New NASUAD Publications Available Online
NASUAD has released several new publications this month. The 2015 State of the States in Aging and Disabilities shows the results of the annual survey, which represent a snapshot of the current status of state government employees, the agencies that administer the programs, and the services that are provided. The Aging in America Infographic depicts the statistics on the increasing needs of Older Americans in the United States and also the lack of funding for these services. The Disability in America Infographic shows an overview of the current statistics pertaining to experiences of individuals with disabilities that are living in the United States. The Celebrating 50 Years with 50+ Fabulous Older People, created in partnership with the Altarum Institute, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act by honoring outstanding older adults who both volunteer for and benefit from the law's programs.
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NASUAD and NFESH Comment on Proposed SNAP Rule
NASUAD and the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH) submitted comments in regards to the Proposed Rule, "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 Purchasing and Delivery Services for the Elderly and Disabled" (RIN: 0584-AE40). NASUAD and NFESH strongly support the goals and objectives of this proposal, as it provides additional options for older adults and people with disabilities to remain in their homes and to receive services and supports in the setting of their choice. Their comments were centered around state flexibility, testing innovative delivery mechanisms, and delivery fee considerations. We appreciate the United States Department of Agriculture's efforts to increase the availability of SNAP-funded groceries in home and community-based settings.
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I&R Center Webinar: 2015 Aging and Disability I&R/A National Survey
The National I&R Center will host a webinar on findings from the 2015 Aging and Disability Information & Referral/Assistance National Survey. This webinar is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m ET.
In 2015, the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), conducted a national survey of I&R/A agencies in the aging and disability networks. This survey gathered data on key topics impacting I&R/A agencies, including referrals and service needs, use of social media, partnerships and system building, standards and quality assurance, training and certification, private pay, and Medicaid services. Presenters are Nanette Relave, National I&R Support Center Director, NASUAD, and Lindsay Baran, Policy Analyst, NCIL.
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#
This event will be captioned in real time here.
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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The Role of State Medicaid Directors
The Milbank Memorial Fund released a new study, the Role of State Medicaid Directors: A Leadership Imperative. This study was authored by Andy Allison, a former Kansas and Arkansas Medicaid Director. The study focuses on the current climate of Medicaid policy, organizations and leadership. There is a specific focus on how the administration is structured for Medicaid in the states and the adequacy of state investments in the role and compensation of these leaders. Medicaid is one of the largest federal programs and effective leadership of the program in each state is crucial.
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| Administration for Community Living |
What is Brain Health? Campaign
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) launched a campaign to promote information about the brain's changes over time and steps to keep the brain sharp. The campaign also offers tips for talking with loved ones and health care practitioners about symptoms if they arise. The Brain Health website is the anchor for this campaign. It houses tips and tools for promoting brain health, educational videos, links to social media, testimonials from real people, and an interactive feature that shows how the brain physically changes with age. Academy Award Winner Marcia Gay Harden also teamed with ACL to create a series of public service announcements to bring awareness to this issue.
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Awardees Chosen for Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs
The Administration for Community Living's (ACL) Administration on Aging (AoA) awarded eight grantees with a two-year grant for chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) programs. These programs provide older adults and adults with disabilities with education and resources to assist them in managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The grant recipients are: Health Foundation of South Florida, AgeOptions, Inc., MAC Incorporated, Mississippi State Department of Health, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc., South Dakota State University, and Community Council of Greater Dallas. ACL aims to reach about 25,000 older adults and adults with disabilities in underserved areas during this round of funding. Since 2010, nearly 250,000 participants have been supported under this grant. These programs are financed by the 2015 Public Health Prevention Fund, made possible by the Affordable Care Act.
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| Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Applications Due for Oral Health Initiative Learning Collaborative
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Oral Health Initiative is seeking applicants for their seven-month learning collaborative to provide state Medicaid agencies with technical assistance to develop and begin implementing oral health Performance Improvement Projects (PIPs). This application is open to state Medicaid programs and/or combined Medicaid/CHIP programs that are ready to develop, or are in the process of developing, an oral health PIP. CMS will select three states to participate in this collaborative. Applications are due this Monday, October 5, 2015.
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New Web Resource to Help Medicare-Eligible Employees
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has released a new web resource to help Medicare-eligible employees understand Medicare and other retirement issues. It is important that individuals that are newly eligible for Medicare understand how and when to enroll, as well as the consequences of not enrolling. This knowledge will help to prevent gaps in insurance coverage or late enrollment penalties. This resource offers information about Medicare enrollment, how healthcare benefits are coordinated, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and Special Enrollment Period (SEP) eligibility. Employers may offer these resources to eligible employees for guidance on these issues.
