C&C States
Self-Direction Handbook
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Current News
Florida's CDC+ Program is Expanding
CDC + or Consumer Directed Care is a Florida Cash & Counseling program where consumers direct their own care and manage their allocated monthly budgets. APD hopes to enroll 5,000 people in the next two years.
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Investment News Article Notes an Expected Rise in Cash & Counseling Type Programs
In an Investment News article titled "LTC on the back burner under Obama health plan", a senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas speculated that more states would turn to Cash & Counseling type programs due to long term care and budget crises.
ArticleAoA Announces HHS-VA National Partnership to Support Older Americans and Veterans at House Veterans Committee Hearing on Family Caregivers
On June 4, 2009, Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin L. Walker testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health at a hearing on "Meeting the Needs of Family Caregivers." Mr. Walker took the opportunity to announce the availability of $10 million in funding for an exciting collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a nationwide community-based long-term support program to help older Americans and Veterans of all ages with Disabilities remain in the community. This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve.
News ReleaseLaunch of the National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services — New Center Helps States, Others Implement Expand, Improve Participant-Directed LTC Programs
The Boston College Graduate School of Social Work today launched a new technical assistance center that offers states the tools they need to implement a wide variety of participant-directed long-term care programs. The National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services is the only national center of its kind and is available to assist states and other entities that want to offer, or already offer, participant-directed services to people with disabilities.
NRCPDS WebsitePress Release
Dayton Daily News Cites Success, Benefits of Cash & Counseling
In an article titled Ohio may let elderly have more control over their care, reported Jim DeBrosse sites Cash & Counseling's effects on nursing home admissions. Link to full article below.
ArticleCommunity-Based LTC Services Promoted at Senate Aging Committee Hearing
Wisconsin and Florida provided testimony about the importance of long term care services outside of the nursing home during a March 4, 2009 Health Care Reform in an Aging American hearing. Link to the full testimony is below.
TestimonyNew York Times Letter to the Editor Cites Success of C&C
In response to the article, "In Turnabout, Children Take Caregiver Role", Larry Minnix of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging notes the Cash & Counseling model works well in many states.
NYT ArticleCash & Counseling Evaluation Wins AcademyHealth Health Services Research Award — Mathematica Team Cited for High-Impact Research
A study conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., has been named winner of the Health Services Research Impact Award for 2009. AcademyHealth, a nonprofit public policy organization, announced the award, which recognizes outstanding examples of the positive impact of research on health policy or practice, at its National Health Policy Conference on February 2.
Press ReleaseMathematica Disability Policy Research Forum Features C&C
A forum titled Cash & Counseling: An Innovative Model for Consumer Choice Policies will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2008, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m ET. Disability forums can be attended in person or via webinar. Register for the forum through the Center for Studying Disability Policy website.
RegistrationCMS Finalizes Regulations for 1915(j)
On October 3, CMS published the final Cash & Counseling Regulations in the Federal Register; the regulation goes into effect on November 3. The Cash & Counseling rule implements section 1915(j) of the Social Security Act, which was created by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The rule allows individuals to self-direct their home and community based services, hire and fire their own workers, and purchase appropriate goods and services to fulfill their written plan of care.
Final RuleHHS Announces $36 Million to Help Older Americans and Veterans Remain Independent — New Round of Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced $36 million in new grant programs to 28 states to help older Americans and veterans remain independent and to support people with Alzheimer’s disease to remain in their homes and communities. Just over $19 million of this funding involves a new collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information is available in the announcement.
AnnoucementNew Center to Help States Implement Consumer-Directed Personal Care Programs — Center to Offer Training, Research and Technical Assistance to Help States Give Consumers Choice, Flexibility in Care
The Boston College Center for the Study of Home and Community Life today announced the creation of a new center that will give states the tools to implement a wide variety of consumer-directed care programs. Through funding and support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Administration on Aging and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the new national center will offer training, technical assistance, research and policy support to states and other organizations that want to offer, or are already offering, consumer-directed care services.
Press ReleaseRespite Article on Caringtoday.com Features Cash & Counseling
The website Caring Today explains the Cash & Counseling option as part of their article on respite services. A link to the website and text of the article are available.
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New Survey Finds LTC Opinion Leaders Favor Cash & Counseling
In a study done by the Commonwealth Fund, most long term care leaders surveyed (61.0%) favored the expansion of consumer-directed programs such as “Cash & Counseling”. Additionally, nearly all surveyed (84.0%) felt that LTC should be rebalanced toward home- and community-based services. Read more of the findings in the attached report.
