Next Gen HCBS Leaders

ADvancing States is celebrating the 2023 cohort of Next Gen HCBS Leaders, who have completed their year-long program. The 2023 Next Gen participants were selected through a competitive application process and come from Medicaid, Aging, and Disability programs across 16 states. They are emerging leaders, working hard to implement innovative programming to better serve members of their communities and states. We applaud their efforts and participation in the Next Gen program.

The Next Gen HCBS Leaders program offers training, support, and mentorship to selected participants to support their growth as a state leader. Each Next Gen member receives all-expenses paid scholarships to the ADvancing States Spring Meeting and the HCBS Conference. Next Gen Leaders also participate in monthly webinars on LTSS-specific and leadership development topics, and each participant is matched with a mentor to receive personalized support in developing leadership skills. UnitedHealthcare was our inaugural Next Gen HCBS Leaders program sponsor. Our second-year cohort was generously supported once again by UnitedHealthcare and joined in support by Molina Healthcare. The 2024 cohort of Next Gen HCBS Leaders will launch with additional support from our newest Next Gen sponsor, Pulselight.

Applications for the 2024 cohort will be available in early January. Learn more about the Next Gen HCBS Leaders program, the 2024 calendar of events, sponsorship opportunities, and the 2022 and 2023 Next Gen Leaders on the Next Gen page of the ADvancing States website.

ADvancing States, NASDDDS, and NAMD Submit Comments on Proposed Revisions to the Critical Incident Management Survey

On December 4, ADvancing States, the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD), and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) submitted joint comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the 2024 revised draft of the Critical Incident Management Survey. 

We support CMS’s goal to identify and share best practices related to critical incident management and we believe there is great value in providing CMS with insight into the states’ current incident management systems. With this in mind, we requested that CMS provide additional information regarding the planned use of the survey results. We also encouraged CMS to consider survey revisions and timelines for completion of the survey that recognize the considerable amount of time it takes for state staff to complete the survey.  

The comment letter includes specific recommendations to CMS on individual revisions and the overall strategy for implementation.

Click here to read the full letter.

Updated Training Course Available: An Introduction to Adult Protective Services

ADvancing States is pleased to announce the release of an updated training course on “An Introduction to Adult Protective Services.” This training course can be found on ADvancing States IQ, our online learning center. This course highlights the core pillars of the APS program. Participants will gain an understanding of APS, the history of these services, and the standard APS practice model. States have played a key role in shaping APS programs. This course will help participants identify state structures for APS programs as well as understand the federal role in supporting the programs. Participants will also learn about training, technical assistance, and other resources for APS programs. Through the course, participants will gain insight into the importance of public awareness of adult maltreatment and the value of person-centeredness in supporting individuals at-risk of and experiencing abuse.

To access the training course, see the Preventing Abuse and Exploitation course category on ADvancing States IQ. This course is offered at no cost. New users to IQ simply need to create an account for themselves.

Click here for additional information.

Become a Sponsor for the 2024 Home and Community-Based Services Conference Today!

Join policy-makers, experts, and thought leaders from around the country and across the HCBS field for our landmark 40th annual HCBS conference. The HCBS conference brings together attendees and sponsors to learn, share experiences, and foster new relationships. As a sponsor, you'll have the chance to meet and network with over 1,500 attendees, making it a perfect opportunity to promote your brand with a targeted audience!

To learn more, visit hcbsconference.org or contact our Director of Executive Relations, Gabe Passos at gpassos@advancingstates.org. 

Click here to view an infographic showing the kinds of attendees you can expect at the 2024 HCBS Conference!

Click here for additional information on sponsoring the 2024 HCBS conference.

