A pdf version of this newsletter can be found at http://www.pascenter.org/newsletter/CenterforPASBulletinOct10.pdf

Previous newsletters can be found at http://www.pascenter.org/newsletter/index.php

Center for Personal Assistance Services Bulletin

October 2010 - Volume 7, Issue 4

In this issue:

• News
• Research articles and reports
• Policy and Legislation
• On the Center for PAS website
• Selected Conferences During October, November and December 2010

The Center for Personal Assistance Services provides research, training, dissemination and technical assistance on issues of personal assistance services (PAS) in the United States. Personal assistance services (PAS) refer to help provided to people with disabilities to assist them with tasks essential for daily living. These tasks include bathing, dressing, getting around, toileting, eating, shopping, remembering things, and other activities. PAS, along with assistive technology such as wheelchairs, text readers, and hearing aides, help people with disabilities to participate in activities at home, at work, and in the community.

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide the latest news on issues relating to formal and informal PAS, home & community-based services, the PAS workforce, and workplace PAS within and outside of the Center.

Further detail about the Center staff and advisors can be found at
http://www.pascenter.org/about/

News

Famed Disability Studies Scholar Paul Longmore Dies

Ground-breaking disability studies scholar Paul Longmore, a professor at San Francisco State University and leader in the academic disability studies community and the disability rights community has died.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=306

New York Times Publishes Article On Nationwide Home Care Services Cuts

A New York Times article highlights cuts to home based services happening in states around the country. These services are critical to keeping people functioning independently and in the community.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=291

Center Staff Member Receives Outstanding Leadership Award

Alice Wong, MS, a staff research associate at the UCSF National Center for Personal Assistance Services in the School of Nursing, recently won an award from the City of San Francisco for her advocacy efforts for people with disabilities.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=316

Patients Discharge Planning Checklist Available

A checklist is now available for patients and their caregivers who are getting ready to leave a hospital, nursing home, or other health care setting.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=315

Lawsuit Changes Indiana State Government Policy

Potentially tens of thousands of Indiana's neediest adults are missing out on state paymentsThe issue has gone unnoticed for years, until this year when the father of a severely autistic son challenged it in court. His efforts resulted in the change of Indiana state government policy and a class action lawsuit.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=297

Letter To State Medicaid Directors On Improving Access To HCBS

The letter from Cindy Mann, Director, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, provides states guidance about changes to Section 1915(i) of the Social Security Act which take effect on October 1, 2010.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=307

CMS Announces $2.25 Billion in Grants to Extend Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP)

Americans with disabilities will have more help to live independently and remain in their homes and communities instead of in institutional long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius encouraged states to take advantage of the many community initiatives in the Affordable Care Act and to participate in Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=296

New Jersey Seeks To Dismiss Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against People With Disabilities

New Jersey cannot afford to move 1,850 people with developmental disabilities out of institutions in the next five years, so a lawsuit demanding it do so should be dismissed, an attorney representing the state said.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=313

Gold Summarizes Affordable Care Act Changes To Medicaid 1915 (I) Waivers

This bulletin summarized the changes to the Medicaid 1915 (i) waivers, resulting from the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=304

California Creates Ed Roberts Day

In honor of Ed Roberts, a Berkeley quadriplegic who began the disability rights movement 40 years ago, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill, July 19th, creating Ed Roberts Day in California.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=288

New IHSS Fraud Rules Have Questionable Results

Sacramento County officials say Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration might be overstating the number of ineligible caregivers uncovered through new anti-fraud screening efforts.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=290

Evelyn Coke Memorialized In Newsday Op-Ed

An op-ed co-written by PHI President Steven Dawson pays tribute to the "American heroine" Evelyn Coke. Coke, a home care worker who died last July.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=294

National Resource Available For Respite Care

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs and helps families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=310

Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations In Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards

Government agencies, nonprofit organizations and universities are invited to apply for the third annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=298

Research Articles and Reports

New PAS Center Report Looks At The Ethnic Differences In Care Giving

Despite evidence of ethnic differences in family caregivers' experiences, the extent to which caregiver interventions are culturally tailored to address these differences is unknown. A systematic review of literature published from 1980 to 2009 identified: differences in caregiving experiences of African American, Latino, and Chinese American caregivers; psychosocial support interventions in these groups; and cultural tailoring of interventions.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1098

