All States/Territories

Over 25 speaker presentations from the 20th Annual State Health Policy Conference in Denver. Workshop sessions include State Children’s Health Insurance Program, Health Care Reform, Early Childhood Development, Managed Long-Term Care, Quality Improvement and Measurement, Patient Assessment, State Initiatives on Nursing Homes and Increased Community Care, and Medicaid Funding. Review the presentations and other hot topics in state health policy.

The publication is an evaluation of the disability experience in America by the Life Without Limits Project, formerly known as the Big Sky Project. The primer, an examination and consolidation of current and existing research on the overall state of affairs for individuals with disabilities, includes chapters on disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, housing, and organizing for change. It also includes personal stories and quotes from disability rights advocates and trail blazers.

Since Medicaid is funded by states as well as the federal government, it has a considerable impact on state budgets. When considering Medicaid’s impact on state budgets and other state spending priorities, it is important to distinguish between total spending on Medicaid and spending with state funds. Often this distinction is not made. This brief examines the different measures and provides data on how much each state spends on Medicaid.

This consumer guide from MetLife is one in a series of guides called "Since You Care" done in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregiving. It provides information for family caregivers about locating potential home care aides, screening applications, conducting interviews, running background checks and administering payroll, including social security and other taxes. It also provides helpful resources, including books, publications, websites and a sample contract.

The NCHSD is a technical assistance partnership providing flexible, state-tailored technical assistance to states developing comprehensive health and employment service systems for people with disabilities who want to work. Serving people with disabilities, providers, state agencies, research institutes, advocates and businesses, NCHSD is a project of Health & Disability Advocates (HDA). Visit the Resource Exchange and Library for the latest information, events and reports.

This report was authored by PHI for the Health Field Collaborative (HFC) in Michigan to bring attention to its approach to improving retention of entry-level workers in health care and direct-care workers in the long-term care industry. The study explains how HFC created the Opportunity Partnership & Empowerment Network (OPEN) to address a critical local need. It outlines components of the program, reviews outcomes for the pilot phase, and identifies factors for sustaining it in the future.

This report describes the activities of 12 Grantees that received Independence Plus (IP) grants in FY 2003 and are using them to increase self-directed services options for persons of all ages with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Grantees encountered a range of issues while implementing. This report provides information for states and stakeholders planning, implementing, or expanding self-direction programs, whether through solely state-funded programs or the Medicaid program.

The Montana Medicaid Infrastructure Grant held the Empowerment of Native Americans with Disabilities Conference on November 2, 2006. Some of the topics addressed included: barriers to employment, social security benefits planning and vocational rehabilitation. Conference materials (flyer, brochure, agenda and evaluation) are included as example.

The Montana Medicaid Infrastructure Grant has produced this variety of survey tools, designed to obtain information on the employment of people with disabilities in Montana and assist the State in developing and/or improving programs and services that will enable Montanans with disabilities to gain employment.

Supported by a Comprehensive Employment System - Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, Minnesota developed a competitive employment program called Pathways to Employment. Outreach materials produced by Pathways to Employment include: a website, a Postcard on Myth Busters and a Conference Folder with information on employment services and supports.