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Webinar: Medicare Educational Resources
The National I&R Support Center will host a webinar on educational resources on the Medicare program. This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET.
As more Americans attain Medicare eligibility, aging and disability I&R/A agencies are called upon to be a resource on the Medicare program. Join this webinar to learn about the Medicare Made ClearTM campaign and Medicare educational resources that can assist I&R/A agencies and the consumers they serve. Information will be presented by Alyssa Malinski Erickson, Associate Director of Marketing, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare & Retirement.
No pre-registration is required to participate in the webinar. To join the meeting, follow this link: https://join.me/nasuadwebinar. On a computer, use any browser with Flash. There is 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 learn more about the webinar.
Click here to join the I&R Center's distribution list.
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The HCBS Conference Starts with Pre-Conference Intensives--Register Today!
Join us for the National Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Conference held in Washington, DC, August 31-September 3. The Conference begins on August 31st with a full day of intensives, included in the cost of the conference.
The day includes:
- A Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Intensive, focused on the ins and outs and innovations in MLTSS.
- Medicaid 101 Intensive, which will include talks from former state Medicaid Directors to help introduce the details of Medicaid.
- An Intensive on Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation, which will focus on the needs of the victim.
- Intensives for MFP and TEFT grantees, stakeholders and partners to discuss current progress in these programs.
- An Information and Referral Intensive for State and Local I&R/A professionals.
To learn more about the pre-conference intensives, view the tentative agenda here.
The National HCBS Conference will include federal, state, and local policymakers and those who administer, manage, and deliver waiver and other HCBS programs. The Conference always sees a strong presence from U.S. Health and Human Services ranging from the Administration for Community Living including AoA, Office of Disability, and IADD to CMS, HRSA, SAMHSA, Office of Developmental Disabilities, and other federal agencies.
Click here to learn more about the conference and register.
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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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DOL Report on Services for Youth with Disabilities in the Workforce
This report for the Department of Labor examines the workforce system's current efforts to provide assistance to youth with disabilities. The focus of the research is mainly at the local level, coming from practitioners to gain insight on what factors are in need of improvement. Data was obtained through surveys completed by representatives of Local Workforce Investment Boards with specific attention to the practices and policies currently in place.
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Medicaid Enrollment Strategies Brief Released
The UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform and Modernization released a new brief titled "Successful Medicaid Enrollment Strategies to Cover the Uninsured." Many Americans do not have health insurance coverage, and Medicaid enrollment can cover the gap of the uninsured, if successful practices are used. This brief highlights four approaches used in Kentucky and Arkansas to increase enrollment for low-income residents to cut their uninsured populations in half. The solutions in this brief can inform other states on efforts to decrease the number of uninsured people.
Click here to access the brief.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicaid & CHIP: April 2015 Monthly Report
On June 23, 2015, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) published preliminary data on enrollments and eligibility determinations for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for April 2015. The total number of enrollees receiving comprehensive benefits in the two programs currently stands at over 71 million. This includes an additional 12.3 million new beneficiaries since October 2013, which marks the start of open enrollment in the Marketplace. Thirteen of the twenty-eight states that have expanded Medicaid reported data both for April 2015 and for the July-September 2013 period. Those same 13 states witnessed enrollment growth rates of 30 percent or more.
Click here to view the report.
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Medicare and Medicaid Twitter Campaign
In July of 1965, President Johnson enacted legislation that created the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Both programs have been crucial to the health and overall well-being of millions of American families. The CMS Office of Communications is currently doing a 50-day countdown to the 50th Anniversary. To celebrate, they are tweeting facts each day about the programs. Please visit their Twitter feed and retweet these important facts of write some of your own!
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Department of Health & Human Services
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GIS-Based Tool for Health Disaster Readiness Launched
This week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the HHS emPOWER Map, an interactive online tool designed to assist community health agencies and emergency management officials with disaster preparedness. The tool can be used to plan for the emergency needs of the more than 1.6 million Medicare fee-for service beneficiaries nationwide who rely on electrically-powered medical and assistive equipment, including oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and wheelchairs. The HHS emPOWER Map can show the monthly total of Medicare benfieicaries with electricity-dependent equipment claims down to the zip code level alongside real-time severe weather tracking services.
Click here to view the HHS emPOWER Map.
Click here to read the full press release.
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Disability Employment Data
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics published a news release of updated data concerning persons with disabilities. This data comes from the monthly Current Population survey (CPS). The highlights from 2014 indicate statistics such as "persons with a disability were about three times as likely as those with no disability to be age 65 or over."
Click here to view the full article.
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Disability Historical Timeline
The U.S. Department of Labor created a disability historical timeline to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The timeline titled, "Advancing Equal Access to Opportunity," features an engaging presentation of moments related to disability employment from 1920 until the present day.
Click here to view the timeline.
