Reports

This policy outlines the role and function of the Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Performance Analysis Committee. This group plays a central part in the collection, analysis and reporting of data in relation to performance indicators identified by various stakeholders as important in a state MR/DD program. The policy offers definitions, standards, procedures, and a flow chart to illustrates their continuous quality improvement cycle.

This report provides an overview of 35 states’ initiatives to improve their LTC systems and includes lessons learned and recommendations that can guide states undertaking similar initiatives. Despite accomplishments and improvements, Grantees described continuing barriers including insufficient funding for home and community services; workforce shortages; lack of affordable and accessible housing and transportation; and outdated or inflexible administrative, statutory, and regulatory provisions.

These Person Centered Planning (PCP) presentations discuss how PCP allows consumers to plan for their preferences and do this throughout their lifespan. Presentations focus of the individual within his/her family and community and the relationships that affect PCP. The focus throughout is to identify personal preferences and to develop the plan for the future.

The goal of the 2004 Real Choice Systems Change grant is to address the issues and barriers preventing consumers of mental health services from receiving flexible supports in the community housing of their choice. This report identifies the grant outcomes, activities and evaluation including the degree to which supported housing is embraced and practiced by providers on a larger scale and how housing providers know how to work collaboratively.

A new Health Services Research Journal is a dedicated issue to Cash & Counseling. Review the summary of 15 articles; topics include public/private partnerships, research design and methodological issues, evaluation, consumer enrollment and experiences, costs, worker issues and case histories. Also find two commentaries on Cash & Counseling, one on the international context and the other about social experimentation.

This study examines how a new service delivery model of consumer direction affected Medicaid and Medicare service use and costs. Of particular interest were the program's effects on expenditures for the services that the program \"costed-out\" (that is, those services for which an allowance was provided instead) and on total expenditures for all Medicaid services.

In light of this major change and assuming that states may want to learn more about Cash & Counseling, this publication offers an in-depth description of the option, a discussion of key findings from the three-state demonstration, and preliminary information about the program’s expansion into 12 more states. At the end is a list of resources—both Web sites and published materials—for further information. Stories about consumers who have first-hand experience appear throughout this publication.

The cost effectiveness calculation spreadsheet allows users to compare four separate locations and multiple scenarios of using state general revenues for rental assistance. In many instances, the net state cost to serve individuals with disabilities in the community is considerably less than the net state cost in an institution.

Interviews were conducted to identify current perceptions, patterns, themes, and suggestions for improving the choice and self-direction, quality and access to long term care supports. This research also identified ways to develop a mechanism to balance state resources for services, and to identify elements for the design and structure of a single point of entry mechanism. Groups included: consumers of HCBS, elderly and younger nursing home residents, family members of consumers, and providers.

Completed over an 18 month period in 2004-2005, this project was conceived of as an activity that met the objectives of the Maine Real Choice Systems Change grant and the mission of the Maine Personal Assistance Services Association to build recognition and opportunity for the direct care, direct support, and personal assistance workforce through education, public awareness and professional development. Each story evolves out of a series of in-depth interviews and is told in the worker’s voice.