News & Events

August 6, 2010 Letter to State Medicaid Directors on Improving Access to Home & Community-Based Services

Letter from Cindy Mann, Director, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about changes to Section 1915(i) of the Social Security Act which take effect on October 1, 2010. These changes include revised and new 1915(i) provisions for removal of barriers to offering home and community-based services (HCBS) through the Medicaid State plan.  Section 1915(i) gives states an opportunity to offer services and supports before individuals need institutional care. The letter provides states guidance on those important changes to the law. This link opens a PDF document.

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Health Information Technology for the Future of Health & Care

Learn about Health Information Technology (HIT) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC) work to support a nationwide health information exchange system. HIT is being used to help improve the quality of health care, prevent medical mistakes and reduce costs. HIT allows medical information to be shared between patients and health care providers. Resources, HIT regulations and program funding opportunities for communities are explained.

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National Association of Community Health Centers' (NACHC) 2010 Community Health Institute & EXPO

The NACHC Community Health Institute (CHI) and Expo is the largest annual conference of Community Health Center professionals. The 2010 CHI will be held September 10-14, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. There will be many new educational workshops related to to health reform. The conference will also report on the latest developments on workforce issues,recruiting and keeping staff, and negotiating the new consumer marketplace as health care reform brings in new patients. Registration is available online.

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New Health Care Access Guidance Promotes Preventive Medical Care Services for People with Mobility Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights has issued new technical assistance guidance for medical providers, which will help people with mobility disabilities obtain accessible medical care. Access to Medical Care for Persons with Mobility Disabilities will help medical care providers in understanding how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 apply to them. For more information about the ADA or to get copies of this booklet, visit ada.gov or call the ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY).

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New Guide on Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities

This guide has information to help medical care providers understand how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 apply to them. The 19-page document includes an overview of general ADA requirements, commonly asked questions, and illustrated examples of accessible facilities, examination rooms and medical equipment.

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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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Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Announced

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the establishment of a new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) that will offer coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. PCIP will provide a new health coverage option for Americans who have been uninsured for at least six months, have been unable to get health coverage because of a health condition, and are a U.S. citizen or are residing in the United States legally. For more information about the Plan visit HealthCare.gov or download the brochure The Affordable Care Act: What It Means for Those with Pre-Existing Conditions in PDF format

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New Information Tool Gives Consumers More Control Over Their Own Health Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new website called HealthCare.gov. This new tool lets consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to information about quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options--from Medicare to the new 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 new website.

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The Affordable Care Act's New Patient's Bill of Rights

Fact sheet on the new Patient's Bill of Rights under the Affordable Care Act, which will help children (and eventually all Americans) with pre-existing conditions gain health care coverage and keep it, protect all Americans' choice of doctors and end lifetime limits on the care consumers may receive. The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury have issued regulations to implement the new Patient's Bill of Rights.

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Medicare Proposes New Rules to Ensure Equal Visitation Rights for All Hospital Patients

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed new rules for hospitals that would protect patients' rights to choose their own visitors during a hospital stay, including visitors who are same-sex domestic partners. The proposed rules would require every hospital to have written policies and procedures about patients' visitation rights, as well as instances when the hospital may restrict patient access to visitors based on reasonable clinical needs.
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Connecticut First in Nation to Expand Medicaid Coverage to New Groups under Affordable Care Act

Connecticut is the first state in the country to permanently add low-income adults to its Medicaid program under the new Affordable Care Act. Before health care reform was passed, states could only cover adults without children by applying for a waiver of Medicaid rules. These waivers were temporary and states had to meet strict criteria for approval and renewal. The Affordable Care Act requires states to cover all low-income individuals in Medicaid starting in 2014, but also allows states to get federal funding to enroll them right away.

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Community Living Initiative

Find out what the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its partners are doing to improve access to housing, community supports and independent living arrangements for people with disabilities. The success of the Community Living Initiative (CLI) depends on hearing real life examples of how the system can better serve real people. Email your comments and recommendations.

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New 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 the recently enacted 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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Extra Help with Prescription Drug Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries

More Medicare beneficiaries will soon qualify for help paying for their prescription drugs. People on Medicare may be eligible to pay no more than $2.50 for generic drugs and $6.30 for each brand name drug thanks to changes to Medicare's Low-Income Subsidy Program (also called "Extra Help") that take effect this year. Changes in the law will make it easier for Medicare beneficiaries to qualify for "Extra Help" by changing the way income and assets are counted in 2010. The Social Security Administration will no longer count life insurance policies as a resource. Also, help received from family and friends to pay for household expenses like food, mortgage, rent and utilities will no longer count as income.

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Letter from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to State Medicaid Directors on Community Living Initiative

Letter from CMS Director Cindy Mann describing efforts to implement solutions that address barriers to community living for individuals with disabilities and older Americans. This link opens a PDF document.
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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Awards Funds to Establish Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination & Integration

HHS' Office on Disability has announced the award of over $6 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration. The Center will support and conduct research on the effectiveness of systems of care for people with disabilities to improve the health and support services they receive.

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Health Reform & Americans with Disabilities

Information about how the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act will benefit people with disabilities. This link opens a PDF document.
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UCP Releases 2010 Case for Inclusion

United Cerebral Palsy's The 2010 Case for Inclusion report ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia for Medicaid services provided to intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) populations. Among the findings of this fifth annual rankings are that too many Americans with ID/DD still do not live in the community; some states are making substantial progress; and that too much money is still spent isolating people in large institutions. The report also includes a list of how states rank.

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Annual National Healthcare Quality & Disparities Reports Released

The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) has released the 2009 National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR). These reports measure trends in effectiveness of care, patient safety, timeliness of care, patient centeredness, and efficiency of care. The reports present the latest available findings on quality of and access to health care. Chapter 4 of the NHDR includes information about health care quality and access among various racial, ethnic, and income groups and other priority populations, such as individuals with disabilities or special health care needs.

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Support for Caregivers in Health Care Reform

Learn about the CLASS Act, the Community First Choice Option and other provisions of the health reform legislation that will help family caregivers and their loved ones.
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Summary of Coverage Provisions in the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act and the Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act of 2010

This fact sheet from the Kaiser Family Foundation explains some of the main health coverage provisions of the recently signed health care legislation. Changes include the fact that most individuals will be required to have health insurance beginning in 2014; Individuals who do not have access to affordable employer coverage will be able to purchase coverage through a Health Insurance Exchange, Health insurers will not be allowed to deny coverage to people for any reason, including health status; and Medicaid will be expanded to 133% of the federal poverty level for all individuals under age 65. This eliminates a limitation in the program that prohibits most adults without dependent children from enrolling in Medicaid. This link opens a PDF document.

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The Surgeon General's Vision for A Healthy & Fit Nation 2010

The recommendations in this report from the Surgeon General address becoming actively involved in creating healthier environments; making healthy choices such as reducing the consumption of sodas and juices with added sugars and eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains; limiting television time; and being more physically active to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This link opens a PDF document.
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Medicare & You 2010

This official federal government handbook on Medicare contains important information about Medicare costs; What Medicare covers; Health and prescription drug plans; Your Medicare rights; and Health information technology. This link opens a PDF document.
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