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Regulations Published for Implementation of ABLE Act
The Internal Revenue Service published proposed regulations concerning the implementation of the Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act) of 2014. The proposed regulations are titled Guidance Under Section 529A: Qualified ABLE Programs and were published on June 22, 2015. The regulations address an explanation of provisions, the qualifications of an ABLE program, the standard for disability determination, limits on contributions to the account, and various other issues. Public comments are due by September 21, 2015. A public hearing to address these regulations is scheduled for October 14, 2015.
Click here for the full version of the regulations.
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| Office of Disability Employment Policy |
ODEP Advisory Committee Meeting
The Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities is holding its fourth meeting on July 13-14, 2015 in Washington, DC from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, respectively. The four subcommittees of the Committee will report on their work thus far on the draft chapter for the interim report. There will also be expert panels that will address issues with provider transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment and a panel of providers. Acknowledgement will be given to the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. On July 13 from 2:15 to 3:00 p.m. ET, there will be a public comment period.
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Energy & Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Medicaid Demonstration Projects
On Wednesday, June 24, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing regarding Section 1115 Demonstration Waivers. These waivers allow states to receive federal matching funds from the Department of Health and Human Services for experimental, pilot, or demonstration programs whose costs would not otherwise be covered. The hearing discussed the criteria for receiving a waiver, the programs that waivers fund, the effects on net expenditures, the effects on outcomes, and how the process can be improved. Testimonies were heard from Katherine M. Iritani, Director of Health Care at the Government Accountability Office, Haley Barbour, former Governor of Mississippi, Matt Salo, Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, and Joan Alker, Executive Director of Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. These witnesses discussed the history of waivers, provided information on current challenges, and offered suggestions for improvements
Click here to watch the hearing and/or read the accompanying materials.
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Subcommittee Approves FY2016 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill
On Tuesday, a Senate appropriations subcommittee approved the FY2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The bill funds a number of health, education, and workforce training and development priorities at a cost of over $153 billion. The bill supports additional funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant program and for Title I. In addition, the measure increases funding for the National Institutes of Health, Community Health Centers, and Head Start. The bill falls $14.5 billion short of the President's budget request and $3.6 billion below the FY2015 level. The bill will now go before the full committee for approval.
Click here for additional details on the appropriations bill.
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Webinar: Care Coordination in Managed Long Term Services and Supports
The field faces rapid changes as many states move to expand Medicaid managed care and managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS), including work in care coordination. This webinar on Wednesday, July 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, will provide detailed information on the who, what, and why of care coordinators. In the webinar, the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) will release a major study by Truven Health Analytics and discuss its findings.
Click here to access registration and details on the webinar.
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Alliance for Aging Research
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22nd Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner
The Alliance for Aging Research is holding its 22nd Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner in Washington, DC, at the Willard InterContinental Hotel. The dinner will take place on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, with the reception beginning at 6:00 p.m. and dinner and awards at 7:00 p.m. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire) will be awarded the 2015 Distinguished Public Service Award, and Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD, will receive the 2015 Silver Innovator Award.
Click here to purchase tickets for the Awards Dinner.
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American Academy of Nursing
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2015 Policy Conference: Abstracts Due
The American Academy of Nursing has extended the deadline for abstract submissions to the 2015 Transforming Health, Driving Policy Conference until today, Friday, June 26. Abstracts should be specific to the advancement of health policy. Quality improvement projects, evidence based practice projects, and abstracts that demonstrate nursing contributions to health policy are all encouraged to submit. The Conference will be held October 14-17, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Click here to view details and submit an abstract.
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Webinar: Delivering Your Message: Utilizing Both Traditional Approaches & Social Media
As part of the Consumers for Quality Care, No Matter Where initiative, the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care is conducting a series of free advocacy skills training webinars throughout the year. This webinar on Tuesday, June 30 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET will be the third webinar in the four-part series. During this webinar participants will learn how to communicate a message effectively using traditional methods, such as phone, email, and letters to the editor, as well as social media approaches, including Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to view details and register.
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| Disability and Aging Collaborative |
Webinar: Changing Nature of Family Caregiving
The Disability and Aging Collaborative is hosting a webinar on the findings from three recent studies on family caregiving. The webinar will be hosted on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET. A recent study done by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP shows an update on the profile of family caregivers in the U.S. A study by the Community Living Policy Center provides the patterns of family caregiving over the past ten years and a study by the Easter Seals, with support from MassMutual Financial Group highlights Millennial and Generation X caregivers and individuals who have not had to assume this position.
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Mathematica Policy Research
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Disability Research Consortium Annual Meeting
The Disability Research Consortium's (DRC) Annual Meeting will be held in Washington, DC, August 5-6, 2015. Registration is now open, and will close on July 23 or when space is filled. The 2015 Conference will include access to the latest research findings, speakers from state and federal programs, and general information to improve the national disability support system. Additionally, there is a webcast registration option to virtually attend the meeting.