New Report Shows That Medicare Doesn't Work Well For Disabled Beneficiaries Under The Age Of 65

A new report found significant differences between the two Medicare populations (under the age of 65 and above the age of 65), with the younger group experiencing more problems of cost and access.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1094

Research Paper Looks At How Siblings Provide For Older Parents

This paper considers how siblings coordinate help they provide parents, both at a point in time and over the longer run. Because few studies include information from siblings about their relationships with their parents and each other, it has been difficult to determine whether children coordinate care for their parents.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1099

The SCAN Foundation Releases Fact Sheets That Provide Information On Issues Surrounding Long-Term Care

The individual themed fact sheets are:

• Demographic & Economic Characteristics of an Aging Population
• Who Needs and Who Uses Long-Term Care?
• Growing Demand for Long-Term Care
• Where is Long-Term Care Provided?
• Who Provides Long-Term Care?
• Who Pays for Long-Term Care?

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=314

10-Plus Years After the Olmstead Ruling Progress, Problems, and Opportunities

A new report from the National Senior Citizens Law Center, calls on states to use the implement-ation of the Affordable Care Act to end Medicaid's long-standing bias toward funding long-term care in institutional settings such as nursing homes.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1109

Article Summarizes Workplace PAS

A recently published article identifies current definitions, issues, and strategies related to the use of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) in the workplace.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1101

Older Adults Need Twice The Federal Poverty Level To Make Ends Meet In California

New calculations using the Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index (Elder Index) for California show that both singles and couples age 65 or older who rent need more than twice the amount established by the Federal Poverty Level Guideline to meet basic living expenses.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1105

PHI Profiles "Best Practices" In Long-Term Care

For employers seeking to improve quality of care by improving the quality of direct-care jobs, PHI has created a new resource at its website: profiles of "best practices" employed in nursing homes and home and community-based settings.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=282

New Data On HCBS Waiver Expenditures

This report is the latest in a series of annual reports that present expenditures data for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers authorized under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1102

Series Of Chart Books Looks At Three Maryland Medicaid Waiver Programs

This series of chart books, entitled Medicaid Long-Term Supports and Services in Maryland, summarizes demographic, service utilization, and expenditure data for state fiscal years 2001 through 2008 on three Maryland Medicaid waiver programs - the Older Adults Waiver, the Living at Home Waiver, and the Autism Waiver and on nursing facility utilization among Maryland Medicaid recipients.

For more information on nursing facility utilization go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1082

For more information on the Autism Waiver go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1083

For more information on the Living at Home Waiver go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1084

For more information on the Older Adults Waiver go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1085

New Study Looks At The Unmet Needs Of Adults With Disabilities In Massachusetts

This report is based on 58 interviews with informal caregivers of adults with disabilities. The study of informal caregivers was designed as an initial attempt to hear a different perspective on unmet needs and to provide suggests for further study.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1106

Updated State Chart Book On Wages For Personal And Home Care Aide (PHCA)s, 1999‐2009

PHI International, a PAS Center partner has updated their state chart book on wages for personal and home care workers. The chart book, reflecting a ten‐year perspective, provides a state‐by‐state look at wages and wage trends for PHCAs, the fourth fastest‐growing occupation in the country, and a key job title within the direct‐care workforce.

Analysis finds that a growing number of states report that personal and home care aides are receiving wages that put them at risk of poverty.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1086

Report Provides Details On How Health Care Reform Impacts Family Caregivers

President Obama made history when he signed health care reform legislation into law on March 23, 2010. The new law, which will expand health insurance coverage to nearly every citizen, is packed with provisions that will impact all Americans. Many of those provisions are especially good for family caregivers.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1088

Study Looks At The Demands Of Working And Caring For A Loved One

A large proportion of the population is facing the competing demands of working and caring for a loved one. This study investigates the impact of informal caregiving, employment, and the combination of these responsibilities on the overall well-being of the caregiver.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1092

