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 and NCOA funding opportunities to increase the number of older adults and people with disabilities who received the updated COVID-19 vaccine or annual flu vaccine. Grantees include state Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, Area Agencies on Aging, No Wrong Door Systems/Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Centers for Independent Living, community organizations, and others. Information and resources featured on the website include outreach and community engagement strategies for vaccination programs, planning vaccination clinics, potential partners, and ADvancing States’ recent resource, “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)

Advancing Health Equity in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a report detailing their efforts to address health care disparities faced by individuals living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. This report outlines CMS’ six key priorities for advancing health equity in these communities: (1) applying a community-informed geographic lens to CMS programs and policies, (2) increasing the collection and use of standardized data to improve health care, (3) strengthening and supporting Health Care Professionals, (4) optimizing medical and communication technology, (5) expanding access to

comprehensive health care coverage, benefits, and services and supports, and (6) driving innovation and value-based care.

In this annual report, CMS also highlights the following accomplishments toward meeting these priorities:

• Rural Emergency Hospital Designation: CMS finalized a rule establishing Conditions of participation and enrollment processes for Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), new payment rates, and a new provider type established to allow Critical Access Hospitals and certain rural hospitals to continue providing essential health services.
• Postpartum Coverage Expansion: Medicaid and CHIP provide extended continuous postpartum coverage for 12 months after pregnancy to postpartum individuals in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Innovative Models: The Making Care Primary Model and the All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model, which were announced this year, both aim to improve health care and advance health equity across diverse geographies through innovative model design.
• Extension of the “Four Walls” Requirement Grace Period: CMS extended a grace period related to the Medicaid clinic services “four walls” requirement until February 11, 2025. This extension means that Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities can continue to claim Medicaid payment under the clinic services benefit (including at the IHS All Inclusive Rate) for services provided outside of the “four walls” of the facility until February 11, 2025.

Click here to read the full report. 

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), Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care, USAging - Aging and Disability Business Institute

Community Care Hub 101 Learning Series

The Administration for Community Living (ACL), in collaboration with the Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (administered by USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute), invites community-based organizations serving as community care hubs (CCHs) to participate in a four-part Community Care Hub 101 Learning Series. This series, taking place on four Thursdays from mid-November through December, aims to educate and support organizations interested in the community care hub model. These hubs centralize administrative functions and infrastructure to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) and enhance service delivery, with each webinar focusing on foundational elements and featuring examples from leading community care hubs. Registrants will gain access to the remaining webinar and valuable resources to facilitate their engagement in this initiative.

Upcoming Webinars:

• “Building the Community Care Hub Business Case”: Thursday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register.

Administration for Community Living (ACL) - Commit to Connect Initiative

Commit to Connect Webinar on No Wrong Door Virginia’s Social Health Connector Platform

Join Commit to Connect for an upcoming webinar on the No Wrong Door Virginia’s Social Health Connector platform. The Social Health Connector uses a person-centered virtual assessment to generate a customized social health connection plan for people with disabilities, older adults, and family caregivers. This personalized plan leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to offer insights into individualized risks and strengths, highlighting local recommended resources for users in Virginia. After individuals complete the survey, they receive a customized social connection plan. During the webinar, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia 2-1-1, and United Way Worldwide will provide an overview of the tool and how other aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs) and No Wrong Door (NWD) systems can replicate this approach. Following the 60-minute webinar, Commit to Connect will host a 30-minute conversation to allow for open discussion with the speakers and participants.

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS Releases Latest Enrollment Figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

On November 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of August 2023, over 66.3 million people are enrolled in Medicare; nearly 34 million are enrolled in fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, and more than 32.3 million have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 89.9 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 83 million individuals have Medicaid, and over 6.9 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

Click here for more information. 

Final Week to Apply: Making Care Primary (MCP) Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice that the deadline for applying to participate in the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model is next week. The MCP application is non-binding and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Eligibility requirements and additional model details can be found in the Request for Applications (RFA). To support interested applicants in their decision-making, CMS has published an Example Revenue Factsheet which compares potential revenue under Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) to potential revenue under MCP. Please visit the model webpage for additional resources.

MCP will launch July 1, 2024, in eight states: Colorado, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Upstate New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Washington, and will operate over a 10.5-year period. This model aims to strengthen coordination between patients’ primary care clinicians, specialists, social service providers including community networks, and behavioral health clinicians, to drive improved chronic disease prevention, fewer emergency room visits, and better health outcomes. Additionally, CMS is working with State Medicaid Agencies in the eight states to design Medicaid programs to align with MCP in key areas. 

