & Disabilities Services and NASUAD Board Member
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HCBS Conference Call for Sessions Opens January 20th
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is announcing the Call for Sessions for the 2015 National Home and Community Based Services Conference (HCBS), August 31-September 3, 2015 in Washington, DC. The conference offers a unique blend of policy, program and practice issues for professionals interested in home and community based services for individuals of all abilities and in all settings.Proposals are currently being accepted for one hour workshops.
The HCBS Conference is quickly becoming the "go-to" conference for learning in the expanding field of home and community based services. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this important conference.
Presenting provides an unparalleled opportunity to share new ideas or highlight noteworthy projects, research, and practices with your peers and other professionals.
The Call for Sessions for the 2015 HCBS Conference will be open from January 20th - March 20th.
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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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Got an Hour? Campaign Conference Call Recording Available
The Got an Hour? Campaign was developed through the Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative to help local agencies throughout the country attract volunteers to programs that work with seniors. The Got an Hour? Campaign is designed to help local agencies attract volunteers to programs that work with seniors. The Got an Hour? Campaign offers downloadable materials, Postcards, and Radio ad, 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 hosted a webinar earlier this month to explain more about the campaign and the tools and products the website offers.
Click here to download the audio from the webinar.
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*The NASUAD office will be updating our server from Friday, January 30 at 5 p.m. ET until Monday, February 2. NASUAD staff will not have access to phones or email during that time.
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Federal Judge Issues Ruling on FLSA Regulation
On Wednesday, January 14, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling that vacated a portion of the Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act Homecare regulation. The ruling dealt with a portion of the regulation that changed the definition of "companionship services" for purposes of an FLSA exemption. The January 14th ruling followed a separate ruling from December 22nd, where Judge Leon vacated a separate part of the rule that dealt with third party employers and their ability to claim a FLSA exemption. Combined, the two rulings vacate the Homecare regulation in entirety. The Department of Labor issued a statement indicating that it disagrees with the decisions and is considering all legal options.
Click here to read the Department's statement.
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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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Government Accountability Office
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Report on Disability Advocacy Services Released
The GAO has released a report examining Supplemental Security Income/Disability Insurance (SSI/DI) advocacy practices across states. The report, Social Security Disability Benefits: Agency could Improve Oversight of Representatives Providing Disability Advocacy Services, highlights SSI/DI advocacy approaches in Minnesota, Hawaii, and New York, and also provides recommendations for improved oversight by the Social Security Administration.
Click here to access the full report.
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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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White House Conference on Aging
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Regional Forums Announced
The 2015 White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) has announced a series of regional forums aimed to facilitate input from older Americans, families, caregivers, advocates, and experts. The first forum will take place in Tampa, FL on February 19. Additional forums will follow in Phoenix, AZ on March 31; Seattle, WA on April 9; Cleveland, OH on April 27; and Boston, MA on May 28.
Click here to read the complete blog announcement.
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Older Americans Act Reauthorization Package to Be Introduced
The Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee intends to introduce the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 on Tuesday, January 20. The proposed bill is similar to the one from last Congress, with two changes:
- Includes a compromise to address Title III grants formula
- Removes a since-completed GAO report on transportation.
Changes to Ombudsman provisions, abuse prevention, ADRCs, and other policy items will reflect prior OAA reauthorization packages.
Click here for the bill summary.
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APS Report on Cost of Financial Exploitation Released
The Wyoming Department of Family Services has released the state's first Adult Protection Services report, The Wyoming Cost of Financial Exploitation 2011, 2012 and 2013. The report aims to determine the cost of financial abuse of vulnerable adults on state systems. The study reviews 32 cases across the three-year span and provides a comparative analysis of the financial losses to both Medicaid and the victimized seniors across the years.
Click here for access to the full report.
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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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ABLE Act Infographic
Allsup Inc. has released an infographic that desribes who is eligible for the ABLE Act and how the Act can impact financial planning. Signed into law last month, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act allows individuals with disabilities to establish tax-deferred savings accounts.
