Washington

Medicaid directors, Aging directors, and MR/DD directors in 5 states describe their experiences implementing and developing an IT system to support a \"single entry point\" (SEP), or \"no wrong door,\" service system. Approaches range from custom design to adaptation of \"off the shelf\" packages using vendors and/or state staff.

This paper explores the role of older participants in planning, developing and overseeing home and community based service (HCBS) programs. It seeks to help State Units on Aging and others in the aging network identify concrete steps they can take to support the role of these older individuals as public policy advocates. The report addresses the extent of older HCBS participants' current involvement, the barriers to success, and the strategies being used to attain participation.

This document presents examples of presumptive and fast track eligibility programs implemented by several states to reduce the time it takes to process the Medicaid application.

This document identifies assessment instruments being used and reviews some of the variation across instruments and in the processes for using them. It includes an overview of the major components of the assessment instruments and of their role in a state’s eligibility determination, assessment, or care planning processes.

This report looks at attempts by different states to allow money to follow the person. Money Follows the Person refers to a system of flexible financing for long-term services that enables available funds to move with the individual to the most appropriate and preferred setting as the individual’s needs and preferences change.

This report presents several State initiatives that increase Medicaid access for people who are chronically homeless. The report also provides information about people who are chronically homeless and the Medicaid enrollment barriers they face.

This document describes the State of Washington’s many resources specifically designed to facilitate the transition of nursing facility residents to less restrictive, community settings. The state also offers four funding sources for transitional services people may need when leaving a nursing facility. The document notes the specific programs, their implementation and impact.

Families USA has released Medicaid: Good Medicine for State Economies predicting the impact state Medicaid spending will have on business activity, jobs, & wages in 2005. The report argues that extending the $10 billion in fiscal relief provided by Congress to the states last year, through enhanced Federal participation in Medicaid, through the end of fiscal year 2005 would help strengthen state economies by generating even more business activity, jobs,& wages. Includes data for every state.

This report describes the State of Washington’s program to increase the support of family caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease in ethnically diverse communities. The program includes outreach, education, and culturally sensitive assessment. The implementation and impact are described in this report.

This report describes the State of Washington’s plan to allow families to create a trust fund for people with disabilities without effecting eligibility. This program matches 25% of private contributions and eliminates fees to encourage participation. This document describes the program implementation.