February 5, 2016
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Last Call for AIRS Annual Information & Referral Conference Proposals  
The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) has released the call for proposals for the 2016 Annual Information and Referral (I&R) Training and Education Conference. AIRS is seeking workshops addressing the breadth of I&R service delivery. The Aging and Disability track provides a valuable opportunity to share developments and effective practices in serving older adults and persons with disabilities with I&R colleagues across the country. This track is coordinated by NASUAD's I&R Support Center, which strongly encourages aging and disability I&R agencies to review the call for proposals and consider a submission. Topics such as family caregiving, elder justice, mental health, aging with a disability, developments in home and community-based services, cross-sector partnerships and collaboration (including ADRC and 2-1-1 partnerships), No Wrong Door system building, ADRC funding and sustainability, use of technology in I&R, transportation, health coverage (Medicare and Medicaid coverage), and data collection and quality assurance are all topics of interest in aging and disability I&R.
 
The conference is being held in St. Louis, Missouri, with pre-conference intensives on May 22, 2016 and the regular conference May 23-25, 2016. Please contact  Nanette Relave with any questions. 

The deadline for proposal submissions is Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Send submissions for the Aging and Disability track to Nanette Relave

Click here to submit a proposal. 
Submit A Proposal for the National HCBS Conference  
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is pleased to announce the Call for Sessions for the 2016 National Home and Community Based Services Conference, August 29-September 1, 2016 in Washington D.C. This 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 and fifteen minute workshops.
 
The HCBS Conference has become the "go-to" conference for learning in the expanding field of home and community-based services.  Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this important conference. 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 2016 HCBS Conference will be open from January 19th - February 29th.  

Click here to learn more and submit your session today.  
Register Today for the Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging & Disabilities 
The Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging & Disabilities, May 23-26th, 2016, will offer a wide array of Iowa, regional and national strategies to address the challenges and embrace the opportunities that accompany the ever-changing aging and disability communities. 

The conference is being hosted by the Iowa Department on Aging and the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, in partnership with the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities, and directed by a steering committee made up of Iowa business and community leaders and chaired by Lt. Governor Reynolds.  
 
We are excited to announce our Plenary Speaker, Terry Rich, CEO of the Iowa Lottery. Mr. Rich is an expert at helping organizations realize that saying "it's always been done that way" is the biggest obstacle to allowing for substantive and meaningful change. Mr. Rich will inspire you to go back to your office and consider how you can improve the work you do. 

Click here to learn more and register.  
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.
Evaluation of the Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents
On February 3rd, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the annual Nursing Facility Initiative Report. This report summarizes the impacts from the three-year-old initiative that tests the ways to reduce avoidable hospitalizations. Research from CMS shows that "approximately 45%" of hospitalizations could be prevented with the proper interventions." This report uses the data from experience during the second performance year of the initiative in 2014. 

Click here to access the publication. 
2015 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 
The Institute on Disability University of New Hampshire has released the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium. The Compendium is a web-based tool that pools disability statistics published by various federal agencies together in one place. This one-stop tool makes it easier for individuals to find data relating to persons with disabilities. Included in the report are statistics on: Population and prevalence, employment, poverty, earnings, veterans, health insurance coverage, health, Social Security Administration programs, special education, vocational rehabilitation, federal government spending and employment, international patterns, and disability type. This year's compendium includes aging data for the first time with over 100 tables representing age ranges. Additionally, the 2015 Disability Statistics Annual Report accompanies the Compendium. 

