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NASUAD Publishes Updated State Medicaid Integration Tracker
NASUAD has published the April 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: Financial Security for Older Adults
The National I&R Support Center will host a webinar on resources for financial security for older adults. This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET.
A recent survey of aging and disability I&R/A agencies found that "financial assistance" is both a frequent service request and a significant unmet need, suggesting the prevalence of financial need among those seeking I&R/A assistance and the challenges to providing information and referral to meet these needs. This webinar will identify issues related to financial need in older adulthood and share information on resources that specialists can use when working with older adults. Learn about the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) and the National Resource Center on Women and Retirement Planning, a center that WISER operates in partnership with the Administration on Aging. Information will be presented by Lara Hinz, Director of Programs, WISER.
No pre-registration is required to participate in the webinar.
To join the meeting, go to 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 section of Friday Update highlights reports that have been added to the HCBS Clearinghouse within the past week. Visit www.nasuad.org/hcbs for more information.
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Money Follows the Person 2013 Annual Evaluation Report ReleasedMathematica Policy Research has published its fifth report in a series of annual reports from the national evaluation of the MFP rebalancing demonstration. The report presents three sets of analyses that show the overall progress and effects of the MFP demonstration: 1) progress made by grantees on their statutory transition and expenditure goals; 2) the extent to which states are rebalancing their LTSS systems; and 3) changes in expenditures patterns and utilization of select services following an individual's transition from institutional to community-based LTSS.
Click here to access the report.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Proposed Federal Funding Extension for Medicaid Eligibility SystemsOn April 14, CMS put on the Federal Register a proposed rule that will indefinitely extend access to enhanced federal financial participation for Medicaid eligibility and enrollment systems past the current regulatory deadline of December 31, 2015. This additional time and funding will allow the states to complete fully modernized systems and will support the dynamics of national Medicaid eligibility and enrollment, and delivery system needs. Public comments are due on the proposed rule by June 15, 2015.
Click here to view the proposed rule.
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Enrollment Reports through Medicaid Budget and Expenditure SystemCMS released the second quarterly report of Medicaid enrollment data that all states have been reporting through the Medicaid Budget and Expenditure System (MBES). The enrollment information is a state-reported count of unduplicated individuals enrolled in the state's Medicaid program at any time during each month in the quarterly reporting period. The enrollment data identifies the total number of Medicaid enrollees, and for states that have expanded Medicaid, provides specific counts for the number of individuals enrolled in the new adult eligibility group, also referred to as the "VIII Group."
The report release includes data from April 1-September 30, 2014, on the following areas for each state: total Medicaid enrollees; total VIII Group enrollees; total VIII Group newly eligible enrollees; and total VIII Group not newly eligible enrollees.
Click here to access the reports.
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Funding Opportunity Announced for Navigators in Federally-Facilitated Marketplaces
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the availability of funding to support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Marketplaces (FFM), including State Partnership Marketplaces. Grantees will be selected for a three year project period, and a total of up to $67 million is available for the first year of the award. The funding opportunity announcement is open to eligible individuals, as well as private and public entities, applying to serve as Navigators in states with a FFM. It is open to new and returning HHS Navigator grant applicants, and applications are due by June 15, 2015.
The 2015 Funding Opportunity Announcement expands the project period from 12 months to 36 months. The multi-year grant award will be funded in 12-month increments and continued funding will be contingent on the grantee continuing to meet all Navigator program requirements and on funding availability. This change is designed to provide greater consistency for Navigator grantee organizations and their staff from year to year, reducing yearly start up time and providing for a more efficient use of grant funds. Navigator grant applicants should describe how they intend to assist consumers who are uninsured or underinsured and consumers who are likely to be eligible for or enrolled in coverage through a Marketplace. Applicants should also describe how they plan to assist persons seeking to re-enroll in coverage through a Marketplace and provide post-enrollment assistance.
Click here for more information.
