Advocates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for August 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provide data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for July 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provide data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

Milbank Memorial Fund’s Reforming States Group partnered with The New York Academy of Medicine to develop sessions focused on some of the major challenges and opportunities facing states as they work to support an aging population. This report provides a review of the issues discussed at the meetings, as well as recommendations for state policy interventions. The report also focuses on topics of specific interest to state leaders: age-friendly communities; LTSS and workforce.

ADvancing States has released the association’s 2016 policy priorities. The priorities document outlines issues and recommendations regarding a wide range of health and human services programs important to older adults and people with disabilities. These include issues such as: • Implementation of the Older Americans Act reauthorization; • Medicaid LTSS innovations; • Support for caregivers; and • Employment for people with disabilities •

The Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability published this month's National Trends on Disability Employment report (nTIDE). Each month this report is published to mark the changes of employment for people with disabilities.

This resource list includes key resources on the mental health needs of older adults, effective interventions, workforce issues, and more.

This is the official White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) Toolkit that organizations and individuals can use to host their own events and submit to the official 2015 White House Conference. The four focus areas of the 2015 WHCOA include retirement security, healthy aging, long-term services and supports, and elder justice.

This Advisory Committee report is open for public review and comment until April 8, 2015. The report describes findings from the Advisory Committee's review of the scientific evidence on diet, nutrition, and health, and will help inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines, expected to be released by the end of 2015. The Dietary Guidelines are updated every five years and directly affect all federally-funded nutrition programs.

This GAO report examines 1) the extent to which states have Supplemental Security Income/Disability Insurance (SSI/DI) advocacy contracts with private organizations; 2) how SSI/DI advocacy practices compare across selected sites; and 3) the key controls the Social Security Administration has to ensure these organizations follow SSI/DI program rules and regulations. The GAO identified 16 states with some type of SSI/DI advocacy contract in 2014.

As almost half of the States have implemented MLTSS programs, community-based organizations, will be significantly impacted. At the 2013 HCBS conference, ADvancing States, with support from the SCAN Foundation, held a day-long intensive to discuss these impacts. This report outlines 5 discrete roles that CBOs are well-suited to play in MLTSS programs using as a reference point CMS’ 2013 guidance on MLTSS program design and implementation. To request a hard copy version, email Ali Diaz at adiaz@advancingstates.org.