Health and Human Services announced grant awards yesterday to help seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. The press release states:
These grants, made possible by the Affordable Care Act, are going to states, territories, tribal and community-based organizations. Specifically, the funds will be used to help families: understand their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, including coverage for preventive services; navigate options for long term care including community-based services that can help individuals remain in their homes; and assist those transitioning from nursing or rehabilitation facilities back home to put the supports in place to make that transition successful.
The grants are part of President Obama’s Community Living Initiative, which focuses on better serving those who need ongoing services and support programs. They are being collaboratively administered by the Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Funds were available to states, area agencies on aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and tribal organizations through a competitive and formula based process. Grantees will focus on four areas of assistance:
- Medicare Outreach and Assistance in Low Income Programs and Prevention Grants – all 50 states and territories and 125 tribal organizations have been awarded funds.
- ADRC Options Counseling Grants – 20 states were funded to strengthen ADRC Options Counseling and Assistance Programs for community-based health and long-term care services.
- ADRC Nursing Home Transition through Money Follows the Person Grants – 24 states were awarded funds to strengthen the ADRCs role in the CMS Money Follows the Person program and to support state Medicaid agencies as they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care.
- Evidence Based Care Transition Grants – 16 states were awarded funds to coordinate and continue encouraging evidence-based care transition models to help older persons or persons with disabilities remain in their homes after a hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility stay.
To see which states were awarded specific grants, visit this Administration on Aging’s web page.