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Disability Employment Initiative Grant Opportunity
On April 13, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of $15 million for the sixth round of Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) grants. Grants will be awarded to state workforce agencies to develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in federally funded education and training programs. DEI is a joint program of the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
Since 2010, the department has awarded grants worth more than $95 million through the DEI to 37 state workforce agencies in 26 states to improve education, training, and employment outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities. The funds are used to refine and expand workforce strategies proven to be successful, and enhance inclusive service delivery through the public workforce system. Improvements include: increasing the accessibility of American Job Centers; training front-line AJC and partner staff; and increasing partnerships and collaboration across numerous systems that are critical for assisting youth and adults with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.
Click here for more information.
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White House Conference on Aging
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Healthy Aging Policy Brief Released
Last Friday, the White House Conference on Aging released a policy brief on healthy aging, a key focus area for the 2015 Conference. The brief examines how Americans can enjoy long and healthy lives by maximizing their physical, mental, and social well-being. Members of the public are encouraged to share their thoughts in the comments section of the brief online. Additional briefs will be released in the coming weeks on key topics including long-term services and supports, elder justice, and retirement security.
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Senate Passes Bill to Fix Medicare's Doctors Payments
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a $214 billion bipartisan measure that permanently rewrites how Medicare pays doctors. The current reimbursement schedule will now be replaced with payment increases for doctors for the next five years as Medicare transitions to a new system. Current payment incentive programs will be combined into a new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. The Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill, 92 to 8, following the House's vote of 392 to 37 three weeks ago.
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Webinar: Challenges of Rural Caregivers
Caregivers are a core part of America's health care system; 5.5 million Americans support current or former Service members with a disabling injury or illness. In rural communities, caregivers face unique challenges in caring for their Veterans, from the often complicated medical and mental conditions of their charges to receiving limited support from all corners of society. This webinar will cover the challenges rural caregivers face, offer a firsthand perspective, and review available resources, both military-related and general. The webinar will be held on Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. ET and will be led by Hilda R. Heady, MSW, ACSW, a widely-respected expert and advocate for rural health, particularly for Veterans. This webinar is the latest in the series from the Easter Seals Dixon Center's "Military Caregiver Webinar Series."
Click here to view more details and register.
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Event: Medicaid at 50: A Look Back and Ahead
On Wednesday, May 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) will hold a public event in its Washington, D.C. offices to reflect on the lessons of the first 50 years of Medicaid and to consider what is ahead for the program and the people it serves. At the event, KFF will release a new report on Medicaid at 50 from the Foundation's Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU). KFF will also host two panel discussions involving Foundation researchers and other distinguished experts.
One panel discussion, on Medicaid's role for people across the nation, will trace Medicaid's evolution and examine the program's impact on the uninsured and on racial disparities in health coverage and care, as well as its role as a source of coverage for low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities. A second panel will look at Medicaid's role in the health care system, with a focus on Medicaid's coverage of health and long-term services and supports. Both panels will address the program's role today and key policy debates, opportunities and challenges ahead.
Click here to view more details and access registration.
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Mathematica Policy Research
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Webinar & Event: Improving Employment Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities
Youth with disabilities face distinct challenges in transitioning to work and economic self-sufficiency. To help them overcome these challenges, the Social Security Administration sponsored the Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) from 2003 to 2012. Interventions to help youth with disabilities navigate the transition to work, including employment and education counseling, job placement services, and financial planning, were developed and tested. The demonstration also included financial incentives to encourage employment among young people who were receiving disability benefits.
Mathematica evaluated the implementation and impacts of six of the demonstration projects. In an event and webinar on Tuesday, May 12 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, speakers will discuss: three-year follow-up data on the six YTD projects and their impacts on youth employment, earnings, and other outcomes; the Broadened Horizons, Brighter Futures project in Miami-Dade County, which improved more outcomes for youth than any of the other five evaluated projects did; and an analysis of the effect of early work experience on later paid employment for youth ages 18 to 20 who have disabilities.
Click here to view more details and register.
