Tool

May is dedicated to raising awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and the people affected by it. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The causes of ALS are unknown, and there’s currently no cure. Therefore, research is critical to helping scientists and persons living with ALS better understand the disease. The National ALS Registry, a program that collects, manages, and analyzes data about persons with ALS, focuses on collecting information to help scientists learn more about who gets ALS, its potential causes, and possible treatments...

On Monday, February 12, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated State Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Basic Health Program Vaccine Toolkit. This updated toolkit serves as a consolidated and comprehensive compilation of vaccination policies, including related flexibilities and coverage and payment requirements, for states to consider as they transition away from the COVID-19 public health emergency and implement Inflation Reduction Act coverage requirements. It also includes additional considerations states may make to enhance vaccination coverage and access, including provider qualifications, immunization registries, and payment considerations.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) is hosting an upcoming ePolicyWorks National Online Dialogue designed to gather public input on how artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled hiring tools can be made more inclusive for people with disabilities, including those who may also be members of other protected classes. By engaging citizens and stakeholders in online knowledge sharing, the initiative aims to advance the employment of people with disabilities. This innovative approach reflects a change in how stakeholders connect and collaborate with the Federal Government and each other...

In response to older adults representing the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness, USAging recently released five homelessness prevention case examples featuring different successful AAA programs and partnerships to support housing stability. Agencies can find inspiration and ideas to evolve their own work and partnerships to provide homelessness prevention assistance and housing-related supports for older adults and people with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the 2024 federal poverty guidelines, also loosely referred to as federal poverty levels or lines (FPLs). The poverty guidelines are a simplified version of the federal poverty thresholds used for administrative purposes — for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. They are issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The January 2024 poverty guidelines are calculated by taking the 2022 Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds and adjusting them for price changes between 2022 and 2023 using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The poverty thresholds used by the Census Bureau...

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released the 2024 Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) database. This database features 3,300 college students, graduate students, and recent graduates with disabilities seeking federal internships and permanent jobs. Federal Government employees can register to access and search this talent pool. WRP candidates are eligible for expedited hiring under the Schedule A Hiring Authority for Persons with Disabilities, which allows agencies to hire without posting a job announcement or going through the certification process.

On November 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CMCS Informational Bulletin (CIB), "Coverage of Services and Supports to Address Health-Related Social Needs in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)." This guidance outlines a framework of services and supports to address health-related social needs (HRSN) that CMS considers allowable under specific Medicaid and CHIP authorities. These flexibilities, and accompanying safeguards to protect program and fiscal integrity, provide opportunities for states to improve consistent access to needed care, health outcomes, and health equity among Medicaid and CHIP enrollees by addressing HRSN in a manner that complements...

Each fall, the Eldercare Locator's Home for the Holidays campaign shines a light on an important topic affecting the health and wellness of older adults. This year, the focus is on encouraging older adults to protect themselves and their families by getting vaccinated before gathering with loved ones for the holidays. The Eldercare Locator’s 2023 Home for the Holidays campaign addresses connecting older adults, caregivers and families with information on vaccines and local resources that can help make getting vaccinated easy. Campaign materials include a brochure, vaccine fact sheet, aging network toolkit, and social media graphics...

On September 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new voluntary state total cost of care model – the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (“States Advancing AHEAD” or “AHEAD Model”). Under AHEAD, participating states will be better equipped to promote health equity, increase access to primary care services, set health care expenditures on a more sustainable trajectory, and lower health care costs for patients. The AHEAD Model represents the next iteration of the CMS Innovation Center’s multi-payer total cost of care models. States participating in AHEAD will be accountable for quality and population health outcomes, while reducing all-payer avoidable health care spending to spur...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have developed the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to assess and quantify the social needs of vulnerable communities at the county level, in each state, during public health emergencies. SVI ranks counties based on four key themes: socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status, and housing type and transportation. This tool aims to help public health officials and emergency response planners identify communities that may require additional support before, during, and after hazardous events, such as disease outbreaks, by considering factors like poverty, access to transportation, and unem