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Paying personal assistance services (PAS) providers competitive wages and offering them benefits is one of the keys to stopping abuse of people with disabilities by their PAS workers, according to a report from the Center on Self-Determination Oregon Institute on Disability and Development. The report details a leading list of strategies for assisting individuals with disabilities to prevent and stop violence.

Created in 1995, the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority makes self-directed services available to people with disabilities who need support in order to live in the community. Using statistics and stories, this report outlines worker supports such as a free handbook and newsletter, a widely used health & dental insurance program, information about programs and services such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and affordable housing, and steadily increasing wages.

In an effort to equalize salaries for direct support professionals, a bill was introduced into the House that would improve the salaries & benefits. The Direct Support Professional Fairness and Security Act would increase federal Medicaid reimbursement rates & would amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act allowing states to raise salaries for privately employed staff who provide community-based support services.

Employer-based health insurance provides the majority of workers with access to health care & protection against devastating financial losses. Millions of workers, however, do not receive health benefits from their employers, and few sources of affordable coverage exist outside the employer-based system. This study, from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey, finds a deep divide in the labor force and an urgent need for expanding access to comprehensive and affordable coverage.

The New Hampshire CPASS project identified system “gaps” that impact a consumer-directed long-term care (LTC) service model. Focus groups identified gaps in the personal care services system, services that are at the heart and origin of consumer direction in the State. This analysis begins with an overview of consumer-directed personal care (CDPC), followed by a discussion of the gaps identified by focus groups and initial recommendations to address the gaps.

The Talking Quality website was designed for people and organizations trying to educate consumers about health care quality. It is intended to provide consumers with information on the performance of health plans and providers. The site offers the latest research findings, real-world examples, and innovative ideas on ways to communicate complex information on health care quality to consumers.

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.

The National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care is the premier \"meeting place\" for people committed to improving health care. a not-for-profit organization driving the improvement of health by advancing the quality and value of healthcare. This Website includes measures and tools in 11 topic areas, such as improvement, chronic conditions, and patient safety. IHI is a reliable source of energy, knowledge, and support for a never-ending campaign to improve health care worldwide.

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.