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National Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center
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Webinar: Behavioral Symptom Management Training for Family Caregivers
This Technical Assistance (TA) webinar will provide participants with information on behavioral symptom management training for family caregivers of people with dementia and how one program was implemented into the community. Linda Teri, PhD, will speak about the importance about behavioral symptom management training and the ABC approach for addressing behavioral symptoms. Jennifer Mead, MPH, will speak about the implementation of the ABC approach into the STAR-C program in Oregon and practical considerations when implementing this type of program. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, April 23 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Click here to view the details.
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National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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New Executive Director Announced
The NASMHPD Board has announced that Brian M. Hepburn, M.D. will be taking over as Executive Director for the organization, effective July 1, 2015. Previously, Dr. Hepburn has served as the Executive Director for the Behavioral Health Administration for the state of Maryland and served as an officer on the NASMHPD Board, as well as on the NASMHPD Research Institute, Inc. Board of Directors and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Advisory Board.
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National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
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Webinar: Delivering Your Message in Person: Meeting with a Key Decision Maker
As part of the Consumer Voice initiative Consumers for Quality Care, No Matter Where, this is the second in a series of four webinars on advocacy skills training. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. The session will include information on deciding who to meet with, assembling people, meeting preparation, how to conduct meetings, and the follow up.
Click here for more details and registration for the webinar.
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National Council on Aging
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Asset Alignment between LIS & MSPs Tip Sheet
A new tip sheet from NCOA details the alignment of federal and state asset tests for Low-Income Subsidy/Extra Help (LIS) and the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). The tip sheet outlines the way burial allowances are considered and includes a chart that shows the 2015 minimum asset tests and a $1,500 asset disregard per beneficiary applied to LIS.
Click here to view the tip sheet.
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Webinar: Strong Brains, Sharp Minds, Part II
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) will be hosting Part II of its Strong Brains, Strong Minds webinar on Thursday, May 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET. The webinar will detail the latest brain science to the process of developing inexpensive, community-based brain health programs for seniors and caregivers.
Click here to access details and register for the webinar.
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Webinar: WIOA Implementation: Employment First Planning Tool
On Wednesday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. ET, RespectAbility will host a webinar detailing how to create a "Unified State Plan," as required by WIOA, and how best to expand employment for people with disabilities. Speakers include Donna Meltzer of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi of RespectAbility.
Click here to access details.
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National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
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Healthy LGBT Aging Photo Winners
Winners of the 2015 Healthy LGBT Aging Photo Contest have been selected. The contest was focused on receiving photos of older LGBT adults living a healthy and active life.The contest was held in early 2015 and run by SAGE's National Resource Center on LGBT Aging and the National Council on Aging's National Institute of Senior Centers.
Click here to view the winning photos and essays.
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Job & Internship Postings
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Program Director for Medicare/Medicaid Dual Eligibles
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is seeking an experienced individual to join the Health System Performance team to conduct qualitative evaluations of the state demonstrations to integrate care for Medicare-Medicaid enrollees. The Program Director is responsible for leading the qualitative evaluation of demonstrations in several states designed to integrate care for dual eligibles. The Program Director also may have responsibility for program development and management in other areas of state health policy.
Click here to view the full posting.
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Directing Attorney, Health Team
Justice in Aging seeks a strategic, dynamic attorney to join its Washington, D.C. office. The successful candidate will help lead our strong, respected, and effective health team. S/he will work with our team to develop and implement new projects and initiatives that improve access to health care and long term services and supports for low-income older adults across the country. In addition to leading the health team, the Directing Attorney will work closely with the Executive Director, Communications Director, and Development Director.
Click here to access the complete posting.
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Advocacy & Communications Associate
An Advocacy and Communications Associate position is available with RespectAbility, a non-profit organization that enables people with disabilities. The position will report to the organization's CEO and will be responsible for developing and implementing social media, web content, articles, and presentation materials. The position is located in Bethesda, MD, and is open until filled.
Click here for the full posting.
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Senior Program/Policy Analyst
New Editions Consulting is looking for a Senior Program/Policy Analyst to join their Virginia office. Responsibilities of the position include providing technical assistance to states on CMS programs and policies. Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to HR@neweditions.net by May 31.
Click here for the full posting.
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