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Thursday, December 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

For questions about the Making Care Primary Model, please reach out to MCP@cms.hhs.gov. 

Click here for additional information and resources. 

LTSS Webinar - Vaccines for Wellness

Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an upcoming LTSS webinar featuring how WellWise Services Area Agency on Aging has leveraged new and existing partnerships with local health departments, health systems, pharmacy networks, and other human service agencies to improve equitable access to immunizations, particularly in rural areas with transportation-related barriers. Through this webinar, attendees will gain insight into the program's inception and driving motivations, the development of community partnerships, and the funding mechanisms used to support the program.

Presenter:

• Cami Emerson, Community Health Specialist, WellWise Services Area Agency on Aging

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

2024 MVP Development and Maintenance Webinar

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting an upcoming webinar to provide an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) development and maintenance for the 2024 performance year of the Quality Payment Program.  

During the webinar, CMS subject matter experts will: 

• Review key dates related to MVPs;  
• Summarize the criteria for MVPs development and candidate submission criteria;  
• Outline the process for submitting an MVP candidate for consideration through the CMS MVP Submission Template; and  
• Outline the process for providing feedback requests as a part of MVP maintenance.  

Following the presentation, CMS will answer questions from attendees as time permits. 

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC)

Including People With Disabilities in Disaster Operations

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) recently honored International Day of Persons with Disabilities by releasing a new version of their training course titled “Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Operations.” This course replaces the previous version of IS:368 released in 2012. The course is designed for all personnel involved in disaster operations. It provides an introductory overview of information and strategies on how to include people with disabilities during mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

The course focuses on:  

• The difference between disabilities and access and functional needs. 
• FEMA’s actions supporting the integration of people with disabilities in disaster operations and ways to shorten the disaster cycle for them. 
• The differences between equity and equality.
• Ways to ensure terminology is in alignment with the needs of people with disabilities. 
• Messaging to ensure inclusivity and accessibility to all emergency managers.
• Guidance to FEMA staff on how to ensure physical, program, and communication access to the whole community.

Click here to access the course. 

National Council on Disability (NCD)

2023 Progress Report: Toward Economic Security: The Impact of Income and Asset Limits on People with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently released its 2023 Progress Report titled “Toward Economic Security: The Impact of Income and Asset Limits on People with Disabilities.” This report examines the implications of asset limits in government-sponsored social safety net programs on the economic self-sufficiency and financial independence of people with disabilities. The report focuses on four critical areas of public policy: health care, cash benefits provided through Supplemental Security Income (SSI), employment, and asset building and wealth protection. It also offers findings and recommendations for the Administration, Congress, and states in the areas of health, employment, asset building, and wealth protection to bring about policy and systems change.

Click here to view the full report. 

 Alliance for Health Policy

Navigating Complex Systems: Care and Policies for Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries

The Alliance for Health Policy is hosting an upcoming webinar to provide an overview of dually eligible populations and discuss key programs and coverage arrangements that coordinate care for beneficiaries. This webinar aims to help attendees understand what it is like to navigate care as a dually eligible individual, including what works and what doesn’t from a first-person perspective. It will also describe the heterogeneity of dually eligible populations and how people become dually eligible, including definitions, demographics, and paths to eligibility. Additionally, attendees will learn how dual-eligible programs are financed, administered, and delivered, and how commonly held policy goals can help manage the cost and quality of care for dual eligibles.

Speakers:

• Allison Hamblin, President and CEO, Center for Health Care Strategies 
• Dennis Heaphy, Policy Analyst/Researcher, Disability Policy Consortium 
• Thomas Betlach, Partner, Speire Healthcare Strategies
• Tim Engelhardt, Director of Federal Coordinated Health Care Office, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, December 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to register. 

American Society on Aging (ASA)

Depression and Dementia

Join the American Society on Aging (ASA) for an upcoming webinar exploring the relationship between depression and dementia. This session will focus on the evolving relationship between depression and dementia, emphasizing the influence of recurrent depressive episodes on the potential development of dementia. Attendees will have the opportunity to examine various modifiable risk factors for dementia, effective interventions and strategies for addressing depression, and specialized considerations tailored to people who are at increased risk for depression and dementia. This session will also provide health professionals with strategies to help people with depression and dementia build cognitive resilience. 

