Audio / Video recordings

The Program Sustainability in Healthy Brain Initiative three-part video series was developed by the Association Of State And Territorial Health Officials (ASHTO), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to highlight program sustainability in ongoing Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) work. Hear from three state leaders and an academic expert about focus areas including partnership, equitable practice, and the blending of public health planning and sustainability for long-term benefits of the HBI. After watching this video series, participants can continue their sustainability journey with ASTHO's written Sustainability in HBI Implementation: Who? What? Why? Now! resource...

On February 22, a panel of four experts joined Larry Levitt, KFF’s executive vice president for health policy, for a 45-minute discussion addressing the future of prior authorization requirements in health care. The panel discussed why insurers use prior authorization, its impact on patients and providers, and how the new regulations may change current practices. They also examined the potential for further regulatory or legislative actions to address ongoing concerns.

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) recently announced the release of the final Sunstorm Story for 2023. In collaboration with Foundations for Divergent Minds, Seeded Ground, and the John Hopkins’ Disability Health Research Center, Sunstorm Stories are a collection of short narrative videos that reflect on Covid’s lingering impact on the disability community, particularly those who are also Black, Indigenous, and other Leaders of Color. Throughout the series, featured storytellers offer messages of solidarity while also urging medical professionals to meaningfully improve inclusion, enhance access, and prevent discriminatory treatment.

National Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) have released materials from their recent webinar titled "Resources for Supporting Nursing Facility Residents with Mental and/or Behavioral Health Needs." The webinar addressed the growing population of people with mental and/or behavioral health needs living in long-term care facilities and discussed the challenges these facilities encounter in delivering personalized care. Specifically, the discussion centered on the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), a new free resource established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in September 2022

During Guardianship Awareness Month in October, the National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) is offering a range of resources for advocates. These resources include recordings of NCLER's ACL-LSC training series, which cover topics like representing clients with differing decisional capabilities and defending against or terminating guardianship. Additionally, advocates can access a Guardianship Awareness Resource Guide, developed in partnership with the National Center on Elder Abuse, featuring trainings, podcasts, and publications related to guardianship and its alternatives. These resources aim to empower advocates in their efforts to reduce barriers, promote autonomy, and protect the civil rights of older adults.

In a recent United States Senate Committee On Finance Hearing, the focus was on addressing deceptive marketing practices in the Medicare Advantage program, particularly those targeting older adults. The hearing shed light on the actions of marketing middlemen, significant private marketing entities situated between older adults and their coverage, who were accused of exploiting personal information to benefit health insurance plans. The investigation underscored the financial burden of these deceptive marketing practices on taxpayers, estimated at $6 billion in 2022, and the necessity of improving provider directories to ensure accurate information for Medicare Advantage enrollees. The hearing reflected a broader commitment to reducing...

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) recently released a new training video titled "Mental Health and the Federal Workplace: What Can I Do?" This video offers insights into how federal employees, regardless of their positions, can contribute to cultivating a mental health-friendly workplace for themselves and their peers. The video, developed in partnership with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Personnel Management, along with the U.S. Department of Education and Access Board, serves as a valuable resource for agencies aiming to promote awareness and foster discussions about workplace well-being.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made the recordings of the 2023 National Training Program (NTP) Virtual Workshop available on their website for those who were unable to attend the live sessions. Session topics include: Social Security Medicare Enrollment, Eligibility, Part A, and Part B Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Drug Coverage When Using Medicare Medicare Advantage Medicare for People with Disabilities Medicare for People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Medicare Current Topics Coordination of Benefits Medicare Scenarios (Casework Session) Medicare & Tax-Favored Health Programs Medicare Plan Finder

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made the recordings of the 2023 National Training Program (NTP) Virtual Workshop available on their website for those who were unable to attend the live sessions. Session topics include: Social Security Medicare Enrollment, Eligibility, Part A, and Part B Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Drug Coverage When Using Medicare Medicare Advantage Medicare for People with Disabilities Medicare for People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Medicare Current Topics Coordination of Benefits Medicare Scenarios (Casework Session) Medicare & Tax-Favored Health Programs Medicare Plan Finder

The 2023 Sarah Taub Memorial Webinar shared highlights from the 2021-2022 National Core Indicators - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI-IDD) and National Core Indicators - Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD) surveys. The webinar showcased promising outcomes and areas for improvement across domains such as person-centered planning, community participation and employment, health and health care, staffing, and the HCBS Final Settings Rule.