March 11, 2016
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NASUAD Announces New Board of Directors 
NASUAD is pleased to announce the newly-elected Officers to NASUAD's Board of Directors. The new President, Gary Jessee, Associate Commissioner, Medicaid CHIP/State Medicaid Director, Texas Health and Human Service Commission, will lead the Board. Joining Mr. Jessee on the Board of Directors is First Vice President James Rothrock, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services; Second Vice President Lora Connolly, Director, California Department of Aging; Secretary; Patti Killingsworth, Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Long Term Services and Supports, Bureau of TennCare; and Treasurer Donna Harvey, Director, Iowa Department of Aging.  NASUAD is also pleased to announce the new positions of two At-Large members for the Board of Directors. Alice Bonner, Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs; and Jed Ziegenhagen, Director, Colorado Office of Community will serve as the At-Large board members. 

The members of the 2015-2016 Board of Directors bring many years of experience and broad perspectives on serving older adults and persons with disabilities and their caregivers. They will provide strong leadership to their fellow state leaders at a time when demand for services is growing across the country. 
NASUAD Publishes Updated State Medicaid Integration Tracker 
NASUAD has published the March 2016 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. This tracker includes new updates for each state that occurred during the most recent month.

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.
Early Bird Registration Open for AIRS I&R Conference

Registration is open for the 38th annual AIRS I&R Training and Education Conference to be held May 22-25, 2016, in St. Louis, Missouri. Register by April 1 for the early bird rate. The National I&R Support Center welcomes aging and disability I&R/A professionals to join us in St. Louis for the National Aging and Disability Information and Referral Symposium held during the AIRS Conference. The Symposium offers a pre-conference National I&R/A Summit for aging and disability professionals, an Aging and Disability Luncheon, and a full complement of workshops throughout the conference. This year's pre-conference summit will have a special focus on person centered thinking and practices featuring an interactive presentation from Michael Smull, a national expert on person centered systems and a partner in Support Development Associates (SDA). Symposium workshop sessions will feature national, state, and local professionals presenting on key topics impacting aging and disability I&R/A programs such as quality assurance and customer satisfaction, aging caregivers, innovations in transportation services, transition for youth with disabilities, and resources for serving diverse consumers. 

Click here to view details and register.  
Register Today for the Iowa Conference on Aging & Disabilities: Kiss Me I'm IOWAish!  
NASUAD is proud to be sponsoring a National Aging and Disabilities conference in Des Moines, Iowa, May 23-May 26.  Here are the top 5 reasons to attend! 
 
 5) The jam-packed agenda includes over 50 sessions from national speakers on topics including:
  • Family Caregiving
  • Technology Solutions for Caring for Seniors and People with Disabilities
  • Federal Policy and Medicaid 101...Learn more about the agenda here.
4) You will be enlightened, inspired, and educated by our plenary thought leaders including:
  • Lt. Governor Kimberly Reynold
  • Mike Nardone, CMS Director of the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group (DEHPG)
  • Terry Rich, author of "Dare to Dream:  Dare to Act"
  • Dr. Paul Glassman, visionary leader in teledenistry for underserved populations
3) Pre-Conference Intensives begins Monday morning with three separate day-long choices:
  • Be educated about employment opportunities for seniors and individuals with disabilities;
  • Become informed about efforts to combat elder abuse;
  • Learn about the creative efforts to improve oral health for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
2) Lunches and an Evening Reception with Exhibitors bringing innovative solutions and ideas from across the country including:
  • Managed Care Companies
  • Technology Companies
  • Meals Programs
1) In celebration of St. Patrick's Day this month, we are offering a $50 discount on registration. Use the code: IOWAish to save $50 on registrations throughout the month! 
 
Click here to learn more and register. Use the code IOWAish for a discount on your registration. 
HCBS Clearinghouse E-Clips
February 2016 nTIDE Jobs Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability published this month's National Trends on Disability Employment report (nTIDE). Each month this report is published to mark the changes of employment for people with disabilities. The experts believe that "a comprehensive approach to clinical rehabilitation that includes vocational services will improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities." Please note the statistics in nTIDE are not seasonally adjusted. 

Click here to access the publication. 
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.
From the Administration
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
8 States Selected for Housing Partnership Technical Assistance Program 

In February, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Innovation Acceleration Project (IAP), in partnership with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), announced a targeted six month-program support opportunity to state Medicaid agencies seeking to promote State Medicaid-Housing Agency Partnerships. 
  