Click here to access the publications. 
From the Administration
Administration for Community Living
Deadline Extended for Comments on Draft APS Consensus Guidelines 
There are no federal guidelines for Adult Protect Service Agencies to follow, rather each state adheres to their own guidelines. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) seeks to create national guidelines, rooted in strong federal leadership, to create a set of principles and expectations to increase consistency in APS agencies across the country. The ACL formed a set of draft guidelines using the most current research on what works in APS and other similar systems in the United States. The ACL is now looking for feedback from the public in order to refine and finalize the draft guidelines. Their goal is to facilitate the creation of the guidelines to ensure they are consensus-informed and field driven. The deadline for comments has been extended to Monday, February 8, 2016

Click here to submit a comment.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Informational Bulletin On Opioid Drug Misuse, Abuse, and Addiction
On Tuesday, the CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) released an informational bulletin with information for states about possible health risks when taking prescription opioid pain medication. An epidemic of opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction, exists in America and is a major threat to public health. The bulletin includes research about deaths caused by opioids, pharmacy benefit management strategies for mitigating prescription drug abuse, and best practices for states to address this issue.

Click here to view the informational bulletin.
Free Technical Assistance Available for States
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering free technical assistance and training to any state agency that is developing or improving home and community-based services (HCBS) under Sections 1915(c) waivers or Sections 1915(i), 1915(j), or 1915(k) State Plan Amendments. Technical Assistance is provided by New Editions Consulting, the HCBS TA Contractor for CMS. The training and TA may include: Strategic planning; determining which HCBS authority is most appropriate for your state; community integration supports for people with disabilities; supported employment supports; person-centered planning as it relates to systems of service and support; individual budgeting and fiscal management services, service design and needs-based criteria; population targeting; program implementation; assistance in Medicaid program and payment mechanisms to implement the Fair Labor Standards Act; conflict of interest, and morality and morbidity data collection and analysis.

Click here to view more details.
National Council on Disability
NCD Releases 2nd Report on Affordable Care Act for People with Disabilities  
The National Council on Disability (NCD) released a new report on implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and disabilities. This is the second of three reports on the subject. While the Affordable Care Act is a significant piece of legislation, people with disabilities were largely left outside of the policy conversation. This report includes a review of the literature that studies the impact of ACA implementation on people with disabilities, qualitative interviews with key informants from ten states, an analysis of the ACA implementation choices seen in many states, and recommendations for future research on this topic.

Click here to view the report.
Social Security Administration
Fake Social Security Email Scam 
The Social Security Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the American public about an online scam that has the email subject of "Get Protected". This email appears to be from the SSA and speaks about new features that monitor unauthorized use of one's Social Security number. SSA advises not to open to the link or any of the attachments. If you should receive this email, report it to [email protected]. On Guard Online offers information about other common online scams to keep you protected. 

Click here to view more information. 
From Other Organizations
Health Management Associates 
Webinar: MLTSS Network Adequacy 
Health Management Associates is hosting a webinar on Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) network adequacy. HMA experts, Sarah Barth, Principal; and Karen Brodsky, Principal, will teach attendees about the challenges of maintaining an adequate network and provide a framework that plans and states can follow to ensure MLTSS members receive quality care. This webinar is recommended for executives of Medicaid managed care plans; Medicaid directors and staff; state officials for public health; and providers of home and community-based services and other MLTSS services. Pre-registration is required for this free webinar. The event will take place on Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view details and register.
HSRI and NASDDDS
Release of National Core Indicators 2014-15 Family Survey Reports

Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), recently released the 2014-15 National and State Family Survey Reports for the National Core
Indicators (NCI) project, which focuses on publicly-funded su
pports provided to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families.  The family Survey Final Reports include data on over 15 family indicators collected from three different surveys: Adult Family Survey- for families of individuals 18 and over who receive services and live in the family home. Family Guardian Survey- for families of individuals 18 and over who receive services and live outside the family home. Child Family Survey- for families of children who receive services and live in the family home. User-friendly reports are also available.

