Due to Friday the 13th technical difficulties, we were unable to send the update out on Friday. Please excuse the delay!
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NASUAD Publishes Updated State Medicaid Integration Tracker
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) has published the March 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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NASUAD Spring Meeting and MLTSS Symposium Registration Open
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) will host its 2015 Spring Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 22-25. This year's meeting is divided into two parts with one fee that covers the entire event.
The NASUAD membership meeting will take place April 22 and 23. Participants will learn important updates to federal regulations and policies, discuss findings from the first year of the National Core Indicators-Aging and Disabilities consumer survey, and share experiences on how to address the challenges facing states as they deliver high-quality long-term services and supports. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet and discuss issues of concern with federal officials from ACL and CMS; members will participate in setting NASUAD's policy priorities for 2015.
NASUAD will host the Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Symposium on April 24 and 25. Participants will engage in in-depth conversations about key issues in MLTSS and learn more about the valuable opportunities managed care provides for state system development. NASUAD welcomes our partners in the aging and disability community, health plans and their representatives to the rich discussion and learning opportunity the Symposium will provide.
Click here to register and learn more about both events.
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HCBS Conference Call for Sessions Final Week
NASUAD's Call for Sessions for the 2015 National Home and Community Based Services Conference (HCBS) is open for one final week. 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. This year's Conference will be held August 31-September 3, 2015, in Washington, DC. 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 until Friday, March 20. Click here to learn more and submit your session.
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NASUAD Launches Disability Training for I&R Specialists
Over 180 users have successfully completed the new "Disability for I&R Specialists" training module on the NASUAD iQ online learning center. Released just last week, the training module provides participants with an overview of key issues relevant to providing information and referral/assistance (I&R/A) to individuals with disabilities. The training module covers several topics including disability awareness, effective communication, services and trends in service delivery, resources, disability rights and advocacy, and empowerment.
In partnership with the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and n4a, this training module will assist Certified Information & Referral Specialist - Aging (CIRS-A) certificate holders to grandfather to the new Certified Information & Referral Specialist - Aging/Disabilities (CIRS-A/D) credential.
Click here to access this free disability training.
Click here for details on how CIRS-A holders grandfather to the new CIRS-A/D credential.
For information on AIRS Certification, click here.
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Webinar: Education & Training for Older Workers
The National I&R Support Center will host a webinar on Education and Training for Older Workers. This webinar is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Older workers were particularly hard hit by the Great Recession, and even as labor markets have improved for some Americans, many older adults continue to struggle with unemployment, underemployment, age discrimination, and skills gaps. This webinar will address issues facing older workers, explore training and education options and considerations for this population, and highlight trends and innovations that may benefit older workers and older learners. The webinar will share findings from a new report, Improving Education and Training for Older Workers, developed by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, as part of the AARP Future of Work@50+ Initiative. The webinar will be presented by Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director of the Heldrich Center.
No pre-registration is required to participate in the webinar. Information to log into the audio and webinar portions is provided below.
To join the meeting, follow this link: https://join.me/nasuadwebinar
On a computer, use any browser with Flash. Nothing to download. On a phone or tablet, launch the join.me app and enter meeting code: nasuadwebinar
To join the audio conference, dial 888-346-3659, access code 33688#.
Click here to join the I&R Center's distribution list.
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HCBS Clearinghouse E-Clips
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This new section of Friday Update highlights reports that have been added to the HCBS Clearinghouse within the past week. Visit www.nasuad.org/hcbs or www.hcbs.org for more information.
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Research Report on Education & Training for Older Workers
Earlier this month, AARP Public Policy Institute published a report, Improving Education and Training for Older Workers, as part of the Future of Work@50+ Initiative. The report explores issues relating to skills training and education for older workers, including the challenges of deciding whether to enroll in education and training programs, and, if so, how to choose a program and pay for it. The report finds that many older unemployed workers lack the skills that are currently in demand by employers.
Click here to view the full report.
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Federal Plan for Youth Transition
The Federal Partners in Transition, an interagency workgroup, has published a strategy report to ensure that federal programs and resources effectively support American youth and young adults with disabilities in reaching their goals of economic empowerment and independence. The 2020 Federal Youth Transition Plan: A Federal Interagency Strategy identifies five outcome goals to operate across agency boundaries in an effort to enhance coordination and improve compatible policies among the multiple federal programs that support transitioning youth with disabilities and their families.
Click here to view the full report.
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Administration for Community Living
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Older Americans Month Materials Released
ACL has published outreach materials to support communities celebrating Older Americans Month this May. This year's theme, "Get into the Act," honors the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act and emphasizes older adults taking charge of their health and engaging in their communities. The available materials include a poster series, document templates, and an outreach guide with social media samples and event ideas.