Presenter:

• George T. Grossberg, MD; Professor & Director of Geriatric Psychiatry - Department of Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, December 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Team Approaches to High-Quality, Patient-Centered Palliative Care

The American Society on Aging (ASA) is hosting an upcoming webinar titled “Team Approaches to High-Quality, Patient-Centered Palliative Care.” This presentation will define palliative care as a medical service that acknowledges the person beyond their disease process. The discussion will cover multidisciplinary, patient-centered team approaches to meet the comprehensive needs of seriously ill patients, reduce the burden of symptoms, and improve quality of life. Participants in this webinar will learn to identify when palliative care is appropriate, evaluate team approaches relative to the palliative care continuum, analyze systems-level considerations in implementing palliative care, and review practical resources for palliative care.

Presenter:

• David Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, C-ASWCM; Assistant Professor of Social Work/ Field Director, Misericordia University; Counselor/Consultant, David Hage Counseling & Consulting Services, LLC

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET.  

Click here to register.

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; and
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.

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. 

Justice in Aging

Resident Rights in Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living and Group Homes

Justice in Aging invites aging and disability advocates and aging network professionals to an upcoming webinar titled “Resident Rights in Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living and Group Homes.” This webinar will explore recently implemented federal protections for persons with disabilities living in group homes or other residential facilities. The event will cover eviction safeguards, requirements for unrestricted visitor access and round-the-clock food availability, the fundamental right to privacy, access to the local community, and the facility's obligation to accept Medicaid from former private-pay residents. The session will also explore state-specific differences and effective strategies to ensure compliance when facilities disregard or violate resident rights.

This webinar will take place on Thursday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register.

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 6, 2023 – Request for applications released.
• 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.

National Center on Law & Elder Rights (NCLER)

Elder Abuse Basics: Civil Legal Response 

The National Center on Law & Elder Rights (NCLER) is hosting an upcoming webinar titled "Elder Abuse Basics: Civil Legal Responses." This webinar will focus on how legal assistance providers can support older adults who have experienced abuse, neglect, or exploitation. 

This basics training will focus on how legal assistance providers can work to:

• Prevent or reduce the risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Provide options for intervention to stop abuse and place the person in a position of safety when abuse occurs.
• Help restore the person who has experienced abuse to a stronger position, including through civil action to recover damages and assets based on various legal causes of action.
• Increase awareness of abuse through community-based initiatives.

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

National Center to Reframe Aging (NCRA), National Council on Aging (NCOA) - Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center

Senior Centers Summit: Reframing Aging

Join the National Council on Aging's (NCOA) Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and the National Center to Reframe Aging (NCRA) for an interactive virtual summit exploring ways to effectively communicate about senior centers. This summit will provide information, resources, examples, and activities that participants can use to enhance the image of their center and be an agent of change in combatting ageism in their community.

After attending this summit, participants will be able to: 

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the evidence-based communication strategies for reframing aging.
• Understand how strategies from the NCRA have successfully been applied in multiple sectors to advance age-inclusive policies. 
• Apply tools from the NCRA to current advocacy work to change attitudes toward aging.

This summit will take place on Monday, December 11 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC)

Resources for Supporting Nursing Facility Residents with Mental and/or Behavioral Health Needs

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) have released materials from their recent webinar titled "Resources for Supporting Nursing Facility Residents with Mental and/or Behavioral Health Needs." The webinar addressed the growing population of people with mental and/or behavioral health needs living in long-term care facilities and discussed the challenges these facilities encounter in delivering personalized care. Specifically, the discussion centered on the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), a new free resource established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in September 2022. The webinar featured insights from COE-NF leadership about their objectives, target audience, and guidance on connecting nursing facilities with the available resources.

Click here to view resources from the webinar. 

National Council on Aging (NCOA)

Upcoming Webinars

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is hosting several webinars in December. For additional information, visit https://connect.ncoa.org/

“Sharing Best Practices for Limited English Proficiency” will feature up to three MIPPA grantees who will share best practices for outreach during the Medicare open enrollment period.

Presenters: 

• Darren Hotton, Associate Director of Community Health and Benefits, NCOA
• Gabriel Smith (Moderator), Program Associate - Center for Benefits Access, NCOA

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, December 12, at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to register. 

“Medicaid Opportunities for Evidence-Based Program Sustainability,” an NCOA webinar series, will explore common denominators to approaching state Medicaid agencies and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). In addition to addressing fundamental information about Medicaid benefit structure and policies, this four-part webinar series will offer both fundamental education about Medicaid programming and real-time experience from community-based organizations on their journeys to Medicaid reimbursement. The December 14 webinar, “Leveraging Medicaid Transformation to Support Expansion and Funding of Evidence-Based Programs,” will provide an overview of mechanisms available to state Medicaid agencies to make changes to operations and covered services, including submitting a State Plan Amendment (SPA) to CMS or completing a waiver process. Presenters will highlight the process of submitting a request to add the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program as a covered benefit in Oregon.