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| Department of Health and Human Services |
$12 Million Cooperative Agreement to Expand Supportive Services to Holocaust Survivors
About 130,000 victims of Nazi persecution reside in the United States, and about 25% are impoverished. Effective service for this population requires special care to reduce the risk of re-traumatization. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a 5 year, $12 million cooperative agreement to expand supportive services to Holocaust survivors in the United States. This agreement was awarded to the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) for up to $2,467,500 per year, for up to five years. JFNA will contribute a 40% match. The goal is to achieve measurable outcomes in advancing innovations in the delivery of person-centered trauma-informed supportive services and improving the nation's overall capacity to provide services in this way.
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HHS Sponsors Development of Drug for Hospitalized Flu Patients
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is sponsoring the development of an experimental influenza antiviral drug. The ASPR Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will provide technical assistance and funding of up to $103.5 million to Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The existing flu drugs are most effective when taking within 48 hours of developing symptoms. According to research, most individuals are not hospitalized within this period making the drugs less effective. HHS is hopeful that this drug will be more potent and have a longer treatment window than the existing drugs for influenza.
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| Social Security Administration |
New Resources on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has released new fact sheets and a national issue paper on the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Program. The SSDI program provides benefits to millions of workers and their families in every community across America. These State fact sheets contain statistics on the number of people who receive benefits and the average payment amounts. The national issue paper describes the five principles Congress used as a basis for establishing the SSDI program almost 60 years ago.
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| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |
New Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Senior Centers
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new toolkit for senior centers that aims to promote emotional health and prevent suicide. This online resource was developed by the Education Development Center, Inc. for SAMHSA. The toolkit provides many ideas for integrating suicide prevention into the valuable work senior centers already do. It contains: Information, examples and tools to help promote the emotional well-being of all of a center's participants and recognize and respond to people who may be at risk of suicide; ideas for partnering with local mental health providers; fact sheets for older adults and their families; and a list of resource materials and organizations.
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| Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Aging & Long-Term Care |
Wisconsin Sees Reduction in Falls and Improvement in Nutrition for Seniors
The Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care announced the findings from their review of the overall health of Wisconsin, with specific focus on senior health, during a 90 minute hearing on September 9, 2015. Wisconsin's rank in the 2014 America's HealthRankings Senior Report rose from 10th to 7th in the 15th edition due to programs specifically engineered to reduce falls and improve nutrition for seniors. Tom Eckstein, America's HealthRankings; Chris Abbott, Health Plan CEO, UnitedHealthcare Medicaid and Retirement; David Lee, Executive Director, Feeding Wisconsin; and Otis Woods, Administrator for the Division of Quality Assurance, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, each spoke about what contributed to Wisconsin's low prevalence of falls and food insecurity during the hearing.
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| American Association of People with Disabilities |
AAPD Announces New President & CEO
The Board of Directors at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) announced that Helena Berger, the current Acting President & CEO of AAPD will now serve as the full-time President & CEO. Ms. Berger joined AAPD earlier this year as Acting President & CEO during a transitional period. Ms. Berger is very qualified for this position. She received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from American University and attended the University of Copenhagen's Special Studies Program in political and governmental affairs. She has also worked as Advocacy Director for the Easter Paralyzed Veterans Association and was the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of AAPD.
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| American Custom Publishing |
New Fall Prevention Calendar
American Custom Publishing has released a new pocket calendar that helps seniors prevent falls. This health planner aims to promote fall prevention awareness to seniors and includes monthly health tips and special health reference pages that focus on helping seniors prevent falls. The planner meets all of the 2016 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' marketing, communications, and preventive health/wellness guidelines. There is also an option to personalize the front and back covers of the planner with print or a business card holder option.
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| Health Management Associates |
Webinar: Capitalizing on the Fast-Moving World of Digital Health Innovation
Health Management Associates is sponsoring a webinar on capitalizing on the fast-moving world of digital health innovation. This is the 13th volume in the "30 Years, 30 Webinars" series. During this webinar, HMA experts will outline the trends in digital health technology and provide a roadmap for organizations interested in evaluating the strategic opportunities for growth and meeting the challenges of accountable care. The webinar will be presented by Alana Ketchel, Senior Consultant, San Francisco; Donna Leverdiere, Senior Consultant, San Francisco; Don Novo, Principal, San Francisco; Margarita Pereyda, MD, Principal, Southern California; and Heidi Robbins-Brown, Principal, Pacific Northwest. This webinar is suggested for executives of Medicaid, Medicare and commercial health plans, hospitals, health systems, and clinics; regulators and healthcare policy analysts; state officials for public health; vendors of digital health technology. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET.
