Long-Term Care Services & Supports

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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Announces $2.25 Billion in Grants to Support Community-Based Alternatives to Institutional Long Term Care

Americans with disabilities will have more help to live independently and remain in their homes and communities, instead of facilities such as nursing homes, because of $2.25 billion in CMS grants to states. The new grants encourage states not yet part of the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing (MFP) Demonstration to apply for funds. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to governors encouraging them to take advantage of the many community initiatives in the Affordable Care Act and to participate in the MFP demonstration.

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Agencies That Can Help with Long-Term Care Choices

Find contact information for your local Area Agency on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Center, Center for Independent Living and other organizations that can help with choosing long-term care.
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Aging & Disability Resource Centers

Assists states in creating a single, coordinated system of information and access for all persons seeking long-term support to stay in their homes and communities.

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CMS Issues Historic Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released quality ratings for each of the nation's 15,800 nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Facilities are assigned star ratings from a low of one star to a high of five stars based on health inspection surveys, staffing information, and quality of care measures.
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Eldercare Locator

Find resources for older adults in any U.S. community. Just one phone call or Web site visit provides an instant connection to resources that enable older persons to live independently in their communities.
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Financing Long-Term Care (LTC) for the Elderly

This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paper summarizes the current state of financing for long-term care, identifies some of the issues affecting it both now and in the future and considers policy alternatives that address the mix of private and governmental sources of financing for LTC costs.
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Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home

Booklet examines topics such as how to find and compare nursing homes, nursing home resident rights and where to call for help. This link opens a PDF document.
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Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance

This guide answers many questions about long-term care insurance, including how much it costs, what it covers and where to find long-term care insurance.
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Guide to Understanding Healthcare Reform for People with Disabilities

The United Spinal Association and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association have issued a guide on healthcare and insurance reforms that explains how they improve the lives of people with disabilities. The Impact of Health Care Reform on People with Disabilities has information about insurance market reforms; mandatory health plan coverage provisions; home- and community-based services; Medicare outpatient therapy caps and Medicaid eligibility requirements; and the new standards that ensure medical equipment in doctors' offices and other medical facilities are accessible. For more information on this subject read Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities in PDF format.

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Health Care Reform Issue Briefs

This series of issue briefs from the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) explains many aspects of the new health insurance reform law, including employer responsibilities, individual mandates, Medicaid changes and the impact of the law on long term care services. For more information visit HealthReform.gov.

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Information Tool Gives Consumers More Control Over Their Own Health Care

HealthCare.gov lets consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to information about quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is a database of health coverage options--from Medicare to the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, and information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. HealthCare.gov answers questions that relate to people with disabilities and health care, and also has information about insurance plans and community services in every state. Take a video tour of this website.

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Medicare & The New Health Care Law - What it Means for You

Medicare beneficiaries will soon receive information in the mail about the immediate benefits they may see from the new the Affordable Care Act. The first benefit that several million Medicare beneficiaries will receive is a one-time check for $250, if they enter the Part D donut hole and are not eligible for Medicare Extra Help. The donut hole, or coverage gap, is the period in the prescription drug benefit in which a beneficiary pays 100 percent of the cost of their drugs until they hit the catastrophic coverage. Next year, all beneficiaries who enter the gap will get a 50 percent discount for covered brand name Part D drugs. Also beginning next year, Medicare beneficiaries will get preventive care services like colorectal cancer screening and mammograms without cost-sharing, in addition to an annual wellness visit. A fact sheet about Medicare and the new health care law is available in English and Spanish.

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National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center

Find an advocate for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes and assisted living facilities. Ombudsmen provide information about how to find a facility and what to do to get quality care. They are trained to resolve problems.
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Office of Disability, Aging & Long-Term Care Policy

Develops, analyzes, evaluates and coordinates HHS policies and programs which support the independence, productivity, health, and long-term care needs of children, working age adults and older persons with disabilities.
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YouTube Web Chat on How the Affordable Care Act Will Benefit People with Disabilities

Answers questions about how the Affordable Care Act will give Americans with disabilities greater choices and more control over their health care. For more information download the fact sheet Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities or visit HealthReform.gov.

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