Links / Websites

The Ticket to Work Program is a Social Security Administration (SSA) initiative designed to help people with disabilities return to work. The program assists beneficiaries by connecting them with employment resources and providing support services. This can empower individuals to reduce or eliminate their reliance on Social Security benefits. The program is voluntary and allows participants to choose from a variety of employment services providers.

On May 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveiled its newly revamped CDC.gov website, marking a significant step forward in the agency’s commitment to better communicate with the public. Internal and external reviews of agency operations were conducted after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result was the CDC Moving Forward effort, which launched numerous initiatives to strengthen the speed and clarity of agency communications. The newly streamlined website is the culmination of extensive user testing and feedback, ensuring that vital health information is more accessible and easier to find for all audiences...

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated Medicare.gov with an easy-to-navigate section highlighting the mental health and substance use disorder services covered by Medicare. This is part of CMS' Behavioral Health Strategy to ensure that high-quality behavioral health services and supports are accessible to the people CMS serves. This section includes information on: Services & programs Medicare covers; Types of mental health care; Preventive screenings & counseling; Finding a mental health care provider

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) are launching a pilot project to expand data sharing between the two agencies to simplify income verification for older adults applying for or renewing federal housing assistance. The HUD-SSA pilot project is part of a cross-government initiative to increase equitable access to government programs by improving customer service and reducing administrative burdens.

The Foundation for Social Connection has created a catalog of interventions with the primary goal of advancing social connection, which is now live on their website. The intervention catalog is for companies and non-profit organizations that provide specific interventions (e.g. products, services, and programs) to directly address social isolation, loneliness, and social disconnection. The primary outcome of the intervention should be to foster and build social connection or address social isolation and loneliness.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently launched the Value-Based Care Spotlight, a new website that aims to enhance understanding of value-based care (VBC) as a cornerstone of transforming health care with helpful information for both the public and health care providers. In value-based care, doctors and other health care providers work together to manage a person's overall health, while considering an individual's personal health goals. Value-Based Care Spotlight features Patient & Provider Voices, real-world stories that show the meaningful impact of VBC, as well as descriptions of key concepts, such as person-centered care and Accountable Care.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a new online resource hub with Medicaid and CHIP Renewal and Transition Resources for Partners. This virtual hub provides key resources in one centralized location so all partners (e.g., states, beneficiary and provider organizations, and advocates among others) can better assist people with Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renew their health coverage or find other coverage options that may be a better fit for them. This hub contains the following resources: Resources to help others with coverage Outreach materials by population category Key government actions taken to support Medicaid renewals and transitions...

The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities, a national resource center funded by ACL’s Administration on Disabilities (AoD), recently launched a new website to help young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) direct their own transition to the adult health care system. Developed for and by youth with I/DD, the site has a variety of both person-centered and culturally competent tools and resources to help support youth, their families, and health care professionals through this transition. The new website includes resources that are designed to give youth more choice and control throughout their health care transition...

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period ends Thursday, December 7. During this time, people with Medicare can compare coverage options, like Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and choose health and drug plans for 2024. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so people with Medicare should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs. Coverage changes made during the open enrollment period take effect January 1, 2024.

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, the time when Medicare beneficiaries can compare coverage options and choose health and drug plans, began on October 15, 2023, and ends on December 7, 2023. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so people with Medicare should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs for coverage starting January 1, 2024. To help people with Medicare compare health and prescription drug plans during Open Enrollment, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2024 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans and Medicare Part D plans....