Links / Websites

Find state-developed resources on a variety of health reform implementation topics. The site is designed to support state officials working to implement health reform. States are encouraged to share their own resources as well as learn from others. Resources include state-specific overview analyses, work plans, timelines, progress reports, fiscal analyses, proposals for federal funding, state implementation websites and more.

Presentations from NASHP's 23rd annual conference held October 4-6 in New Orleans are available online. Included are remarks from CMS Administrator Donald Berwick , and presentations such as Health Care Reform: New Options for Rebalancing Long Term Services and Supports, Integrating Care for Dual Eligibles, Reforming State Long Term Services and Supports Programs through Participant Direction, and numerous others. Review the presentations about vital issues in state health policy.

Check out New Mexico’s Medicaid Buy-in Program (WDI) website. The program was created in 1999. Collaborative efforts of agencies, employers and consumers statewide continue to build upon the MIG initiatives for a sustainable, streamlined employment support system. See their website which includes marketing materials in both Spanish and English, applications, employment survey, policies, and much more.

Review the results of a survey that measures the current attitudes of corporate employers toward employees with disabilities and corporate action on hiring people with disabilities. Findings are presented on current corporate disability policies and programs, steps employers have been taking towards recruiting, training, and retaining people with disabilities, as well as the barriers they experience, and more.

Review the results of a survey that assesses the quality of life of people with disabilities on a wide range of critical dimensions and tracks them over time. A number of indicators were used, and findings show that while there has been modest improvement in a few areas, there has yet to be significant progress. Employment remained as the largest gap between people with disabilities and those without. Attached are links to the final report, executive summary, presentation and webinar.

Access the latest information on health care reform and learn how it impacts seniors and those with disabilities in your community. Resources include new grant releases, updates, fact sheets, blog links, state-by-state reports, CMS guidance and White House.gov links.

Grant awards totaling approximately $2.25 million to 12 states to implement the Lifespan Respite Care Program were recently awarded, adding to the twelve states that received awards in 2009. Lifespan Respite Care programs are coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults of all ages with special needs. Find information about the implementation of the program, and learn more about the key activities of each of the grantees.

Are you looking to develop an online person centered planning tool? Check out this one created to help people with disabilities think about their strengths, needs, wants and dreams, and put them in a plan to use to make decisions about their life. The plan is separated into four categories (Home, Community, Health & Work) and is created completely online. It also includes information on looking for services on TheDesk.info (Medicaid Reference Desk).

Review the findings of six listening sessions where participants provided input on more effective ways to increase employment of women, veterans, and minorities with disabilities, the identfication of federal and state systems effectively collaborating to achieve successful employment outcomes, and identification of three top issues on which the federal government should focus to support an increase in labor force participation of people with disabilities.

The Ask Medicare initiative was developed by CMS to help caregivers navigate challenging issues and find necessary information to make better healthcare decisions for their loved ones. The main feature of Ask Medicare is a one-stop, easy-to-use Web site with targeted information, decision-making resources, and support tools. The Web site also includes a free e-newsletter and instructive, personal stories from caregivers.