Information on National Vaccine Initiatives and Resources Available on Our Website 

ADvancing States’ website features information on the National Vaccine Initiatives—USAging’s and NCOA’s grant activities, funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), supporting vaccine education and promotion across the aging and disability networks. Grantees include Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, a State Unit on Aging, community organizations, and others. USAging’s ADVC You've Got This campaign and NCOA’s Yes, I’ll Be There campaign promote the importance of vaccinations and overall wellbeing, and help to connect older adults and people with disabilities to local organizations that assist them with vaccinations. Additionally, the Vaccination Program Resources page on ADvancing States’ website includes outreach and community engagement strategies for vaccination programs, information on planning vaccination clinics, examples of partner organizations for vaccine programs, and ADvancing States’ report, “State COVID-19 & Influenza Vaccination Initiatives—Promising Practices”. ADvancing States also has a COVID-19 section on our website with federal guidance and state information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This section highlights a publication or resource that has been added to the HCBS Clearinghouse within the past week. Visit HCBS.org for more information.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS)

Development and Maintenance of Direct Support Worker Registries: Benefits of Utilization and Enhanced Federal Funding Availability 

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) has released an Informational Bulletin stressing the pivotal role of worker registries in mitigating the nationwide shortage of direct support workers, particularly within Medicaid-covered home and community-based services (HCBS). The bulletin underscores that these registries, serving as a vital link between service recipients and qualified workers, can significantly improve beneficiary access to essential services. Emphasizing the importance of balancing safety concerns with beneficiary choice, CMS encourages states to educate both workers and beneficiaries about the voluntary or mandatory nature of registry participation. Notably, the bulletin outlines promising practices for states in developing registries, ranging from electronic systems facilitating beneficiary-worker matching to supporting recruitment and retention efforts for a qualified HCBS workforce. Furthermore, the bulletin highlights the availability of enhanced federal funding, providing states with financial support for the development and maintenance of worker registries. States are encouraged to explore these funding opportunities and leverage worker registries to enhance the effectiveness of their Medicaid programs.

Recognizing that registries can significantly improve beneficiary access to essential services, ADvancing States and Altarum built Direct Care Careers (DCC), a customizable, enhanced platform to connect direct service workers with the clients and providers who need them. 

Direct Care Careers provides employers, states, and job seekers with an easy-to-use portal to manage workforce needs.

• Employers can quickly fill staffing gaps through auto-matching capabilities and manage state workforce training requirements.
• States receive actionable data about workforce needs and can communicate directly with providers and workers.
• Workers/Candidates can connect directly with employers, verify certification, and obtain credentials all in one platform.

Click here to learn more about Direct Care Careers, ADvancing States’ comprehensive LTSS Workforce Platform that includes a worker registry, and to read the CMCS bulletin. 

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Lower Health Care and Prescription Drug Costs by Promoting Competition

In a recently published fact sheet, the White House announced new actions to promote competition in health care and support lowering prescription drug costs for American families, including the release of a proposed framework for agencies on the exercise of march-in rights on taxpayer-funded drugs and other inventions, which specifies that price can be a factor in considering whether a drug is accessible to the public. This fact sheet details new action to support lowering prescription drug costs, efforts to stop anticompetitive mergers and anticompetitive practices by dominant corporations in health care markets, and ways to build on steps the Administration has already taken to lower health care costs, increase competition, and improve the quality and availability of care across the health care industry.

Click here to view the fact sheet. 

The U.S. Playbook To Address Social Determinants Of Health

The White House has released a playbook centered on addressing social circumstances and related environmental hazards and exposures impacting health outcomes, often referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH). This guide recognizes the complex interrelationship between these factors and their impact on the well-being of individuals. It also outlines a preliminary set of structural measures taken by federal agencies to dismantle these barriers and promote equitable health outcomes for individuals and communities. The Playbook sets the stage for agencies and organizations to re-imagine new policies and actions around SDOH, both inside and outside of government. While this Playbook serves as a starting point, it does not represent a final, comprehensive strategy for addressing SDOH. 

These initial efforts are focused on individual and community-centered interventions with actions grouped into three pillars:

1. Expanding data gathering and sharing.
2. Supporting flexible funding to address social needs.
3. Supporting backbone organizations.

Click here to view the report. 

Further information on addressing social determinants of health can be found in the HHS Call to Action: Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Communities Across the Nation. 

