Independence Plus

On October 12, 2004 the Community Living Exchange Collaborative at Rutgers Center for State Health Policy hosted a Self-Direction audio conference for Independence Plus and CPASS grantees to discuss Person-Centered Planning and Individual Budgeting. Presentations inlcuded CMS, Minnesota, Wyoming, and New Hampshire.

On September 17, 2003, CMS sent a letter to state Medicaid directors addressing the principles of Money Follows the person. This letter is a follow up to the August 13, 2004 letter. Because the concept has been widely discussed in “Open Door” forums, this letter provides additional examples and clarification of the concept.

This conference was designed to assess state initiatives to improve quality, cost, and access and to help policy makers—from both the executive and legislative branches—identify the most promising and cost effective of these programs and policies. Sessions of interest for grantees include: Quality Challenges in LTC, Self-Direction Sweeping States, Information to Live by...Building Integrated Health Data Systems, Beyond HCBS Waivers, Money Follows the Person, Medicare Modernization Act

This transcript is from a call on \"Emergency Back-Up and Independence Plus\". Participants on the call discussed the requirement for states to have an Emergency Back-Up System at both the individual level and the systems level. Grantees heard examples from states in action, which included New Hampshire, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina. These states discussed what they are doing around emergency back-up and some of the lessons that they have learned.

More states than ever are re-directing Medicaid funds to keep more people out of institutions and living in their own communities and homes, and there are many approaches that states can use to accomplish this, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said August 17th in a letter to state Medicaid directors. In addition there is a link to the two previously sent State Medicaid Directors letters, which are referenced in the letter.

The Cash & Counseling approach provides consumers with a flexible monthly allowance that is based on an individualized budget, which allows them to direct and manage their own personal assistance services and address their own specific needs. This website hosts a library, offers information the original demonstrations, news & events.

Beginning in 2001 and continuing in 2002 and 2003, technical assistance for the Real Choice Systems Change grantees has been provided by the Exchange Collaborative team (combined efforts of ILRU and Rutgers University/CSHP). These documents provide contact information for the TA providers and two charts indicating which Exchange Team is responsible for providing TA to the grantees. In 2002 & 2002, TA was divided according to states. In 2003, TA was distributed according to theme.

The National Consortium for Health Systems Development (NCHSD) is a state-driven forum for information sharing and innovation that improves employment policy by facilitating collaboration among local, state, and federal experts. Materials available on this website provide the latest information around states’ efforts to remove employment barriers and develop a comprehensive health system for people with disabilities who wish to work.

The Consumer Directed Attendant Support (CDAS) program is designed to help people with disabilities manage their own attendant services. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the CDAS Advisory Committee have developed this program. This manual is designed to be a resource for you while in CDAS. It includes information about what it means to direct your own attendant support along with suggestions, sample forms and checklists.

This Internet site is provided as a resource for policymakers, health care consumers, providers, and all citizens of Colorado. The site includes information on the Medical Assistance Program and the Consumer Directed Attendant Support (CDAS) program.