CMS

States have used a variety of techniques to combat the rising costs of prescriptions, especially for psychotropic medications. This paper notes that it is important to consider alternatives that have the potential to both contain costs and improve the quality of care and outcomes. The paper provides some examples of promising practices from Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, and Massachusetts.

This letter clarifies the policy of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration, as it relates to the enrollment of Medicare eligible beneficiaries in Medicaid managed care.

In this letter, CMS outlines several methods by which states may facilitate the transition of individuals from institutional to community settings through Medicaid coverage of medical equipment (ME) costs. This letter also serves to reiterate the July 25, 2000, State Medicaid Directors’ letter on this issue and to encourage states to explore this opportunity for persons with disabilities.

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.

This teleconference was held to allow Family to Family grantees share their expertise and areas of concern. The goal was to learn from the experiences of other grantees. Agenda topics included collaborating with other organizations on webpages, and 211 information lines, how to handle hotline calls in an efficient, yet empathetic manner, and how to effectively collect and use family stories.

This report describes South Carolina’s programs for older people and people with physical disabilities to gain access institutional and community Medicaid supports through a single access point, and have increasing opportunities to direct their own services. The report also describes how the state has been particularly innovative in using information technology to improve the quality of community supports and participants’ access to services.

This report describes the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Mental Retardation's efforts to implement a system-wide reform of its supports for people with mental retardation. The objective of this Transformation Project is to improve the quality of life of people who use publicly funded supports by providing them with more choices and greater control over these supports.

This document describes New Hampshire’s community based service system for people with developmental disabilities. The document provides a brief overview of the community based system and a discussion on the integration of services and programs, as well as the funding sources.

This report looks at attempts by different states to allow money to follow the person. Money Follows the Person refers to a system of flexible financing for long-term services that enables available funds to move with the individual to the most appropriate and preferred setting as the individual’s needs and preferences change.

This report presents several State initiatives that increase Medicaid access for people who are chronically homeless. The report also provides information about people who are chronically homeless and the Medicaid enrollment barriers they face.