Announcement/Press release

More states than ever are re-directing Medicaid funds to keep more people out of institutions and living in their own communities and homes, and there are many approaches that states can use to accomplish this, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said August 17th in a letter to state Medicaid directors. In addition there is a link to the two previously sent State Medicaid Directors letters, which are referenced in the letter.

News release on the sale of Dammasch State Hospital. The Oregon Office of Mental Health & Addiction Services seeking entities to sponsor the development of a variety of housing projects for persons with mental illness to be developed at Villebois in Wilsonville, Oregon. The proceeds of the sale, less expenses related to the complex real estate transaction, will be deposited in the Community Mental Health Housing Fund.

The Community Partnerships for Older Adults fosters community partnerships to improve long term care and supportive service systems to meet the current and future needs of older adults. This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program website features a resource center, which showcases the issues involved with creating, maintaining and sustaining a community partnership. Under the section on inclusion and diversity, you can find several resources on developing a culturally competent workforce.

The TTW was designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced people’s decisions about going to work because of concerns over losing health care coverage. The goal is increase opportunities & choices for beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation, & other support services. The attached regional updates offers statistics, newly-approved provider listings, & upcoming events. More information: visit website or fill out fax form on the newsletter backside.

In most cases, systems in use are paper-based and time intensive, which can lead to a high risk of fraud and abuse. The AuthentiCare Solution is an automated point-of-service verification system developed by GovConnect. The solution is designed to provide accurate, real-time access to information and to document that services have been provided. The solution uses a simple, secure, integrated phone and Internet environment.

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.

The first newsletter for the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Integration of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) announces the opening of their Center and describes the mission and the goals of the Center, including all the research and training projects that will be conducted there over the next 5 years.

Notice of invitation to participate in the Housing Work Group.The Housing Work Group will provide a means for grantees to network with peers and to engage in open a discussion on how to develop affordable, accessible, and integrated housing choices for persons with disabilities. Each monthly call will focus on a specific issue or challenge and may include an expert presenter.

A link is provided here to a press release from HiSoftware Company, a content quality management solutions company. The press release announces that the State of Florida Governor's ADA Working Group will be implementing AccVerify, AccRepair and AccMonitor Server from HiSoftware Company to manage state-wide accessibility initiatives.

This transmittal from the Office of Health Services serves to update nursing home administrators on HB 752. This bill requires that social workers in nursing homes present residents with information on home and community-based services waivers and other programs that might help them live in the community.