For Those With Disabilities, Finding Jobs Can Be Especially Difficult

Less than one in five people with disabilities (19.2 percent) are even in the labor force, according to a first-ever study of the labor force characteristics of people with disabilities by the Bureau of Labor Statistics released this month.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=312

New Report Devoted Entirely To The Evolution Of Long-Term Care And Home- And Community-Based Services

This report from the National Academy on an Aging Society contains seven articles by national long-term care experts, including articles on the history of long-term care, trends toward consumer-directed care, and the long-term care workforce.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1097

Report Identifies And Addresses Common Issues Faced By Caregivers Across The Nation

This report from the HSC Foundation focuses on caregiving populations that are often overlooked by providers, researchers and advocates, due to barriers such as no access to telephone or Internet services, cultural traditions that inhibit individuals from self-identifying as caregivers and caregivers of wounded veterans.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1096

Study Examines The Consequences Of Extending Federal Medicaid Funding

A new policy brief examines the ramifications of extending the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Medicaid.

Without the extension, states may have to take drastic measures to balance state budgets. Proponents of the extension say it is essential to support the safety net and that it stimulates economic growth. Others argue the extension should only be approved if the additional federal spending is fully offset by federal budget cuts or increased federal revenues.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1089

Policy

FMAP extension signed

On Aug. 10, President Obama signed legislation, H.R. 1586, containing a six-month extension of an enhanced match for the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages (FMAP) and Title IV-E programs. In particular, the legislation will provide states $16.1 billion through a phased-down enhanced match.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=308

Policy Brief Explains How California Can Improve Long Term Care Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

This policy brief represents the written testimony presented by The SCAN Foundation to California's Little Hoover Commission at a public hearing on August 26, 2010 in Sacramento, CA. The brief focused on provisions in the ACA that California can use to improve how the state provides long-term care.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=1107

Medicare Nursing Home Penalties Could Fund Direct-Care Training

Penalties paid by nursing homes that violate Medicare regulations could be used to fund advanced training programs for direct-care workers, if regulations proposed by CMS are implemented.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=292

Bill To Extend Federal Minimum Wage And Overtime To Home Care Workers To Be Introduced

Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) will introduce new legislation intended to extend federal minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers who provide health and and other domestic services.

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/news/news_home.php?id=299

On the Center Web Page

Residential Settings Of Adults With Difficulty In Activities Of Daily Living

This PAS Center report looks at how variations in state long term care policies and financing, as well as cultural and other factors, impact the residential choices of persons at risk of long term services and supports.

Aged 25 to 64; for more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/state_based_stats/disability_stats/acs_residential_25_64.php

Aged 65 and over go to:
http://pascenter.org/state_based_stats/disability_stats/acs_residential_65_plus.php

Updates To The Health Reform Page

Recent additions to the health reform page include:

• Long-term services and supports and chronic care coordination:
  http://pascenter.org/policy/index.php#12
• Workforce development and training for opportunities for direct-care workers:
  http://pascenter.org/policy/index.php#37
• Health reform provisions for nursing homes
  http://pascenter.org/policy/index.php#36
• Impact of health care reform on people with disabilities
  http://pascenter.org/policy/index.php#8

New Audio Policy Updates

Two new policy updates have been added which summarize the implications of the passing two new laws:

• The Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act, H.R. 5902
• Extension of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funding

For more information go to:
http://pascenter.org/policy/index.php

New Ask Mike Questions And Responses

Recently, Mike Oxford answered questions concerning:

• Payment to a family caregiver
• Payment through insurance
• Change in insurance-covered hours of PAS
• The scope of assisted living facility's directives
• Eligibility to Medicaid

To read all of the Ask Mike letters and responses, go to:
http://pascenter.org/pas_users/ask_mike.php

Selected Conferences During October, November and December 2010

For more detail about these conferences, go to:
http://www.pascenter.org/conferences/index.php

October

November

December

This document was developed by the Center for Personal Assistance Services, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDDR) of the US Department of Education, grant #H133B031102 & H133B080002. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee/contractor and do not necessarily reflect those of the US Department of Education. Please credit the source and support of federal funds.

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