Click here to access the NCI Family Survey Reports.
Justice in Aging 
Webinar: Two-Year Update on California Coordinated Care Initiative 
Justice in Aging is hosting a webinar that will provide a two-year update on the California Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI)The CCI is now underway in seven counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. Justice in Aging expert, Amber Cutler, will discuss the current status of the CCI and the changes that have occurred over the course of implementation, including: The CCI and the 2016/17 budget, enrollment, policy changes, and early evaluation results.  Pre-registration is required for this free webinar. The event will take place on Thursday, February 18, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view details and register.
Mathematica 
Researching and Validating the Pathways to Careers Initiative 
Mathematica's Center for Studying Disability Policy is sponsoring a policy forum and live webinar on aligning community practices with trends in rehabilitation. Research shows that only a small percentage of people with disabilities are in the workforce. Additionally, people with disabilities face obstacles when looking for full employment. An employment program, Pathways to Careers, helps people with disabilities prepare for the workforce. Mathematica's Center for Studying Disability Policy evaluated Pathways' progress and will discuss the practices Pathways uses in its program and the findings from their evaluation. Pre-registration for this event is required. The event will take place on Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view details and register. 
National Council on Aging 
Webinar: Help Your Clients Transition from MAGI Medicaid to Medicare
The National Council on Aging Center for Benefits Access is hosting a webinar to review how to help clients transition from modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) Medicaid to Medicare. Presenter Emily Balkan, Medicare Rights Center, will review: The difference between MAGI and traditional Medicaid; what happens when an individual with MAGI Medicaid becomes eligible for Medicare and when their MAGI Medicaid ends; and how counselors can assist clients with a smooth transition, including walking them through the step-by-step enrollment/disenrollment process, and assessing their ongoing eligibility for benefits that can help pay for their health coverage. Pre-registration for this event is required. The event will take place on Friday, February 26, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view details and register. 
National Center on Elder Abuse 
Brochure for Family Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia 
The National Center on Elder Abuse at the USC Department of Family Medicine, with funds provided by the Archstone Foundation, released a new educational brochure for family caregivers of loved ones with dementia. Information on the brochure came from actual family caregivers of people with dementia through informant interviews and focus groups. The brochure provides information about elder abuse, tips for caregivers on how to protect and advocate for their loved ones, real life scenarios, and resources. The goal of this brochure is to help family caregivers of people with dementia to learn how to take care of themselves in order to prevent mistreatment.

Click here to view the brochure. 
National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging
Webinar: Focus on Nutrition & Aging: March is National Nutrition Month 
The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging is hosting a webinar on senior nutrition as March is National Nutrition Month. This webinar will feature various March activities that will spotlight the importance of nutrition and the value of senior nutrition programs. Whether nutrition education, advocacy, or awareness-building, the role that aging professionals can play in helping to maintain the health and independence of older adults will be covered. Attendees will hear from representatives from the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP), and Meals on Wheels America as they describe the importance of upcoming activities this March. The webinar will be presented by Holly Kellner Greuling, ACL/AoA; Lauri Wright, AND; Meredith Ponder, NANASP; and Erika Kelly, Meals on Wheels America. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 11, 2016, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view details and register. 
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Healthcare Ready: Resource Strengthens Healthcare Supply Chains
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) created Healthcare Ready, which acts as a central point of contact to strengthen healthcare supply chains during times of crisis. Rx Open is a tool designed by Healthcare Ready that identifies the status of pharmacies in areas impacted by a disaster. Healthcare Ready and Rx Open are activated during times of emergency. Most recently they assisted the East Coast during, before, and after Winter Storm Jonas.

Click here to view the website.
Jobs & Internships 
Nebraska State Unit on Aging Seeks AmeriCorps VISTA Members
The Nebraska State Unit on Aging is seeking qualified applicants for the position of AmeriCorps VISTA. The VISTA is responsible for collecting data, creating volunteer databases/spreadsheets with aging-related data, developing training manuals and materials, creating a standardized Senior Center Operational manual template, and developing means to increase services, funding, and volunteer opportunities across Nebraska. This is an opportunity to make an IMPACT in the lives of aging populations in Nebraska! As a VISTA, connect with services that allow seniors to stay in their own homes and change the lives of minority and impoverished individuals. Qualified applicants should be outgoing, self-motivated individuals interested in laying the ground work for improving nutrition, volunteer, and support services across the state of Nebraska.
 
