CMS

This letter dated February 18, 2005 provides guidance on CMS disclosure of LTC/MDS data to State Medicaid Agencies, Section 1915 Waiver Programs, and “Real Choice Systems Change Grant” Programs in order to assist states in their efforts to comply with the integrated care setting and reasonable accommodation requirements of Title II of the ADA. Share this letter with appropriate state agency staff and designated entities that are working on waiver and grant programs.

The New Freedom Initiative, announced in February 2001, called for a comprehensive assessment of federal policies, programs, statutes, and regulations to identify barriers that impede community living for disabled individuals—and for recommended solutions. In October 2004 CMS awarded an additional $30 million in Real Choice Systems Change Grants—this money in addition to the 188 grants for over $158 million between fiscal years 2001-03. This report highlights accomplishments of those programs.

The Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded a three year contract to the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC) to provide technical assistance to the Consumer Task Forces Real Choice system change grant projects. In doing this, CMS highlighted the contributions that consumers can and must make to the success of the grants and to increasing access to community living services more generally. This website offers a list of grant projects, tip sheets and survey tools.

This presentation from the November 2004 Gerontological Society of America Conference discusses how the ADRC Iniative will develop a national framework for and implement a single point of entry system in states that will help streamline access to long-term care.

The purpose of The Protocol is to provide the CMS Regional Office staff responsible for reviewing 1915(c) waiver programs, i.e., the state Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs, with standardized and comprehensive procedures for assessing the quality of care and services provided through these programs. This Protocol was developed for reviews of all waivers and all waiver target groups.

This article was prepared for the TASH Connections newsletter and it highlights the ADRC initiative. Aging and Disability Resource Centers, or “Resource Centers”, are designed to reduce the confusion often experienced in the search for appropriate long-term community supports. The three-year Resource Center grants given to 24 states are part of the New Freedom Initiative aimed at overcoming barriers to community living for people with disabilities of all ages.

The Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC) is a CMS contractor that provides free assistance to academic, government and non-profit researchers interested in using Medicare and/or Medicaid data for their research. ResDAC also provides workshops & presentations and offers help in building the research and data capacities of small schools.

Presented May 2004 these slides speak to the issues of quality in the ever growing arena of HCBS services. Growth in funding and growth in people served in self-directed services presents challenges for assuring quality. The slides speak to CMS Quality Initiatives and the Quality Framework Focus Areas.

Presentation at the 2003 CMS conference this presentation summarizes the principles of effective coalition building which emphasizes how cross-disability consumers and advocates can work together and work with state policy makers to effect meaningful systems change.

On October 5, 2004, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced $31 million in grants to 31 states to help people with disabilities or long-term illnesses live in their homes and participate fully in community life. The grants were awarded under the New freedom Initiative and are known as Real Choice Systems Change Grants. A total of 52 grants were awarded in nine categories. The press release, which describes the grant categories, and list of grantees are available.