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The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law issues this call to action to inform advocates, policymakers and the public about the vital role the Supreme Court’s landmark decision plays in enabling people with mental illnesses to benefit from community life. The Olmstead decision is now 10 years old. According to the report, many people with mental illnesses remain segregated in board-and-care homes, nursing facilities and other institutions even though supportive community living is cost-effective.

The ODEP has released a brochure addressing employer concerns from a survey of 3,797 businesses across 12 industry sectors and various company sizes. Respondents reported on their beliefs about and strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing employees with disabilities. Concerns addressed in the brochure include issues with supervision, accommodations, worker’s compensation. Additionally, the brochure and technical report includes tools and resources for employers.

This letter is another in a series of State Medicaid Director correspondence that provides guidance on the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act), Public Law 111-5. This letter provides guidance on the process for accessing the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), expenditures for which the increased FMAP is available, and the eligibility “maintenance of effort” (MOE) requirements under section 5001(f) of the Recovery Act.

RTI is preparing a series of reports to document outcomes from the Systems Change grants. Divided into six parts, the first four provide an overview of the enduring improvements, continuing challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations of the 48 Research & Demonstration Grantees, organized by the four types of grants: CPASS, MFP, IP, & QA/QI. Part 5 provides summaries of the FTF Grants. Part 6 reviews the Respite for Adults and Children and Community-Based Treatment Alternatives for Children.

As the President and Congress forge legislative solutions to the current health care crisis, are they overlooking equally compelling arguments for reforming long-term services needed by some ten million Americans with severe, chronic disabilities? A two-part series, these bulletins deal with the impact of health reform legislation on persons with lifelong disabilities explores the similarities and differences in underlying strategies for restructuring health care and long-term services policies.

This new website supports PHI’s training and organizational development services. PHI works with providers of eldercare and disability services across the nation to deliver quality, relationship-centered care. Find out more about the PHI approach to training and ways to build skills.

Two developmental disability news publications cover national policy developments and initiatives affecting persons with developmental disabilities and the programs that serve them. Topics covered in CSR include self-advocacy; key state legislation; facility closures; litigation summaries; autism updates, budget overviews, and helpful resources. Readers keep in tune with the latest shaping publicly funded disability services. The June issue is complimentary; consider becoming a subscriber.

What are the policy options for Medicaid HCBS? This fact sheet suggests: broadening the scope of covered services, enhancing federal Medicaid matches to states to expand HCBS, allowing Medicaid HCBS beneficiaries to retain more assets to pay for home modifications or health services not covered by Medicaid, and allowing Medicaid HCBS waiver programs to serve people with lower levels of functional disability than those required for people in nursing homes.

More than 10 million Americans require long-term care supports and services yet the system for delivering and paying for this assistance is deeply flawed. The national health reform debate allows policymakers to reconsider long-term care as well. This paper assesses proposals to restructure the delivery and financing of long-term care services.

Achieving comprehensive health reform has emerged as a leading priority. In Congress, a number of comprehensive reform proposals have been announced as the debate proceeds. This interactive side-by-side compares the leading comprehensive reform proposals across a number of key characteristics and plan components. Users can choose one or more proposals and one or more topics for comparison.