Click here to view the full posting. 
Funding Opportunities 
What A Waste Service Grants 
The National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH) announced a Request for Applications for What A Waste Service Grants. The purpose of this RFA is to encourage organizations to work with NFESH to implement the What A Waste program in sites throughout the United States. In order to do so, NFESH will provide grants of services and materials valued at approximately $35,000 to each organization that is selected to participate.

Eligible organizations are as following: Organizations that provide meals primarily to seniors (age 60+) in a congregate setting and/or through home delivery. Meal preparation can be self-operated or catered, on-site or remote; organizations must be a tax-exempt public charity described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and priority will be given to organizations that submit proposals that include one or more of the optional Innovation, Inclusion or,Composting categories below. The application process will begin with the organization submitting a Letter of Application (LOA). The LOA is due by February 19, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Awardees will be notified by email of their acceptance by February 26, 2015. 

Click here to view the full posting.
Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households in HUD-Assisted Multifamily Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it is making approximately $15 million available to test a promising housing and services model for low-income seniors to age in their own homes and delay or avoid the need for nursing home care.  

HUD's Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households in HUD-Assisted Multifamily Housing will offer three-year grants to eligible owners of HUD-assisted senior housing developments to cover the cost of a full-time Enhanced Service Coordinator and a part-time Wellness Nurse.  The purpose of the Demonstration is to test the effectiveness of this enhanced supportive services model for elderly households and to evaluate the value of enhanced service coordination paired with affordable housing for seniors. The demonstration will be independently evaluated to determine the impact of the enhanced supportive services model on: Aging in place in HUD-assisted senior developments; avoiding early transitions to institutional care, and; preventing unnecessary and often costly health care events-such as some emergency room visits and hospitalizations-for residents in HUD-assisted senior developments. Grant applications must be submitted electronically by Monday, April 18, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Click here to view the full posting.
Inclusive Planning Impact Grant
The Transit Planning for All project has announced the availability of funding for community-cased demonstration programs. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage development of an inclusive coordinated transportation system in which people with disabilities and older adults actively participate in both advisory and decision-making capacities. While the intention is first and foremost the development of inclusionary processes and plans, the secondary expectation is that inclusion will result in identifiable and measurable changes in the transportation system that respond to the needs and preferences of older adults and people with disabilities.

To take advantage of this funding opportunity, communities should download both the request for proposals and the grant application form. All requirements stated in the application form must be met in order for an application to be considered. There will be a conference call to answer questions on the demonstration grants on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. ET. Call toll-free: 866-906-9888; Passcode 2724141. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, March 18, 2016. 

Click here to view the full posting.
CMS Accountable Health Communities Grant 
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation released a request for proposal (RFP) for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding opportunity for Accountable Health Communities (AHC), funding opportunity number CMS-1P1-17-001. The AHC model will test three community-focused interventions of varying intensity and their ability to impact total health care costs and inpatient and outpatient health care utilization. There are different tracks-Increase Awareness, Provide Assistance, and Align Partners-with varying funding amounts available. Each track will run for a five year period. A letter of intent to apply is required and due by Monday, February 8, 2016. An electronic cooperative agreement application is due by 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 31, 2016. 

Click here to view the full posting.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Base Grant 
The Administration for Community Living released the application for the the 2016 State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Base Grant Funding Opportunity. Congress created the SHIP in 1990 with the goal of assisting Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and their caregivers to make informed health insurance choices. There are currently 54 active SHIP grants; one in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The funds awarded through this application are for the FY 2016 budget period, April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017. Eligible applicants are states and United States territories that demonstrate their ability to provide the program through the state office of insurance, the state Medicaid office, or the department on aging.All applications must be submitted by Monday, February 15, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view the full posting.

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