Click here to access the materials.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Plans to Evaluate States' Medicaid Demonstration Projects
CMS held an all-state call on Thursday, March 5 about its plans to evaluate specific aspects of States' Medicaid research and demonstration projects (under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act). Mathematica Policy Research will be working over the next five years to evaluate States' work in these four areas:
- Delivery System Reform Incentive Pools
- Mandatory premium assistance to cover adults newly eligible under the Affordable Care Act
- Beneficiary engagement/healthy behavior incentives for adults newly eligible under the Affordable Care Act
- Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
Mathematica will use both key informant interviews as well as CMS-gathered data to deliver rapid-cycle reports as well as final evaluations to CMS. Every six months, Mathematica will release a report (quantitative data as well as an issue brief on topic specific to that evaluation project) for each area; CMS plans to use those reports to share best practices widely among the states as well as inform future CMS 1115 approvals, amendments, and renewals. Mathematica will provide an interim evaluation in 2017 and a final report in 2019.
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HCBS Transition Compliance Review Tool Released
On Tuesday, CMS posted the tool that they will be using to perform compliance reviews on state HCBS Transition Plans. The tool reveals what CMS is requiring in the transition plans, as it is what analysts will be using to review state submissions. Nonetheless, the tool is just one part of the compliance review.
The first part of the tool reviews basic process measures around development of the transition plans. This part also asks for a summary of public comment and whether there were any changes made to the final plan as a result of comments, as well as whether the state disagrees with any public comments. The second part of the tool looks at substantive components of the state transition plan, such as whether the state indicates that provider-owned settings have the characteristics outlined in the HCBS regulations. In addition, the review tool looks at the outcomes of state assessments of provider-specific settings.
Click here to view the tool.
Click here to access more information on the final HCBS regulations.
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Department of Housing & Urban Development
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HUD Awards $150 Million to Section 811 Project Rental Assistance
On Monday, March 2, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award of $150 million in Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) funds to 24 states and the District of Columbia. The Section 811 PRA program assists state housing agencies to expand the supply of integrated permanent supportive housing (PSH) opportunities consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and best practice PSH models, while leveraging mainstream affordable housing, Medicaid, and other community-based supportive service resources for people with the most significant and long term disabilities. The new awards are expected to produce 4,584 housing units. This is over four times the number of housing units produced with FY10 and FY11 funds before Congress passed the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 which reformed the Section 811 program.
Click here to view the HUD press release.
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Medicaid & CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Re-Launch of MACPAC.gov website
This week the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) re-launched its website with a new look and improved navigation. MACPAC's site includes a storehouse of non-partisan, comprehensive Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) analyses and data. Improved search functionality is now available directly from the home page.
Click here to view MACPAC's new site.
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Dental Reform Bill Introduced
On February 25, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced The Dental Reform Act of 2015. In addition to extending comprehensive dental coverage to all Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterna beneficiaries, the bill seeks to increase oral healthcare access by funding oral health services in community settings and increase the number of dental professionals working in underserved communities by providing funding for programs, like the National Health Service Corps. A House version of the bill was introduced by Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD).
Click here to view the Senate bill.
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Webinar: Telling Your Story
Designed to empower individuals with disabilities, this interactive web event will explain how translating emotional events into words can positively impact physical and mental health, relationships, and even financial well-being. Experts from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), WomenHeath, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and the United Spinal Association will discuss the significance of personal stories and the role they serve in healing, advocating, and connecting individuals with disabilities. The webinar will take place on Thursday, March 26 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET.
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Webinar: Health & Health Care Among Older Adults in 11 Countries
This webinar will feature key findings from The Commonwealth Fund's 2014 International Health Policy Survey. The survey compared the views and experiences of people 65 and older on issues of health and health care use, health care costs and access, care coordination, end-of-life planning, and more. The survey was conducted in 11 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The webinar is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.
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Family Support Research & Training Center
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National Dialogue on Family Caregivers Issues
The University of Illinois Family Support Research & Training Center and Easter Seals are holding a virtual town hall through March 30. This national online dialogue encourages participants to talk about what they think is the most important topic in family support and what researchers should focus on over the next several years.
Town hall-style forums are being held in both English and Spanish using IdeaScale or individuals can provide their ideas through a traditional comment form.Click here to engage the dialogue in English.
Click here for additional details on the national project.
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NSCLC Changes Name to Justice in Aging
Earlier this month, the National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) changed its name to Justice in Aging. The name change is part of a larger strategic process aimed at engaging more people and organizations in the mission to fight senior poverty. Justice in Aging asserts that its new name and simpler tagline is easier to say and remember, as well as more reflective of the work they have always done. The name change is accompanied with a redesigned and reorganized website. Justice in Aging has added a blog to the site and launched all new social media channels.