Administration for Community Living (ACL) 

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request; ACL Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback

On November 15, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed information collection requirements relating to the ACL Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback, a generic mechanism for Collecting Service Delivery Feedback under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

With respect to the following collection of information, ACL invites comments on their burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including:

• Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• The accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;

• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including using automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Comments on the collection of information must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET or postmarked by January 16, 2024.

Click here to submit a comment.

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request; Independent Living Services (ILS) Program Performance Report (PPR)

On November 15, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed information collection requirements relating to the Administration on Disabilities' Independent Living Services Program Performance Report. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. 

ACL invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including:

• Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• The accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;

• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including using automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Comments on the collection of information must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET or postmarked by January 16, 2024.

Click here to submit a comment. 

Public Comment Period Open for Proposed ACL Information Collection Requirements

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has announced opportunities for the public to comment on the proposed collection of information requirements relating to the (1) ACL Generic for Administration on Aging Formula Grant Programs, (2) State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Client Contact Forms, and (3) Alzheimer's and Dementia Program Data Reporting Tool (ADP-DRT).

ACL is accepting comments on the Generic for Administration on Aging Formula Grant Programs until Monday, December 18 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

ACL is accepting comments on State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Client Contact Forms until Tuesday, December 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

ACL is accepting comments on the Alzheimer's and Dementia Program Data Reporting Tool (ADP-DRT) until Tuesday, December 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view the respective notices in the Federal Register. 

Administration for Community Living (ACL) - Administration on Disabilities (AoD), Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities

Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities Launches New Website

The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities, a national resource center funded by ACL’s Administration on Disabilities (AoD), recently launched a new website to help young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) direct their own transition to the adult health care system. Developed for and by youth with I/DD, the site has a variety of both person-centered and culturally competent tools and resources to help support youth, their families, and health care professionals through this transition. The new website includes resources that are designed to give youth more choice and control throughout their health care transition. The site also includes resources developed by Center partners, including Family Voices, Got Transition, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, and two AoD-funded University Centers of Excellence in Development Disabilities (UCEDDs): the Institute for Human Development at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Click here to view the website. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 

Health Coverage Options for American Indians and Alaska Natives

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a fact sheet titled “Health Coverage Options for American Indians and Alaska Natives.” This fact sheet provides information and guidance that Navigators and certified application counselors (collectively, assisters) need to know in order to help American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons understand health coverage options through the Marketplace, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

This report includes information on:

• Indian health care programs.
• Marketplace coverage.
• Medicaid and CHIP coverage.
• Income calculation for certain eligibility determinations.
• Application options for marketplaces using the federal government.
• Employer-sponsored coverage.

Click here to view the report. 

Reduced Coinsurance for Certain Part B Rebatable Drugs under the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released revised guidance detailing key requirements and procedures for calculating rebates and invoicing manufacturers that owe rebates to Medicare under the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program for certain drugs covered under Medicare Part B and Part D. CMS also released the list of 48 prescription drugs for which Part B beneficiary coinsurances may be lower between January 1, 2024, and March 31, 2024. Some people with Medicare who take these drugs may save between $1 and $2,786 per average dose starting January 1, 2024, depending on their individual coverage.

Click here to view the fact sheet and press release.

2024 Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Stakeholder Webinars

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a series of partner webinars to engage Champions for Coverage, Navigators, CACs, Agents/Brokers, partners, issuers, and other stakeholders during the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. Each meeting will focus on current and new Marketplace resources, theme weeks of action, data snapshots, and other Marketplace updates. These webinars aim to successfully help consumers navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. 

Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2023, to January 15, 2024.

Remaining sessions:​

• Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET. 

• Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS)

Guidance to State Medicaid Agencies on Dually Eligible Beneficiaries Receiving Medicare Part B Marriage and Family Therapist Services, Mental Health Counselor Services, and Intensive Outpatient Services

On December 14, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) issued an Informational Bulletin to advise state Medicaid agencies that starting January 1, 2024, Medicare will begin covering and making payments for marriage and family therapists (MFT) and mental health counselors (MHC), and intensive outpatient program (IOP) services provided to dually eligible beneficiaries, or individuals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. These provisions were implemented as part of the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule final rule (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-1784-F, “Revisions to Payment Policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Quality Payment Program and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2024”) and the CY 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) final rule (CMS-1786-F), issued on November 2, 2023. 

For dually eligible beneficiaries who receive Medicaid coverage of services furnished by MFTs or MHCs, or IOP services furnished by hospital outpatient departments, community mental health centers (CMHC), rural health clinics (RHC), federally qualified health centers (FQHC), or opioid treatment programs (OTP), starting January 1, 2024, Medicare will become the primary payer for these services provided by Medicare-enrolled practitioners or providers. The Informational Bulletin provides background information on the enrollment of MHCs, MFTs, and providers of IOP services as Medicare practitioners and clarification on options available for coordination of benefits/third-party liability under Medicaid. 

Click here to view the bulletin.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

ABLE Programs Prepare for Expanded Eligibility

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently posted a blog highlighting the upcoming changes to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) programs following the signing of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act in December 2022. These programs serve as financial empowerment tools for Americans living with disabilities, allowing individuals to save money and build financial independence without affecting eligibility for important benefits, like those administered by Social Security. Effective in 2026, the amendment expands ABLE program access to an additional six million Americans, including one million veterans. The amendment will also broaden eligibility by increasing the age threshold for the onset of a person's disability from 26 to 46 years old, enabling more individuals to qualify for ABLE programs.

Click here to read the blog. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

HHS Finalizes Rule to Advance Health IT Interoperability and Algorithm Transparency

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), recently finalized its “Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-1) rule.” This follows the release of the HTI-1 proposed rule in April 2023. 

The HTI-1 final rule advances patient access, interoperability, and standards by:



• Establishing algorithm transparency requirements for artificial intelligence and other predictive algorithms that are part of certified health IT.
• Adopting the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Version 3 (v3) as the new baseline standard within the ONC Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program) as of January 1, 2026.
• Enhancing information blocking requirements.
• Implementing new interoperability-focused reporting metrics for certified health IT. 

For more information, resources, and educational events on ONCs regulatory programs, please visit HealthIT.gov.

Click here to view the fact sheet and to view the final rule.

ICYMI: Second Round of Ordering for Free COVID-19 Tests Now Open

Starting on September 25, every U.S. household had an opportunity to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests through a partnership between the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the United States Postal Service. On November 20, a second round of ordering opened, allowing each household to place a second order to receive four more free tests. Households that have not yet placed an order can place two orders now, to receive a total of eight tests.

Click here to order your free tests.

People who are blind or have low vision can place a second order for free Ellume COVID Home Tests, which are more accessible than other options. For more information, including ordering instructions, click here. 

U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

USICH Releases First Federal Homelessness Research Agenda in More Than a Decade

On November 30, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released the first federal homelessness research agenda in more than a decade, aimed at shaping federal investments in homelessness research by offering a roadmap for academic researchers, philanthropy, students, and others committed to understanding what works to prevent and end the crisis of homelessness in the United States. This agenda was developed with significant public input from researchers, people with lived experience of homelessness, national organizations, and experts from federal agencies. 

Click here to view the report.

American Society on Aging (ASA) 

Talking Aging Tuesday: A Conversation Confronting Structural Ageism

Join the American Society on Aging (ASA) for an upcoming live event titled “Talking Aging Tuesday: A Conversation Confronting Structural Ageism.” This session will discuss the importance of language in addressing systemic ageism and advocating for inclusive policies. Beyond Generations will facilitate a discussion on strategies to influence policy and advocacy initiatives, aiming to dismantle ageist structures present in societal frameworks at systemic and individual levels. The event will be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube, and X.

This live event will take place on Tuesday, December 19 at 3:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to watch the event. 

Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC)

Addressing the Direct Care Workforce Shortage

On Thursday, December 7, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) issued a report to address issues related to the long-standing shortage of direct care workers.  