Click here to view the infographic.
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Web Briefing on State Survey of Medicaid & CHIP
On Tuesday, January 20 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, the Kaiser Family Foundation will host a web briefing on its forthcoming 13th annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, renewal, and cost-sharing policies. The survey will outline where states stand as of January 2015, one year into the implementation of the major Medicaid provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new survey report, Modern Era Medicaid: Findings from a 50-State Survey of Eligibility, Enrollment, Renewal, and Cost-Sharing Policies in Medicaid and CHIP as of January 2015, will be made publicly available at kff.org the day of the briefing.
Click here for additional details.
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National Council on Aging
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Webinar: Benefits University
NCOA's Center for Benefits Access will host a webinar addressing terminology of benefits applications. The webinar, Benefits University: Understanding the "Terms of Art" of Applications, will take place on Wednesday, January 28, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. The webinar is primarily intended for new counselors, but anyone is welcome to participate.
Click here to view details and register.
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National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative
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Webinar: Helping People with Disabilities Enroll
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). The webinar will detail how the NDNRC is helping lead efforts to conduct outreach to the disability community to encourage enrollment, and will address ways participants can get involved in helping people with disabilities get the healthcare coverage they need.
Click here for details and a link to register.
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National Legal Resource Center
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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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National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services
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Webinar: What's Next for Home Care Rule
On Wednesday, January 14, Judge Richard Leon of the DC District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in Home Care Association v. Weil, vacating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Home Care Rule. The Department of Labor (DOL) is expected to appeal the ruling. The National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS) will host a webinar on Wednesday January 21 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the ruling and an analysis of its impact. NRCPDS experts will discuss what this ruling means for your organization now, DOL's opportunities for appeal, and possible future outcomes of Home Care Rule litigation and how they could affect stakeholders in self direction. Click here to view details on the webinar and register. |
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National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging
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Webinar Series: Positioning Your HCBS Organization in the Healthcare Market
The National Center on Nutrition and Aging will host a four-part webinar series on Positioning Your HCBS Organization in the Healthcare Market. The free webinars will be led by Timothy McNeil, RN, MPH, an independent healthcare consultant with a specialty in health program sustainability. Over the course of the series, participants will recieve an overview of the healthcare landscape and current initiatives; learn key terms and partnership opportunities; and be shown how to access current local initiatives and the role they play in the market. Part 1 of the series will be held on Tuesday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Part 2 will follow on Thursday, January 22 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Webinars parts 3 and 4 will be held in late February. Click here to view details on webinar Part 1. Click here to view details on webinar Part 2. |
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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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Statistician with DC Office on Aging
The DC Office on Aging (DCOA) is looking for a full time statistician/program evaluator. Responsibilities include preparing analytical reports using SAS and/or SPSS; serving as DCOA's liaison to the public, private providers, and government officials; and conducting program evaluation for various components of the DCOA. Applicants should be knowledgeable of data management methods and possess a bachelor's degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics or a related science discipline. The job posting will close Wednesday, January 21.
Click here to view the full job description.
Click here to apply.
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Summer Internship Program at AAPD
The AAPD Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience to help advance your career goals. AAPD places students and recent graduates with all types of disabilities in paid 10-week summer internships in Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations. At the beginning of the summer, interns participate in a 1-week orientation session to learn about AAPD as well as the disability rights movement, meet the other interns, and participate in a variety of engaging workshops and events. Interns will receive a stipend, mentor matching, and additional resources during the summer. Candidates interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and veterans with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
Any college student (degree and non-degree seeking), graduate student, law student, recent graduate (within one year) and veteran who self-identifies as an individual with any type of disability is invited to apply. Applicants will not be required to disclose a specific disability; however, the application for this program will signify that the applicant considers him/herself a person with a disability.
Internship program details are available here. Applications should be emailed to internship@aapd.com. Applications are due by Friday, February 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
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