All States/Territories

On May 28, 2004, Glenn Stanton Acting Director of CMS’ Disabled Elderly Health Programs Group transmitted modifications and additions to the Interim Procedural Guidance for oversight of Medicaid waivers to all CMS Regional Administrators. The Guidance documents include the memo from Mr. Stanton, a diagram detailing the HCBS Waiver Quality Life Cycle and several attachments. The Guidance was updated in Feb. 2007, the link to that letter is also attached.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) and the National Governors Association (NGA) will sponsor a policy academy as part of Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne's Long-Term Care Initiative. Activities include creating strategies to improve the availability of community-based long-term care services. In addition to the meeting, technical assistance and a grant will assist academy states or territories in implementing strategies to balance long-term care systems throughout the course of one year.

Millions of Americans with disabilities or long-term illnesses need assistance with daily activities. Family members and friends fill much of that need, but paid workers are a critical source of care and services. The need for assistance is increasing yet the number of people available is growing slowly. CMS funded this paper to summarize literature and research on the home care, home health, and personal assistance services workforce, highlighting issues raised and lessons learned.

This memorandum and the accompanying tables present data on Medicaid 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver expenditures from Federal Fiscal Years 1998 through 2003.

In fiscal year (FY) 2004, Congress appropriated approximately $40 million in funding for a new round of Real Choice Systems Change Grants. With this solicitation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) invites proposals for grants totaling approximately $31 million of these funds.

CMS has revised its web-based resporting system for Systems Change Grantees. This letter, dated May 10, 2004, announces the changes made to the system and provides important information about report due dates and training calls.

Outlines the challenges facing service providers in addressing the needs of Latino caregivers. This monograph uses case studies to illustrate how specific cultural characteristics, such as language, customs and religion, can impact caregiving situations, and offers suggestions on ways cultural competency can be improved at organizational and policy levels. This publication is supported by a grant from the Archstone Foundation.

Traces the development of the oftentimes confusing array of programs and services in the U.S. health and long-term care system, and describes how service providers can help families pull the pieces together. The monograph examines the challenges facing caregivers and offers a list of useful resources available to providers and caregivers. Part of a series of reports from Family Careigver Alliance. This publication is supported by a grant from the Archstone Foundation.

This presentation highlighted The Community Living Exchange Collaborative Web site and the various features available to a wide array of audiences, including states, policy makers, advocates, researchers, consumers, and other entities involved in building systems that provide services and supports that reflect the needs and preferences of individuals of all ages with disabilities.

How would a system of supports look if people with disabilities and their circle of friends, or network, were truly in charge of their own needs, if they truly achieved self-determination? This paper is a call to action and an illustration of the depth of change required if we are truly to become responsive to people with disabilities.