Click here to view the full blog on the name change. |
Seeking Nominations for Aging Innovations & Achievement Awards
The call for nominations is open for n4a's Aging Innovations Awards and Aging Achievements Awards. The awards program recognizes AAAs and Title VI aging programs that exemplify innovation and sound management practices. Nominations are open until Tuesday, March 31 and must be submitted online. Award winners will be showcased at the n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow this July.
Click here to view the 2015 Nominations Process and submit a nomination .
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Webinar: MIPPA: Promising Practices in the Aging Network
On Tuesday, March 17, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET, n4a will host a webinar showcasing successful MIPPA outreach and enrollment tactics for reaching those who could benefit most from Medicare drug (through the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS) and medical assistance (through the Medicare Savings Programs, or MSPs) programs. Area Agency on Aging staff will present some promising practices from the field in getting low-income Medicare beneficiaries into LIS and the MSPs. Representatives from AAAs in Wisconsin and Iowa will be on hand to discuss some of their outreach strategies and answer questions.
Click here to access registration for the webinar .
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National Council on Aging
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Webinar: Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs: Relevance for Persons with Dementia
Currently, people with Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments and their caregivers access a wide range of health and social supports, including Chronic Disease Self -Management Programs (CDSMP) and other evidence-based programs. Hosted by the Center for Healthy Aging at NCOA, this webinar will share the findings of a study of CDSMP trainers about their experiences with these persons in their courses and actions taken in response to study recommendations. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, March 17 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
Click here for details and registration.
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National Resource Center for Nutrition and Aging
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Webinar: Developing a Strategy & Business Model
The National Resource Center for Nutrition and Aging is hosting the final webinar of its four-part series "Positioning Your HCBS Program in the Healthcare Market" on Tuesday, March 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET. The webinar,, will Developing a Strategy and Business Model for Your Organization, will address bundled payment initiatives, market analysis, and strategic planning to expand revenue for community based programs in health care.
Click here for details and registration.
Click here for recordings of the previous webinars in the series.
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Assisted Living Federation of America
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Short Film Competition Celebrating Seniors Open for Submissions
The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is seeking entries for its fifth annual short film competition. The call is for short films, no longer than nine minutes, on ageism. With the long term goal of eliminating ageism in our society, the winning films demonstrate the destructive forces of ageism in society; and/or raise public awareness of how ageism is expressed in direct or subtle ways; and/or demonstrate how individuals can change their attitudes and behavior toward older adults.
The deadline for submissions is March 30. The first prize winner will receive $2,000 and their film will be screened at the annual ALFA Conference & Expo in Tampa, FL.
Click here for submission details and to view last year's winning film. |
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Job & Internship Postings
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Chief Executive Officer for Beatrice State Developmental Center (NE)
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC) is seeking a top-level administrator to serve as the Chief Executive Officer. BSDC provides habilitative services in a home-like environment that prepares clients to live in the least restrictive community settings. BSDC includes a campus of five Intermediate Care Facilities that support 116 people with developmental disabilities, 630 staff, and a budget of $50 million located in a medium-sized community within on-hour of the State's capital city. It also includes State-operated community based services that serve people with significant behavioral challenges.
Applicants should have an advance degree in human services or administration related fields; must be familiar with Federal and State ICF/DD standards; have progressively-responsible managerial experience and experience providing services to persons with developmental disabilities; have management experience working in a facility and qualified as a Qualified Developmental Disability Professional (QDDP). Experience in an ICF/DD facility working with developmental disabilities habilitation services and programs is preferred.
Click here to view the position and application details. |
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NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program Seeking Applicants
The NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program (formerly Summer Institute on Aging Research) is accepting applications for an intensive introduction to aging research. This program for investigators that are new to aging research is focused on the breadth of research supported by the National Institute on Aging, including basic biology, neuroscience, behavioral and social research, geriatrics and clinical gerontology. As an offering through the NIA Office of Special Populations, program content will include a focus on health disparities, research methodologies, and funding opportunities. The Butler-Williams Scholars Program (B-W Scholars) is one of the premier, short-term training opportunities for new investigators. New researchers are defined as those who have recently received the M.D., Ph.D. or other doctoral level degree.
The 2015 B-W Scholars Program will be held July 27-31, 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland. As an offering through the NIA Office of Special Populations, program content will include a focus on health disparities, research methodologies, and funding opportunities. The B-W Scholars Program provides participants with unparalleled access to NIA and NIH staff in an informal setting. The B-W Scholars Program is sponsored by NIA with support from the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence.
Support in most cases is available for travel and living expenses. Applications are due March 27, 2015.
Click here for more information on the program. |
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