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Are you a person with a disability interested in the accessibility of medical clinics? The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Health & Wellness is asking people with disabilities to participate in an on-line survey identifying barriers to routine health care. Information gathered will be used to develop a checklist which health care providers can use to assess their accessibility. The survey takes no longer than 15 minutes to complete and must be answered by September 30.

Maine’s ADRC grantee has produded their first official newsletter. This publication is one method of communication for the ADRC between coalition members, state stakeholders, and the technical advisory group. The newsletter keeps everyone updated on the status of the subcommittees and on work at Maine Eastern Agency on Aging's (EAA) ADRC site. Volumne 1, Issue 1

This paper, an effective practice description originally published by the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute in 2003, is now available free of charge in Spanish. The 32-page document discusses adult learner-centered training methods, the importance of teaching communication and problem-solving in addition to clinical skills, and orientation, peer mentoring, and other forms of on-the-job support. It is the first in a series of training materials PHI is translating into Spanish.

This report provides the latest national and state data on Medicaid enrollment and spending for individuals enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare, also known as dual eligibles. Nationally, there are 7.5 million dual eligibles and while they comprise 14 percent of the Medicaid population, they account for 40 percent of Medicaid spending.

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.

Many Real Choice System Change grantees are struggling with the issues that effect youth with disabilities that are aging out of foster care. The following attachments are promising practices and demonstrated strategies about the subject. Review either of the two reports about Transition Planning for Foster Youth with Disabilities. A resource list of organizations and websites is also included.

As part of the State of Wisconsin’s Quality Close to Home (QCTH) project, a contract was established with the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA). This report describes the uses, methods, advantages, and disadvantages of four distinct sets of quality indicators, also called personal outcomes and performance outcomes. It also provides a overview, structural review and observations of the quality indicators.

The Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMR/DD), a 2003 Real Choice Systems Change QA/QI in HCBS grantee, has begun to develop with initial stakeholder input, a Quality Framework to guide what data is collected. Ohio's QA/QI in HCBS grant application was written specifically to fund the design, development and implementation of all aspects of a quality information management system. Review the chart listing their domain, outcomes & core indicators.

On September 1, 2005, The Bush administration's Medicaid Commission released its recommendations for reducing the growth in Medicaid spending by $11 billion over the next five years. The report provides a history and overview of the program, explains the purpose of the commission, and offers six recommendations for savings.