The IAP selected California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Nevada, and Oregon, and will begin working with them in May 2016. The program support is individually tailored to selected states' unique policy environment, but based on IAP's goals to support states in improving/expanding use of integrated models for diverse Medicaid populations/subpopulations. CMCS will be working closely with its federal partners on planning and coordination of the program support that will be provided. CMCS' IAP will also offer program support to 31 states, beginning in February, through a three-session webinar series focused on Supporting Housing Tenancy.
Proposed Rule to Test Models to Improve Medicare Part B 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that will test models to improve how Medicare Part B pays for prescription drugs and supports to physicians and clinicians in delivering quality care. CMS encourages stakeholders to submit comments to maximize the quality of the proposed tests. In the rule are six different approaches for Medicare Part B drugs to improve quality and outcomes: Improving incentives for best clinical care; discounting or eliminating patient cost-sharing; feedback on prescribing patterns and online decision support tools; indications-based pricing; reference pricing; and risk-sharing agreements based on outcomes. The proposed tests would evaluate new ways to support physicians and clinicians in choosing the drug that is best for their patients. 
  
Click here to view a fact sheet on the proposed rule.
Click here to view the rule and submit comments. 
Click here to learn more about Medicare Part B.  
CMS Extends Deadline of 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 Wednesday, May 18, 2016. 

Click here to view the full posting.
CMS Hosts Long-Term Services and Supports Open Door Forum 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a Long-Term Services and Supports Open Door Forum. CMS' Open Door Forums provide an opportunity for dialogue between CMS and the stakeholder community at large. These forums are intended for all stakeholders who interact with CMS or work with consumers who rely on services that CMS provides. Details on registration and call information are forthcoming. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to view details. 
Department of Labor
WIOA Training and Employment Guidance Letter 
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Urban Development, created a guidance letter on training and employment requirements for unified and combined state plans under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The letter conveys the following information to states: "The vision and content requirements for Unified and Combined State Plans under WIOA; the deadline and submission process for Unified and Combined State Plans under WIOA (Section 11); the requirements to have approved Unified or Combined State Plans in place for Program Year (PY) 2016 and beyond for the six core programs of WIOA; and the options for States to incorporate all or portions of partner programs into their State plan submissions if they choose to submit a Combined State Plan."

Click here to view the letter. 
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
Proposed Rule: Affirmative Action for Individuals with Disabilities in Federal Government 
On February 24, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a proposed rule regarding affirmative action for individuals with disabilities in the federal government. The Rehabilitation Act, Section 501, required federal agencies to create affirmative action plans and submit the plans to EEOC for approval. This proposed rule will provide federal agencies with guidance of the criteria that the EEOC will use to evaluate those plans. Highlights of the rule include the following requirements from federal agencies: "Adopt the goal of achieving a 12% representation rate for individuals with disabilities, and a 2% representation rate for individuals with targeted/severe disabilities; apply the 12% and 2% goals at both higher and lower levels of federal employment; and provide personal assistance services to employees who, because of a disability, need these services to help with activities such as eating and using the restroom while at work."  EEOC is seeking comments from the public, which must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET on April 25, 2016

Click here to view details and submit comments. 
Click here to view a summary of the rule. 
Click here to view the Q&A page. 
Social Security Administration
SSA Hosts National Disability Forum 
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is hosting a national disability forum. The Disability Forum is an open forum of Social Security that gives all interested stakeholders an opportunity to share their unique insights on topics of particular interest to SSA early in the process and directly with policy makers. Further, it provides an opportunity for stakeholders to hear from one another. Open to anyone interested, the Disability Forum is not intended to be a means for reaching agreement on an issue, and SSA's participation is only for the purpose of gaining insight through listening. This forum is intended for all disability stakeholders. Details for registration are forthcoming. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, in Washington, D.C. 

Click here to view details. 
From Other Organizations
Health Management Associates 
Webinar: Targeting Readmission Using a Collaborative Strategy 
Health Management Associates (HMA) is hosting a webinar on targeting readmissions. HMA experts Gina Lasky, Senior Consultant; Warren Lyons, Principal; Suzanne Mitchell, Principal; and Jeffrey Ring, PhD, Principal, will outline the rationale for a collaborative approach to reducing readmissions, involving hospitals, health plans, community-based organizations, and other providers who can address cultural and community-related factors that impact healthcare outcomes. This webinar is recommended for executives of health systems, physician practices, FQHCs, SNFs, and other provider organizations; executives of Medicaid managed care plans; and Medicaid directors and staff. Pre-registration is required for this free webinar. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Click here to view details and register.
Justice in Aging
Issue Brief: Evaluation of Financial Alignment Initiative
Justice in Aging published an issue brief that offers an analysis of the findings from the first ever evaluation of the Financial Alignment Initiative (FAI), commonly known as the dual eligible demonstration. Research Triangle Institute (RTI) was contracted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct this evaluation, which focused on the first six months of operation of the demonstration in each of the seven states where it was rolled out. This issue brief offers Justice in Aging's analysis  of the findings from the RTI study, including six key lessons about the early demonstration implementation process. 

Click here to view the publication. 
Events  
ASA's Annual Aging in America Conference
The American Society on Aging's Annual Aging in America Conference will be held from March 20-24, 2016, in Washington, DC. 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. The topics covered at the conference reflect the issues that all professionals face today. They are multifaceted and multidisciplinary, and go beyond the boundaries of geography and discipline. ASA will discuss the latest developments in aging in community, integrated care networks, the next 50 years of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the economics of aging and longevity, the profound marketplace changes that a dramatically growing older population will inevitably bring, culturally competent services provided in a multicultural context, and much, much more.