Presenters:



• Sharon Williams, Williams Jackson Consulting, LLC
• Katrina Seipp-Lewington, Manager of Community Health, Comagine Health

This webinar will take place on Thursday, December 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

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 Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS)

Invitation to Contribute Survey Content 

Through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the University of Michigan, the University of California - San Francisco (UCSF), the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), and several partner organizations are taking the lead on the National Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS). This project aims to develop and conduct annual national surveys to investigate the dementia care workforce, encompassing physicians, nurses, and direct care workers in various care settings. Additionally, NDWS is in the process of establishing a data infrastructure to support a wider community of researchers and policymakers. 

Each year from 2024 to 2028, the NDWS will field a set of four surveys of the professional dementia care workforce in the United States:  

• Community Clinicians, focusing on physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in the specialties of primary care (including geriatrics), neurology, and psychiatry.
• Nursing Home Staff, focusing on licensed nurses and direct care staff (e.g., nursing assistants, personal care aides).
• Assisted Living Staff, focusing on licensed nurses, social workers, activity staff, and direct care staff.
• Home Care Staff, focusing on licensed nurses and direct care staff (e.g., home health assistants, personal care aides).

The NDWS survey development team is actively soliciting ideas for questionnaire content and seeks ideas for both general survey domains and specific questionnaire items related to the above surveys. Respondents are encouraged to provide complete question phrasing and response choices, accompanied by a brief explanation justifying their inclusion, for both overall survey categories and specific inquiries.

NDWS requests that ideas be shared no later than Friday, December 15.

Click here to contribute survey content.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED)

Using AI to Support People with Disability in the Labour Market: Opportunities and Challenges

Building on interviews with more than 70 stakeholders, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED) has released a report exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the labor market. The report highlights the potentially transformative effects of AI in the labor market by outlining 142 AI-powered solutions tailored to assist people with disabilities. However, the report also examines the risks for people with disabilities posed by the increasing adoption of AI in the labor market and in society at large. The report outlines various governmental strategies aimed at mitigating the potential risks associated with the implementation of AI, specifically focusing on its use in supporting people with disabilites within the labor market.

Click here to read the report. 

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 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.

Director, Patient Care Models Group - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI)

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) seeks a Director for their Patient Care Models Group responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and administration of complex payment models aiming to reduce care costs while maintaining or enhancing health care quality for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This leadership role involves directing portfolio activities, guiding strategy implementation, managing HR and staffing, advising CMMI leadership on prioritization and coordination, and fostering external relationships to ensure alignment with CMS goals. The ideal candidate must demonstrate executive leadership skills aligning with fundamental competencies and Executive Core Qualifications expected for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions within the federal government.

Applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, December 10 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view the job posting. 

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Advancing Aging Network Capacity to Support Family, Kinship and Tribal Family Caregivers: Financial and Workplace Security

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently announced $3 million in new funding over four years to further support the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy). ACL will award one cooperative agreement for a project of national scope intended to foster advancements in two programs authorized by the Older Americans Act (OAA) — the National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Native American Caregiver Support Program. The goal of this initiative is to ensure family, kinship, and tribal caregivers are better recognized, supported, and included in programs funded by the OAA.  

The awardee will undertake technical assistance and capacity-building activities targeted to the aging, tribal, and kinship support networks in support of the implementation of Goal 4 of the Strategy: strengthening financial and workplace security for family caregivers. Other activities may include: Gathering, analyzing, developing, and disseminating employee/employer-focused tools and resources for supporting employed family caregivers; identifying and disseminating planning resources for family caregivers and care recipients; curating and disseminating information on affordable long-term services and supports; and developing, testing, and broadly disseminating employer awareness and training programs. The grantee will join four organizations that recently received awards to support the implementation of the other goals of the Strategy. 

Interested applicants should submit their application by Monday, December 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply. 

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

Funding Opportunities for Field-Initiated Projects (FIP) Programs

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) recently announced several new funding opportunities for Field-Initiated Projects (FIP) programs. 

FIP Funding Opportunities:

• The purpose of the FIP program is to generate new knowledge through research or to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies to maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family/caregiver support, and economic and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, especially people with the greatest support needs.

Available FIP Grants:

• FIP Research
• FIP Development

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

Click here to view the FIP grants.

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.

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 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 read the funding notices for the Section 811 Capital Advance Program and Section 811 Project Rental Assistance.