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National Academy of Social Insurance
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Demystifying Social Security Summer Academy
The National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) is hosting its popular Summer Academy series, consisting of two free, day-long sessions on Social Security and Medicare. The sessions feature leading speakers in the field as well as interactive exercises. Demystifying Social Security is the first of the Summer Academy sessions and will be held on Wednesday, July 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET at the Kaiser Family Foundation's Barbara Jordan Conference Center. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. The second session, Demystifying Medicare, will take place on Friday, July 24, also at the Barbara Jordan Conference Center.
Click here to view event details and access registration.
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National Council on Aging
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Free Journal Volume on Evidence Based Programs
The National Council on Aging, in collaboration with researchers at Texas A&M and the University of Georgia, developed a journal volume specific to evidence based programs for aging populations at the state and national level. The journal includes 25 commentaries and 25 full-length articles. The authors aim to inform policymakers and improve efficacy of current policies.
Click here to view the full volume and eBook free of charge.
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National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging
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Funding Opportunity: Building Business Capacity of Senior Nutrition Programs
Eight competitive mini-grants of $10,000 each are being offered to Senior Nutrition Programs to better prepare them for entering into healthcare contracts. The funding and technical assistance opportunity is designed to strengthen the business acumen and align service capabilities for programs to negotiate, either directly or as a part of a bundle of community-based services, healthcare contracts. Eligible applicants are Senior Nutrition Programs that currently receive funding from the Older Americans Act for Title III Part C - Nutrition Services or Title VI Grants for Native Americans to provide meals and other nutrition services to older adults in the community. Applications are due by Tuesday, June 30 and can be submitted through the Meals on Wheels America online grant system.
Click here for more details on eligibility and the funding.
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2015 Annual Conference on Independent Living
The National Council on Independent Living's Annual conference will be held in Washington, DC July 27-30, 2015. This year will specifically focus on the ADA Generation, or the generation of youth advocates with disabilities and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ADA. There will be several different workshop tracks with focuses like Statewide Independent Living Councils, youth, Independent Living Administration, and orientation for new attendees.
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Healthy Aging Summit
The American College of Preventative Medicine will be holding a Healthy Aging Summit in Washington, DC, from July 27-28. Registration is now open until Monday, July 13. The Social and Community Context track focuses on how social support and engagement affect quality of life and healthy aging. It will include speakers from the federal government, academics, researchers, non-profit workers and individuals from the health care field.
Click here to view registration and event details.
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2015 Consumer Voice Annual Conference- Proposals Due
The Consumer Voice Annual Conference will be held in Washington, DC, November 4-7, 2015. Session proposals for the conference are due today, Friday, June 26. Registration is now open, and those who register before July 10 will receive a discount.The 2015 Conference offers attendees policy updates from key experts, information on best practices nationwide, and takeaways to help put systems or individual advocacy into effective action.
Click here to access the proposal form.
Click here to view registration and conference details.
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Job & Internship Postings
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Disability Policy Engagement Directors
Anthem, Inc. is seeking applicants for two positions of Disability Policy Engagement Director. One director is responsible for supporting the execution of an advocacy strategy for people with disabilities with a specific focus on individuals with mental health and substance use conditions and individuals in foster care. The second director position is focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those in foster care. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any related field and 8 years of advocacy, community based, legislative, regulatory, political, public affairs, or industry experience. Candidates must be willing to travel 50% of the time. The application period will close on July 14, 2015.
Click here to access the job postings.
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Health Policy Analyst, Manager, or Health Policy Director
Anthem, Inc. is seeking applicants for the position of Health Policy Analyst, Manager or Director. The position responsibilities concern monitoring activities in the health policy field and vary according to the level of position. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any related field and varying levels of experience depending on the position. The application period will close on July 14, 2015.
Click here to view the full posting.
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Staff VP Product Management, LTSS
The Medicaid Business Unit of Anthem's Government Business Division is seeking applicants for the position of Staff VP Product Management. The Staff VP Product Management will be responsible for building a product specific team from scratch, improving and assessing product business strategy and program development, and other duties. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field and at least 10 years of experience in the healthcare sector. The application period will close on July 14, 2015.
Click here to view the full posting.
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Center for Healthy Aging at NCOA Seeks Senior Program Manager
The NCOA Center for Healthy Aging is seeking applicants for the position of Senior Program Manager. The Senior Program Manager, in collaboration with ACL/AoA and the Center Team, will be responsible for providing technical assistance, support, and nurturance to state leads and community partners. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of a Master's degree in any related field and three to five years of experience with evidence-based program implementation and partnership building. The application period will close on July 8, 2015.
Click here to view the full posting.
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New Mexico APS Director
The New Mexico State Personnel Office is seeking applicants for the position of Adult Protective Services Director. The APS director is responsible for the direction and administration of statewide, day to day APS operations in 21 field offices. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of a Master's degree in any field and eight years of professional level experience. The application period will close on June 29, 2015.
Click here to view the full posting.
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AAPD Seeks President & CEO
AAPD is seeking applicants for the position of President and CEO of the non-profit organization. The AAPD CEO, with direction from the board of directors, is responsible for advancing the AAPD mission of promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of five years experience in management, fundraising, and fiscal oversight.
Click here to view the full posting.
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