Click here to view details and register.
Event & Webinar: Harnessing Evidence to Redesign Primary Care 
The Mathematica Center on Health Care Effectiveness and the Milbank Memorial Fund are hosting a policy forum and live webinar on harnessing evidence to redesign primary care. Practical strategies from the new report for improving the strength of evidence from ongoing evaluations will be presented by expert panelists. Additionally, experts who offer the perspectives of providers and state and federal governments will identify the kind of evidence needed to understand the implications of primary care transformation. Pre-registration is required for this free event. If you need assistance before the forum, please contact Mathematica at [email protected]. They will make every effort to accommodate your participation in this event. Please email any requests for special accommodations by Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The event will take place on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. ET

Click here to view details and register.
Jobs & Internships 
Colorado Seeks DIDD Division Director 
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is seeking qualified applicants for the position of director of the Division for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The director will be responsible for oversight and coordination of the program, budgetary, information technology, and strategic direction of operations of DIDD. It is the responsibility of this position to initiate, develop, and recommend to the Director of the Office of Community Living (OCL) policies, plans, legislative initiatives, program direction, and evaluation projects that impact the overall direction and function of the I/DD system in Colorado. Qualified applicants must have a minimum of a Bachelor's in Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration, Health Care Administration, Human Services or a field of study related to the work assignment and five years of professional experience managing health care or public administration or similar experience managing a human services program for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). All applications must be received by Friday, March 18, 2016, at 11:59 P.M. MT

Click here to view the posting.
TMG Seeks Self-Directed Personal Care Registered Nurse 
TMG is the IRIS Consultant Agency (ICA) and Self-Directed Personal Care contractor for Wisconsin's IRIS program. IRIS is a long-term support program where eligible individuals self-direct their publicly funded, community based long-term care services. TMG is seeking qualified applicants for the position of self-directed personal care registered nurse. The nurse will be responsible for administering Wisconsin Personal Care Screening Tool and addendums as required; documenting assessment as required by individual tool and Department of Health Services (DHS) policies; completing oversight visits and calls as required; developing individual plans of care; ensuring physician orders for care are obtained and current; reviewing and revising plans of care as needed; complying with all DHS policies and TMG SDPC Guidelines, procedures and practices; complying with documentation regulations; complying with program regulations and guidelines of the 1915j waiver; documenting all participant specific activities in the data system on a timely basis; providing training to participants or care providers as requested or needed; providing educational materials as needed; developing training/educational materials specific to individual participants as needed; providing reports and summaries as requested; collaborating with development of documents and other related products; and participating in discussions and problem solving regarding overall program development and implementation. Qualified applicants must be a licensed registered nurse with a current Wisconsin license, have experience with the three target groups served by IRIS, and one year of home care nursing experience within the last five years. All applications must be received by Friday, March 18, 2016. 

Click here to view the posting.
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 posting.
Funding Opportunities 
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. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, March 18, 2016. 

Click here to view the full posting.
Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs Financed Solely by 2016 Prevention and Health Funds
The Administration on Aging (AoA) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) forecasts the possible availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 funds to make two-year grants to approximately 8 entities to bring to scale and sustain evidence-based falls prevention programs that will reduce the number of falls, fear of falling, and fall-related injuries in older adults and older adults with disabilities. Goal 1: Significantly increase the number of older adults and older adults with disabilities at risk of falls who participate in evidence-based community programs to reduce falls and falls risks; and Goal 2: Implement innovative funding arrangements (e.g. contracts with integrated health care systems) to support community-based falls prevention programs beyond the grant period, while embedding the programs into an integrated, sustainable evidence-based prevention program network.

Eligible organizations are as following: 
State governments,
Small businesses, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Individuals, City or township governments,
County governments, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education,
Private institutions of higher education, Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility". For profit organizations other than small businesses, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments). All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. 

Click here to view the full posting.
Empowering Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities through Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs 
The Administration on Aging (AoA) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) forecasts the possible availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 funds to make two-year grants to approximately 8 entities to bring to scale and sustain evidence-based programs that empower older adults and adults with disabilities to better manage their chronic conditions. Goal 1: Significantly increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities who participate in evidence-based self-management programs to empower them to better manage their chronic conditions; and Goal 2: Implement innovative funding arrangements (e.g. contracts with integrated health care systems) to support the CDSME programs beyond the grant period, while embedding the programs into an integrated, sustainable evidence-based prevention program network.

Eligible organizations are as following: Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility," Independent school districts, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), for profit organizations other than small businesses, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, special district governments, city or township governments, state governments, county governments, public and State controlled institutions of higher education, small businesses, and Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized). All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. 

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.

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