Through research, interviews with stakeholders and federal policy experts, and private roundtable discussions, BPC identified three major challenges to recruiting and retaining direct care workers:

1. Work environments that do not effectively support workers’ needs and contribute to feeling undervalued, largely due to inadequate and stagnant wages and benefits, limited access to training, and a lack of career lattices for professional advancement.
2. Domestic workforce programs that predominantly target more medicalized or credentialed professions and an immigration system that is not structured to ensure adequate visa and green card pathways exist for foreign-born workers who desire to help fill unmet demand for direct care workers.
3. The absence of standardized data collection and publicly available data on the volume, stability, compensation, and profile of the direct care workforce to better measure the effects of federal policy reforms to expand the workforce and inform evidence-based policymaking. 

The report includes bipartisan legislative and administrative federal policy solutions to address these issues.

Click here to view the report.

Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS)

Request for Applications: Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), in collaboration with the Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund at The East Bay Community Foundation, has announced its upcoming "Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series." This series aims to assist up to nine Medicaid agencies in developing, implementing, or refining high-impact initiatives to address health-related social needs (HRSN). Over the course of 12 months, participating states will engage in peer-to-peer learning sessions focused on enhancing and expanding HRSN programs within Medicaid-managed care organizations, health care systems, and community-based organizations (CBOs). The curriculum will prioritize fostering partnerships, establishing accountability mechanisms, translating emerging best practices, and creating Medicaid benefits based on existing and emerging evidence.

CHCS welcomes applications from Medicaid officials and teams to participate in this 12-month collaborative beginning in March 2024. States, commonwealths, and territories looking for timely support for HSRN initaitves should consider applying.

Upcoming dates:

• December 15, 2023 – Information session, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
• January 9, 2024 – Letter of intent to apply due by 5:00 p.m. ET.
• January 23, 2024 – Applications due by 5:00 p.m. ET.
• February 29, 2024 – Selection notification.

Click here to register for the information session and for additional information.

Inform USA

Inform USA Conference Request for Sessions Extended

Inform USA is the professional membership association for Information and Referral (I&R). Inform USA drives quality and connection in the sector as the sole source for standards, program accreditation, and practitioner certification. The Inform USA Conference brings together I&R professionals from across the breadth of the sector. The request for session submissions for the 2024 Grand Gathering Inform USA Conference has been extended to December 15, 2023. The conference will be held May 20th - May 23rd in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Inform USA is especially interested in session submissions that address serving older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Visit Inform USA for more information on the Conference. 

Click here for the session submission form. 

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

Accommodation and Compliance Series: Disability Inclusion

A new set of resources from the ODEP-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) explores disability in the context of broader diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. These resources discuss the critical role accommodations play in fostering a disability-inclusive workplace culture and centralize information available to help employers create a more equitable and accessible work environment. They also provide real-life examples of accommodations that were made by JAN customers.

The following resources are included:

• “Business Benefits: The Positive Impacts of Disability Inclusion” - Learn about the many benefits of recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing people with disabilities.

• “Inclusion@Work: A Framework for Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization” - Explore strategies for creating disability-inclusive workplace cultures and meeting DEIA goals.

• “Expressing a Commitment to Disability Inclusion” - Learn about effective strategies for communicating a commitment to disability inclusion as part of an overall strategy to meet DEIA goals.

• “Intersectionality in the Workplace” - Learn how factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, education level, and disability status can impact an employee’s point of view and workplace experience.

Click here to view the resources.

Mathematica

The Effect of Medicare’s Drug Price Negotiation Program on Out-of-Pocket Spending

Mathematica has published a report examining the potential impact of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (DPNP) on out-of-pocket spending for different groups of Medicare Part D enrollees. By simulating the DPNP process, Mathematica estimated what ceiling prices and out-of-pocket expenses on the 10 highest-expenditure drugs would have been in 2021, the most recent year for which complete Part D data were available. The report examines the disparities in reduced out-of-pocket spending among various racial, ethnic, and beneficiary groups, focusing on the differential impact of the DPNP policies.

