The Commission on Long Term Care, which was created by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, has scheduled its first meeting for June 27. The 15-member panel selected Bruce A. Chernof, president and CEO of the SCAN Foundation, as its chairman. The SCAN Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the current long-term care system. Chernof, who is a doctor, was appointed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The vice-chairman will be Mark Warshawsky, director of retirement research at the consulting firm Towers Watson. Warshawsky was named by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Christopher Jacobs, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, will replace former Louisiana Secretary of Health and Hospitals, Bruce Greenstein, who resigned from his state job. The commission has until October to plan for the establishment, implementation, and financing of a comprehensive, coordinated, and high-quality system that ensures the availability of long-term services and supports for individuals in need.
Category Archives: Long Term Services and Supports
Read about long term services and support issues as they relate to The Arc’s public policy.
Health Care Innovation Awards Announced
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced round two of the Health Care Innovation Awards. CMS will spend up to $1 billion for awards and evaluation of projects that test new payment and service delivery models that will deliver better care and lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The second round focuses on four areas: outpatient and/or post-acute settings, populations with specialized needs, specific types of providers and suppliers, and improving the health of populations. Persons requiring long-term support and services are included in the populations with specialized needs area. Eligible applicants include: provider groups, health systems, community collaboratives, community-based organizations, payers and other private sector organizations, faith-based organizations, states, local governments, public-private partnerships and for-profit organizations. Details are available on the CMS website.
The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities Releases its 2012 Report to President Obama
The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) released its 2012 Report to The President that addresses the provision of long-term services and supports through managed care arrangements. It includes background information about the evolution of managed care and offers 15 recommendations for the federal government to pursue. The recommendations fall into four categories: disability stakeholder engagement, choice and self-determination, consumer protections and rights, and quality measurement, data collection and research.
CMS Releases Guidance on Managed Care
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance concerning managed long-term services and supports, entitled Long Term Services and Supports Delivered through Medicaid Managed Care Programs, May 21, 2013. The document is available on the CMS website.
Webinar on Medicaid Managed Long Term Services and Supports
A webinar on a report focused on Medicaid managed long term services and supports (MLTSS) issued by The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) is scheduled for May 29, 2013 at 2 p.m. (EDT). The webinar is part of The Arc’s HealthMeet Project and is sponsored by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, will provide an overview of MLTSS, explain key issues for individuals with I/DD, and highlight recommendations contained in the report.
Keeping the Financing of Long Term Services and Supports a Priority
Even though the CLASS Act has been repealed, The Arc is working with Advance CLASS to keep the issue of long-term services and supports financing on the front burner, and we need your help. One way you can help is by reminding your Members of Congress that this issue impacts millions of Americans and that it is a priority for the disability community. Visit the online petition to register your support.
President Makes Final Appointments
The White House announced President Obama’s appointments to the Commission on Long Term Care. These final three appointments complete the Commission which will have six months to make recommendations regarding long term services and supports. President Obama’s appointments to the Commission are:
- Henry Claypool – Executive Vice President of the American Association of People with Disabilities. He recently served as Principal Deputy Administrator of the Administration for Community Living at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he also advised the Secretary on disability policy.
- Julian Harris – Director of the Office of Medicaid in Massachusetts, a position he has held since July 2011. He oversees the state’s $11 billion Medicaid program that provides comprehensive health insurance for children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- Carol Raphael – Vice Chair of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Board of Directors, a position she has held since May 2012. From 1989 to 2011, she was Chief Executive Officer and President of Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
The other appointments, three each by the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, were previously announced and reported in Capitol Insider. The President’s appointees bring the total to 15 members as envisioned by the law.
Congressional Leadership Appoint Members to New Commission on Long Term Care
Last week, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) each appointed three members to a new Commission on Long Term Care. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) each appointed three members to the Commission as well. The Commission was created in the American Taxpayer Relief Act that took effect on January 1, 2013 and replaced the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act.
The commission will be comprised of members named by President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, House Speaker Boehner, and House Minority Leader Pelosi. Below is a list of the current members of the commission, President Obama has not made his appointments to the commission.
- Bruce D. Greenstein is the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
- Neil L. Pruitt, Jr. is Chairman and Chief Executive officer of UHS-Pruitt Corporation, an integrated health care company.
- Mark J. Warshawsky, former Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy, Treasury Department.
- Judith Brachman currently serves as a member of the Ohio State Crime Victims Assistance Advisory Board.
- Stephen L. Guillard serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Belmont Nursing Center Corp.
- Grace-Marie Turner is president of the Galen Institute, a public policy research organization that she founded in 1995 to promote an informed debate over free-market ideas for health reform.
- Dr. Bruce Allen Chernof currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of The SCAN Foundation, with the mission to advance the development of a sustainable continuum of care for seniors.
- Judith Stein is the founder and Executive Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
- George Vrandenburg is a civic activist, philanthropist, and President of the Vrandenburg Foundation.
- Laphonza Butler is the President of SEIU ULTCW – the United Long Term Care Workers’ Union which represents in-home attendants and nursing facility workers in California.
- Judith “Judy” Feder is a Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University and was Dean of the Georgetown Public Policy Institute from 1999 through 2007.
- Javaid Anwar, M.D. is the CEO of Quality Care Consultants which provides consultant services in health care strategy and policy development for employers and health care organizations.
National Council on Disability releases new report
The National Council on Disability released a new report, “Deinstitutionalization: Unfinished Business” and a Deinstitutionalization Toolkit for advocates and policymakers who want to help people transition into the community from institutions. The toolkit includes information and tips to address myths and counter arguments against closing institutions.
News for individuals eligible for Medicaid and Medicare in Washington
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state of Washington to test a managed fee-for-service model for integrating health care for Medicare-Medicaid enrollees. Washington’s plan is called HealthPath Washington. The state will build on the Health Home model.