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| The National Consumer Voice |
Webinar: The Proposed Federal Nursing Home Regulations
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care is sponsoring a webinar on understanding and commenting on the proposed federal nursing home regulations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published proposed federal nursing home regulations in July that will change nursing home care for the future decades. This webinar will help to assist advocates in understanding the proposed changes and participating in the comment process. The webinar will be presented by Eric Carlson, Directing Attorney, Justice in Aging and Robyn Grant, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Consumer Voice. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.
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| National Council on Aging |
Flu + You: Education Materials
Flu season is upon us. Influenza is a contagious illness that poses a serious threat to older adults. The National Council on Aging has developed a flu education program about the seriousness of the flu and the importance of vaccination for prevention. The NCOA website includes flu facts, survey results, flu resources, and flu events happening in the community.
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Applications for National Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities
Applications are now live for the University of Delaware's National Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities. This program is a week long of intensive leadership development activities designed for current executive-level leaders and emerging leaders. Participants will learn the skills needed to succeed in leadership challenges unique to the field of developmental disabilities, manage and sustain person-centered, values-based transformational change, build and sustain positive organizational culture, challenge the status quo, and set and achieve ambitious goals. This class is limited to 30 selected participants and only one person will be accepted from an organization to encourage a participatory experience. The event will take place from Sunday, January 10 to Friday, January 15, 2016 and applications are due by Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
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Supporting Military Caregivers at Work and at Home Conference
Hiring Our Heroes, The Easter Seals Dixon Center, and The Elizabeth Dole Foundation are sponsoring the Supporting Military Caregivers at Work and at Home Conference and Luncheon, with support from AON and The McCormick Foundation. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and this year the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act gives us time to reflect on the promise of equal opportunity. This event will bring awareness to the needs of the Chicagoland caregivers of veterans living with disabilities. The conference will focus on workplace flexibility and community support with a variety of different speakers. The luncheon will feature Senator Elizabeth Dole, a leader in the movement to change the lives of military caregivers. The event is free but registration is required. The conference will take place on Monday, October 19, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CT in Chicago, Illinois.
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American Society on Aging's Annual Aging in America Conference
The American Society on Aging is holding their annual Aging in America Conference. Each year, aging professionals come together to share ideas and knowledge, learn from the experts, gain new perspectives, and get reinvigorated to do great work. This conference features a wide range of issues that affect all professionals in the aging community. The event will feature topics on the current developments in the aging field, integrated care networks, the future of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and much more. Among the prominent keynotes are speakers are: Kathy Greenlee, ACL; Ken Dychtwald, Age Wave; E. Percil Stanford, Folding Voice; Robert Blancato, Blancato & Associates; Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP; Fernando Torres-Gil, UCLA; Yanira Cruz, NHCOA; and Louis Colbert, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Registration opened on October 1, 2015 and attendees will receive a lower rate by registering before October 31, 2015. The conference will take place in Washington DC from Sunday, March 20, 2016, to Thursday, March 24, 2016.
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Long-Term Quality Alliance Summit
The National Alliance for Caregiving is sponsoring the Long-Term Quality Alliance (LTQA) Summit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Summit will feature innovative thinking from long-term services and supports (LTSS) pioneers on providing and financing for person-centered, quality, integrated LTSS. The event will begin with a keynote from Dr. Atul Gawandw, the author of Being Mortal. There will also be presentations by Ari Ne'eman, a leader on disability self-advocacy; Jennifer Ho, HUD; Dr. Julian Harris, Harvard; Larry Gumina, Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services; Melanie Bella, formerly at CMS; and Alice Bonner, MA Elder Affairs Secretary.The Summit will take place on Monday, November 2, 2015.
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NCOA Seeks Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist
The National Council on Aging is seeking applications for the position of Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist in the Policy and Advocacy Department. The Specialist will be responsible for leading NCOA's efforts to analyze and comment on regulatory and administrative access, researching and analyzing regulatory and administrative policy related to health care access, reviewing and commenting on agency initiatives, and serving as a liaison to strengthen relations with key staff. Qualified applicants must have a minimum of an advanced degree and at least 5 years of experience in a high level health care policy related position. All applications must be submitted by October 30, 2015.
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