Click here to view the report.

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

Visiting Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities During the Holidays

A recently published fact sheet from the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care offers guidance for visiting residents in long-term care facilities during the holiday season. This fact sheet outlines the importance of visits from family members in supporting residents’ emotional well-being and ensuring that residents receive quality care. It also emphasizes the rights of residents and family members to determine what visits involve and when they take place. Additionally, Consumer Voice provides practical tips and activity ideas for family visits, along with suggestions for engaging residents during the gift-giving season, including examples of suitable gifts for residents. 

Click here to view the fact sheet.

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)

2024 Annual Conference Call for Workshop Proposals

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has released a call for workshop proposals for its 2024 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed "Back to the Future 2024." This year’s conference will take place onsite in Washington, D.C., and will feature 25 in-person workshops.

NCIL seeks workshops in the following tracks:

• Youth, Young Adults, and the Movement: Workshops addressing youth with disabilities, youth leadership, employment, and transitions.
• Intergenerational Leadership: Workshops looking into how we can work together as leaders of different generations and experiences to lead the IL Movement into the future.
• Back to Our Future: Workshops addressing the history of systems advocacy and the “it factor” of our past and present leaders. This track will offer insight into the roots of Independent Living and discuss how we can use history to move forward together.
• Technology & Innovation: Workshops that explore recent technological innovations and ideas and how they have promoted independent living philosophy.
• Independent Living Across the Globe: Workshops that look into how disability and independent living work abroad and what we can learn from each other. 

Priority will be given to workshops that address these topics through the lenses of anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI); and disability justice.

Interested presenters should submit their proposals by Monday, January 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here for additional information. 

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

Sunstorm Stories 2023

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) recently announced the release of the final Sunstorm Story for 2023. In collaboration with Foundations for Divergent Minds, Seeded Ground, and the John Hopkins’ Disability Health Research Center, Sunstorm Stories are a collection of short narrative videos that reflect on COVID's lingering impact on the disability community. These lived experiences emphasize the critical need for increased representation of individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds in leadership roles within public health systems. Throughout the series, featured storytellers offer messages of solidarity while also urging medical professionals to meaningfully improve inclusion, enhance access, and prevent discriminatory treatment.

Click here to view the 2023 Sunstorm Stories.

USAging

Partnering to Expand Access to Home Modifications, Repairs, and Weatherization for Community Living

USAging, through funding from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), recently released an action guide to provide approaches for aging, disability, and health organizations to build partnerships with the housing sector for home modifications, repairs, and weatherization services. These partnerships aim to improve the accessibility and safety of existing housing and support community living for older adults and people with disabilities. The report highlights housing organizations that currently promote home modifications, outlines essential steps to foster successful partnerships, and provides practical strategies to identify common ground with the housing sector. Additionally, the guide presents real-world examples showcasing successful partnerships that have improved service delivery.

Click here to view the action guide. 

USAging - Aging and Disability Business Institute

Deadline Extended: Aging and Disability Business Institute CBO-Health Care Contracting Survey

USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute has extended the deadline to participate in their latest Community-Based Organization and Health Care Contracting Survey. This survey is open to all types of aging and disability community-based organizations (CBOs) and networks regardless of whether they are currently contracting with a health care entity. It aims to help understand how CBOs and networks are contracting with health care entities to provide services to older adults and people with disabilities in a rapidly evolving market. The Business Institute will use the feedback from the survey to develop targeted resources that help raise the visibility of CBO-health care contracting and educate policymakers and health care professionals on the growing capacity of CBOs for this work.

Organizations that complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary registration to a conference of their choice, valued at up to $900

If you have questions about completing the survey or are experiencing technical issues, contact the Survey Helpline at 855-359-3033 or RFI5survey@MiamiOH.edu.

The deadline to complete the survey is today, December 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to take the survey. 

