October 30, 2015
In This Issue
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From NASUAD  
I&R Center Webinar Recap: Minnesota No Wrong Door Model
The National I&R Center hosted a webinar on the Minnesota experience with building a No Wrong Door system from the bottom up. The webinar provided attendees with an advanced look into Minnesota's no wrong door approach to its aging and disability resource centers. Since 2003, the network has grown to 1500 users and 300 agencies that use a multimedia presence tool called Revation LinkLive�. The webinar taught listeners about the process behind building a network, methods to engage new partners, and the innovation which has allowed the Senior LinkAge Line� to grow to handling over 265,000 contacts annually from seniors and caregivers. The webinar described the ways a no wrong door system can effectively use technology and shared the innovations used in the Minnesota model. Presenters were Krista Boston, Director, Consumer Assistance Programs, Minnesota Board on Aging, and Elissa Schley, Management Analyst Lead, Minnesota Board on Aging. This presentation was previously given at the 2015 AIRS conference. 

Click here to view the presentation and access the audio recording. 
Click here to join the I&R Center's distribution list. 

Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging & Disabilities Call for Sessions- Deadline Fast Approaching! 
The Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging & Disabilities in May 2016 will shine a regional and national spotlight on the actions the aging and disability community is taking to meet the current challenges and embrace new opportunities. Presenting at the Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging and Disabilities provides you with opportunity to share new ideas or highlight noteworthy programs and practices with other professionals in the field. 

Do you have a new program you think your colleagues from across the nation could learn from? Are you delivering services in a noteworthy way? The Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging and Disabilities is looking for you.

Presenters include everyone from professionals who work in the field of aging and disabilities to practitioners in allied professions such as social work, healthcare, architecture, law, finance and more. The conference welcomes all interested presenters to submit proposals, particularly encouraging those showcasing replicable systems and models attendees can use to address common challenges. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, November 9, 2105.

Click here to submit a session.
HCBS Clearinghouse E-Clips
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.
The Role of Medicaid for People with Dementia 
The Kaiser Family Foundation published an issue brief of the role of Medicaid for people living with dementia. Individuals with dementia generally require a multitude of medical and behavioral health services, which can be very costly. Medicare covers some services for this population but there are gaps where Medicaid may need to fill in for payment of long term services and supports (LTSS) for low-income individuals. This brief includes a fact sheet that explains the role of Medicaid for people with dementia that live in the community. 

 
Click here to access the report and findings.
Medicaid & CHIP: August 2015 Monthly Enrollment Report
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for August 2015 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility, and enrollment data. States provides data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly. Data collection for this project began in October 2013. A key highlight showed that enrollment reached 72.4 million people for Medicaid and CHIP in August 2015. 

 
Click here to access the report and findings.
From the Administration
Administration for Community Living 
The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities Publishes 2015 Report to President  
On Monday, the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) published the 2015 version of their annual report to the President. Technology is the Committee's chosen focus for this year. The report, titled Leveling the Playing Field: Improving Technology Access and Design for People with Intellectual Disabilities, reviews the important role of technology in providing people with intellectual disabilities (ID) greater accessibility and control over their lives. The Committee sought to advance the goals of improving the accessibility of technology by increasing research and providing incentives to promote development in this area, strengthening the policies to ensure people with ID have access to necessary technology, and increasing the access, quality, and affordability of technology. Recommendations for federal policy are included in the report to inform the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on this issue. 

Click here to view the report.
Click here to view the letter to the president. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicaid Access to Services Final Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that codifies policies regarding Medicaid agency responsibilities to demonstrate and monitor access to care.  The final rule is based on a proposed rule that was first published in 2011, which implements section 1902(a)(30)(A) of the Social Security Act. This provision requires that Medicaid State Plans must establish payment rates that ensure efficiency, economy, and quality of care. This section of the act also requires that rates are sufficient to enlist sufficient providers so that access is equitable to the "general population in the geographic area." The regulation focuses on the portion of the law that requires equitable access. CMS refers to this as the "access requirement," which is a significant part of the law that has not previously been codified in regulation.
 
The regulation requires states to develop an access monitoring plan to ensure sufficient access to specific state-plan services.  The plan must include several specific points of analysis, both by service as well as by the setting of the service. The access monitoring plan must be developed by July 1, 2016, and updated every subsequent July 1.  The plan must demonstrate how the state will monitor sufficient access to a core set of services initially, and review access to these services no less than every 3 years thereafter. States must also have a public comment period prior to the submission of a state plan amendment that implements rate restructuring.

