State/Agency Information

The Oregon Department of Human Services, Division of Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD) contracted with HSRI to assist in improving the processes for assuring quality in SPD in-home waiver services. Drawing from HSRI's experience in quality assurance, SPD identified a number of states which have been particularly successful in conducting consumer surveys. At the same time, the project team explored in greater detail what was currently happening in Oregon around consumer surveys.

Need an overview of the basic components of the nation’s largest health coverage program? Medicaid covers 55 million low-income individuals and is the dominant source of long-term care financing. Examine the structure of the program, who it covers, what services it provides, and spending. Because Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments programs vary across states. Tables examining the state-to-state variation in eligibility, enrollment, and spending are included.

Take a look at the newly re-designed web site with a new look and feel that is more user-friendly. Visitors can find news, conferences, key issues areas, State Medicaid Director Letters, Federal Budget Information, Links to key organizations and state Medicaid agencies, publications and many other resources.

This Issue Brief by the Alliance for Health Reform provides a short overview of the Cash & Counseling program. Sections include How the program came about, Access, health outcomes, and satisfaction with service, Five steps in getting started, Cost comparisons, Outstanding issues, Fast facts and Expert sources.

A new Health Services Research Journal is a dedicated issue to Cash & Counseling. Review the summary of 15 articles; topics include public/private partnerships, research design and methodological issues, evaluation, consumer enrollment and experiences, costs, worker issues and case histories. Also find two commentaries on Cash & Counseling, one on the international context and the other about social experimentation.

Given the complexities of F/EA operations, it is important to refer to reliable source information such as the lists of Government F/EA and Vendor F/EA Tasks. This information will assist state and local program agency staff in understanding the requirements and key elements of Government and Vendor F/EA operations and developing a Government F/EA Policies and Procedures Manual, when applicable.

In light of this major change and assuming that states may want to learn more about Cash & Counseling, this publication offers an in-depth description of the option, a discussion of key findings from the three-state demonstration, and preliminary information about the program’s expansion into 12 more states. At the end is a list of resources—both Web sites and published materials—for further information. Stories about consumers who have first-hand experience appear throughout this publication.

The 7th CMS New Freedom Initiative Conference was held March 5-7 in Baltimore. Presentations are available in both PDF and text formats. “Choice and Independence” is a key pillar of CMS’ vision for a person-centered long term services and supports system for the future. The 2007 conference focused on the policies, programs, and tools -including opportunities authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act– available to shape and carry out the vision.

To help States build the infrastructure needed to remove barriers and create more consumer responsive LTC systems, CMS awarded $70 million in Real Choice Systems Change Grants. Fifty-two Grants were awarded in Sept. 2001 (25 Real Choice, 10 Community-Integrated Personal Assistance Services & Supports, 17 Nursing Facility Transition). This report describes the progress FY01 Grantees have made on their activities during the first year of the three-year Grant period (Oct 1, 2001-Sept 30, 2002.)

The UCare website is a feature of the Utah Department of Human services and exists primarily to help caregivers and provide link to other resources. Resources are for the elderly, people with mental illness, for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Information is available on-line and through a statewide toll free number. Other features to note include provider report cards, guides, a glossary and the long-term care planning tool.