Medicaid Buy-In

This Special Edition of NCHSD’s monthly eNews summarizes promising practices, information sharing, and strategic thinking from the November 2005 National MIG Technical Assistance Conference. Topics include: Work and Recovery, Strategies to reach full eligibility, Outcomes tracking requirements, Strategic planning, Attitudinal barriers to employment, The future of Medicaid, Research efforts and challenges and Advocates as key stakeholders. Presentation materials are available on CD or on-line.

The Maine CHOICES CEO (Comprehensive Employment Opportunities) project seeks to develop and implement a comprehensive statewide plan to support more people with disabilities who work, or would like to work. The project will also improve information about, and access to, some key work incentives for Maine people with disabilities. The website features materials & resources, links to other work incentives resources and a description of the planning process.

The Hawaii Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, called Hire Abilities–Hawaii, is brand new this year but a dynamic website has already been unveiled. The site offers information about the project’s goals and strategies, advisory board and staff, and work incentive programs. It also serves as an important communication tool through the use of a public discussion board and on-line calendar. As an added feature, the site contains administrative tools to help the project team manage grant activities.

CMS was soliciting proposals from states to develop the infrastructure to support competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Funding for this program is intended to facilitate enhancements to state Medicaid programs and services, to promote linkages between Medicaid and other employment-related service agencies and to develop a comprehensive system of employment supports for people with disabilities. Applications due 07/07/05. Funding Opportunity: HHS-2005-CMS-MIG-0006

NCHSD held its 4th Annual National Fall Technical Assistance Conference for Medicaid Infrastructure Grantees. This year’s meeting featured pre-conference regional gatherings, a day-long session on building public-private partnerships with employers, updates from our CMS partners, and a series of state expert panel presentations. Attached are the Fall 2004 Conference Edition eNews with highlights and promising practices plus the conference materials and presentations from every session.

Notes from TAE Monthly Grantee Teleconference on corrdinating Employment Supports held on May 6, 2004. Presenters: Shelia Fesko, Vicki Brooke, Cindy Thomas and Melissa Wittman.

The Vermont Work Incentives Initiative is comprised of several interconnected grant projects that fund direct services to clients, research, and systems change efforts focused on improving employment outcomes and independence for people with disabilities. The web site prvides a wide array of resources on several topics, including benefits counseling, medicaid buy-in program, personal assistance services and other employment supports. A link to the Reports page is provided.

CMS has announced a modification to its solicitation of proposals from states to develop Medicaid infrastructure to support the competitive employment of people with disabilities by facilitating targeted improvements to the state’s Medicaid program and/or developing a comprehensive employment infrastructure that coordinates disparate state service delivery systems. The Announcement provides complete information about the grant, including the proposal due date, award date and agency contacts.

EXECUTIVE ORDER RP 13 Relating to community-based alternatives for people with disabilities.

These documents describe the Littleton Model Community Project. Included is a description of the project, a list of expectations, a a questionnaire for Advisory Council Members and a definition of what a model community is.