Click here to view the final rule.
Request for Comment on Native American and Alaska Native Health and Medicaid 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently updating its tribal policy with the goal of improving access, quality, and care coordination for Native American and Alaska Native beneficiaries. The 1976 Indian Health Care Improvement Act allowed for 100% federal funding for any services for Medicaid-eligible Native Americans and Alaska Natives. CMS has released a Request for Comment for a proposed change that would change these circumstances. The Request for Comment paper provides descriptions of the potential policy options and feedback is requested from states, Tribes, and other stakeholders in this proposed change. The deadline to submit a comment is Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at 5 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view the details and comment. 
An Affordability Snapshot of the 2016 Marketplace
The next Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace begins this Sunday, November 1, 2015. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released 
a 2016 Marketplace Affordability Snapshot that provides a review of the data for Marketplace consumers for the new year. Specifically, the Snapshot provides information about the benchmark plans, which are available in the 37 states that utilized the Healthcare.gov platform in 2015. There are tables that show the state average change in premiums and market average change in premiums in each participating state. 

Click here to view the snapshot. 
National Institute on Aging 
Resources on the Older Driver's AgePage 
As individuals get older, they may not be able to continue driving independently. The National Institute on Aging's Older Drivers AgePage provides individuals with resources about common concerns and safety tips. This page is recommended for everyone, from people who are concerned about their driving skills to family members and friends that are worried about an individuals' ability to drive.  

Click here to view the resources. 

From the White House
President Barack Obama
November Proclaimed as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
On Wednesday, October 28th, President Barack Obama released a proclamation declaring November 2015 as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. More than five million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia. Misconceptions and misunderstandings about the disease have led to its stigmatization, making it difficult for families to cope. The federal government is the top funder of Alzheimer's research to prevent and treat the disease. November is dedicated to increasing awareness of this debilitating disease and coming one step closer to finding a cure.

Click here to view the proclamation.

From Other Organizations
American Society on Aging
Fall 2015 Issue of Generations: Ageism in America: Reframing the Issues and Impacts
The American Society on Aging (ASA) released the fall 2015 issue of their journal, Generations. This issue titled, Ageism in America: Reframing the Issues and Impacts, focuses on the reframing of ageing in our country. Findings from this issue showed that the American public has a negative perception of aging that is far from the reality of the situation. These results can be used to assess the current societal views to inform changes in policy that create a more positive view of aging. Guest editor, Laura A. Robbins, headed the collaboration process and was responsible for the research project and gathering additional authors.  This issue is available for free and the ASA is encouraging its broad usage with the aging community.

Click here to view the journal.
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center  
November is National Family Caregivers Month
The National Family Caregivers Month is this November, 2015. The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) has chosen the theme for this year, which is "Respite: Care for Caregivers." This year is focused specifically on Respite care, the important service that allows caregivers crucial time to rest and relax, energize, sleep, use programs, imagination, and exhale. CAN has resources available for the public to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month. Their media kit includes a downloadable PDF of the theme flyer, background on the celebration, and a sample proclamation for state and local governments.

Click here to view details.
Easter Seals
Webinar: Caregiving as an Older Adult
Federal Easter Seals Dixon Center for Military & Caregiver Services, in collaboration with Atlas Research, Caregiver Action Network, Family Caregiver Alliance, National Alliance for Caregiving, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, and USO are sponsoring a Military Caregiver webinar titled Caregiving as an Older Adult. There are over 5 million family caregivers for Military Veterans in the United States. Many of these caregivers include spouses and adult children of Veterans who may have served in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam. These may also be caregivers caring for their children who served in recent wars. For caregivers over age 75, there are additional challenges to supporting a loved one with care needs, and in fact, these older Ccregivers spend more than 34 hours a week on caregiving tasks. Older caregivers experience higher levels of "burden of care" than that of younger caregivers and are less likely to have another unpaid person helping them. Speaker Gail Hunt, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Caregiving will teach attendees about resources for older caregivers. Dole Fellow Rosie Babin will share her personal story as an advocate and caregiver to her son who was injured in Iraq. This is a free webinar that is recommended for military caregivers. The webinar will take place on Thursday, November 5, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