Public Policy Internship - National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Washington, D.C., is actively seeking graduate/law student applicants for their Spring 2024 Public Policy Internship. This remote opportunity involves advocating for nursing home residents impacted by COVID-19 at the federal level and requires a 20-hour weekly commitment, including participation in virtual staff meetings. Interns will gain hands-on experience in policy analysis, research, writing, and grassroots advocacy. A successful applicant will have exceptional writing and computer skills, research knowledge, and willingness to work on a wide range of projects.

To apply, applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, two references, and a brief writing sample (no longer than 3 pages) to Katie O'Hearn at kohearn@theconsumervoice.org by today, December 15, 2023.

Click here to view the job posting.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Area Agency on Aging, Region X

The Area Agency on Aging, Region X, is currently in search of a dynamic and experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join their team. The CFO will play a pivotal role, overseeing all financial-related activities and providing essential financial analysis, statistical information, and accounting expertise to their CEO, Board of Directors, staff, contractors, and auditors. The Area Agency on Aging, Region X, has been serving the older adult population of Missouri in Barton, Jasper, Newton, and McDonald counties since 1979. Region X was the result of a designation in the 1965 Older Americans Act. The Agency is a non-profit, charitable organization with a 501(c)(3) designation. Qualified candidates will hold a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field; a master’s degree in business administration (preferred); and 5+ years of related experience.

Click here to view the job posting.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Fiscal Year 2024 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced an opportunity to apply for $4.7 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding under the Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program. This funding opportunity seeks to improve coordination to enhance access and mobility to vital community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people with lower incomes. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively as grants to finance innovative mobility management capital projects that will improve the coordination of transportation services and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services. An additional $4.8 million is authorized for FY 2024, and FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections. Eligible applicants are designated or direct recipients of FTA’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disability Formula Program, governmental entities that operate a public transportation service, or their eligible subrecipients that have the authority and technical capacity to implement a regional or statewide cost allocation pilot. 

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Tuesday, February 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)

Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced an opportunity to apply for funding under the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). The purpose of the GWEP is to educate and train the health care and supportive care workforces to care for older adults by collaborating with community partners. Applicants must maximize patient and family engagement to address care gaps and improve health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care and other appropriate specialties using the Age-Friendly Health Systems Framework. 

The following entities are eligible to apply:

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education).
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education).
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
• Others (Additional information on eligibility can be found at the link below).

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Monday, February 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

Administration for Community Living (ACL) - National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)



Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Phase I 

The Administration for Community Living's (ACL) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is providing funding for a grant opportunity that centers on improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. This initiative seeks to accomplish this by fostering technological innovation within the private sector, strengthening the role of small businesses in addressing the needs of federal research and development, and maximizing the returns from federally-funded research. Grantees will also work to increase the practical application of research findings and development products supported by NIDILRR. NIDILRR will award 11 grants under this opportunity, each with a 6-month project period and a corresponding six-month budget period.

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Monday, December 18 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

Switzer Research Fellowships Program

On December 1, The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) announced a new funding opportunity for the Switzer Research Fellowships Program. The purpose of this program is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified individuals, including those who have disabilities, to conduct research on the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. Fellows must conduct original research in an area authorized by Section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This may include research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities.

NIDILRR plans to make six fellowship awards under this opportunity. Fellowship awards will have one 12-month project period.

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Tuesday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) -Office of Multifamily Housing

HUD Announces $212 Million Funding Opportunity to Expand Affordable Housing Options for Persons with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing has announced the availability of $212 million in funding to expand affordable housing and supportive services for very-low and extremely-low-income individuals with disabilities through the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program. This program aims to create, subsidize, and provide supportive services for rental housing to meet the needs of this population. Through the Section 811 Capital Advance/Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) program, $106 million in capital advances can be used for the development of new or rehabilitation of existing supportive housing, along with project rental subsidies to keep homes affordable. The Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) will also provide $106 million to state housing and other agencies for project rental assistance to cover the difference between the tenants’ contributions toward rental payments and the HUD-approved rent for the property for eligible tenants with disabilities.

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Thursday, February 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information.