Click here to view details and register.
Federal Partners in Transition 
Webinar: Connecting Partners and Resources to Prepare Youth for Jobs 
Federal Partners in Transition (FPT) is hosting a webinar on post-secondary transition activities and information for students and youth with disabilities. Presenters will provide attendees with information about educational practices, career development, employment strategies, and benefits counseling. This webinar is recommended for: students and youth with disabilities, their family members, practitioners, vocational rehabilitation counselors, educators, public and private sector agencies, and other partners involved in a wide variety of federally funded resources.  The webinar will take place on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET

Click here to view details and register.
Health Management Associates 
Webinar: Findings from the Annual Kaiser 50-State Medicaid Survey
Health Management Associates is hosting a webinar on the findings from the annual Kaiser Family Foundation 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey. HMA experts Eileen Ellis, Managing Principal; Kathy Gifford, Managing Principal; and Vern Smith, Managing Principal, will present the key findings from the survey and provide context for what is means for Medicaid in the future. This webinar is recommended for Medicaid directors and staff; regulators and healthcare policy analysts; executives of Medicaid managed care plans; and executives of hospitals, health systems, health centers, and providers serving Medicaid and other vulnerable population. The webinar is free, but pre-registration is required. The webinar will take place on Thursday, November 19, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET.
 
Click here to view details and register.
Justice in Aging
HCBS Heightened Scrutiny Q&A for Consumer Advocates
A change in federal regulations requires states to review Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) settings to ensure proper integration into the community. A public comment period is currently open for stakeholders to provide their opinions as the states go through the review process. Justice in Aging released a Heightened Scrutiny Q&A to help consumer advocates participate in the public comment process. Federal guidelines and state transition plans are complicated, and this resource is intended to promote empowerment of consumer advocates to share their comments. 

Click here to view the Q&A. 
Next Avenue
Next Avenue's 2015 Influencers on Aging
There is great work happening in the field of aging but we don't often hear about it in the media. The PBS website Next Avenue created its first annual list of Influencers in Aging to recognize some of the thought leaders, researchers, experts, executives, writers, artists and everyday people who are helping redefine what it means to grow old in America. See who is on the list and follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #InfluencingAging.

Click here to view the list.
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
Consumer Voice Conference: Registration for Intensives Now Open
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care is hosting the annual Consumer Voice Conference this November. This conference brings together long-term care consumer, advocates, ombusdmen, agency personnel, policy makers, researchers, providers and other to reinforce the advocacy perspective. This year's agenda features a listening session with CMS; a wide variety of workshops on topics such as alternatives to using antipsychotic drugs and enforcement of nursing home regulations; plenaries on the new federal HCBS regulations and palliative care for persons with advanced dementia; and many important group meetings. There will be two pre-conference intensives to kick off the conference. Pre-registration is required and the intensives are $60. The intensives will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Click here to view details and register.
Webinar: Put a STOP to Poor Care: Advocating for Quality Care 
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and the National Center on Elder Abuse are hosting a webinar on the importance of advocating for quality care. Every individual that receives long-term services and supports is entitled to quality and person-centered care. Presenters will teach attendees the indicators of quality care and signs of inadequate care, communication tips and advocacy strategies, share resources to assist with advocacy, and review the role of the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET.

Click here to view details and register.  
New Brochure About Elder Abuse and Related Concerns 
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care in partnership with the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) released the "Put a STOP to Poor Care" brochure. Every individual has the right to receive quality care when receiving long term services and supports. This brochure outlines signs of quality care, warning signs of abuse, red flags, and advocacy tips for these areas. Long-term care ombudsmen are encouraged to use this brochure as a training tool for facility staff and members of Resident and Family Councils. 

Click here to view the brochure. 
Jobs & Internships
Iowa Deparment of Aging Seeks a Legal Developer/Policy Coordinator
The Iowa Department on Aging's Office of Elder Rights is seeking applicants to fill the position of Legal Developer/Policy Coordinator for the Office of the State Long-Term Ombudsmen (OSLTCO). The developer will be responsible for drafting the OSLTCO's administrative rules, legislative proposals; providing comment on federal and state laws/regulations as well as on policies/procedures while determining their impact on the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents; serving as the representative of the OSLTCO with the Iowa legislature during regular and interim sessions as well as the spokesperson for the OSLTCO at state and federal legislative meetings, for individual legislators, and for Congressional representatives on matters relating to the OSLTCO; providing briefing and collaborating with the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (SLTCO) on all state and federal legislative meetings. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and five years of full-time professional level experience in program administration, development, management, or operations. All applications must be submitted by Sunday, November 1, 2015.

Click here to view the full posting.

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