ReportCash & Counseling is a Top Tip from Caring.com
In an article called "10 Tips for Senior Care in a Rocky Economy", www.caring.com recommends looking into whether a Cash & Counseling project is available in your state.
Full ArticleSenator McCain's Speech includes remarks on Cash & Counseling
In an April 29, 2008 speech given at the Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Florida, Senator McCain included remarks about Cash & Counseling. McCain remarks, "There have been a variety of state-based experiments such as Cash and Counseling or The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) that are different from the inflexible approaches for delivering care to people in the home setting... In these approaches, participants were much more likely to have their needs met and be satisfied with their care. Moreover, any concerns about consumers’ safety appear misplaced."
Full Speech TranscriptFull Speech Transcript
Stateline.org Story on Cash & Counseling
Stateline.org featured this story, More states offer choice in long-term care, on April 24, 2008. The article features information about Cash & Counseling and the story of a New Jersey Participant.
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Hawaii Introduces Cash & Counseling Bill
In Hawaii, the legislature is considering a number of bills that impact seniors and their caregiver, including a measure to introduce Cash & Counseling.
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New Jersey Project Director Wins Public Leadership Award
William A.B. Ditto, MSW, LSW was presented with the Community Access Unlimited award for outstanding support and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities and youth aging out of foster care. Mr. Ditto is the Director of the Division of Disability Services of the New Jersey Department of Human Services and Project Director of Personal Preference, New Jersey's Cash & Counseling project.
ArticleHHS Announces $8.8 Million For New Nursing Home Diversion Programs
These new grants help seniors maintain independence and the investment helps states provide more affordable choices to individuals struggling to remain in their homes and communities as they age. One of the key service elements for these grants is giving clients the option of using the Cash & Counseling model.
AnnouncementFact sheet
Government and Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent Workshop: Building Sustainable Fiscal Supports for Self-directed Service Programs — November 1 & 2, 2007 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel
Sign Up Today-Space Is Limited....email elizabeth.maguire.1@bc.edu with your name and contact information. Reserve a hotel room by October 1, 2007 at the discounted group rate of $179/night, follow the link below. Vendor exhibits will be on Thursday, November 1, 2007. More information and registration, email elizabeth.maguire.1@bc.edu.
Hotel ReservationsInvitation
Workshop Agenda
AoA Announces Availability of $5 Million for Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants
On June 25, 2007, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell announced the availability of $5 million for Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants. These grants provide an opportunity for States to modernize their existing efforts by adding flexible service options to help individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid to avoid nursing home placement and spend down to Medicaid, and to remain in their homes and communities.
AoA WebsiteGrant Application Instructions
Alabama First State Approved to Add Consumer-Directed Care Options to Medicaid State Plan — Alabama will use the DRA to implement their Personal Choices Program
Gov. Bob Riley announced May 24, 2007 that Alabama is the first state to make consumer-directed care for Medicaid home and community-based services a permanent part of its State Plan using the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005. The Governor was notified that the state's "Personal Choices" program was approved by CMS as an option for certain individuals in seven West Alabama counties. US Fed News writes about Alabama's accomplishment in the article found here.
ArticlesCash & Counseling Programs Named 2007 Choices for Independence Program Champions — New Jersey and Minnesota Programs Honored by AoA
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) has named two Cash & Counseling programs as 2007 Choices for Independence Program Champions. The 2007 Program Champions highlight programs and initiatives in States, tribes and communities that demonstrate the principles of the AoA strategy to rebalance and modernize health and long term care for older persons and those with disabilities. A new 2007 Program Champion is featured each business day during Older Americans Month. Minnesota's Consumer Directed Community Supports and New Jersey's Personal Preference programs were honored.
Press ReleaseDirector of the Cash & Counseling National Program Office Receives the Flynn Prize
Professor Kevin Mahoney has been awarded the 2007 Flynn Prize for Social Work Research. The Flynn Prize recognizes interdisciplinary research and scholarship that is distinguished by its rigor and creativity, focuses on severe and persistent problems of society and has societal impact. Dr. Mahoney is the Director of the Center for the Study of Home and Community Life in the Graduate School of Social Work at Boston College, and the National Program Director for Cash & Counseling. To see Dr. Mahoney's Sarnat lecture, enter the search term "Mahoney" after following the link below:
Sarnat LecturePress Release
Rhode Island Local News Runs Story on Personal Choice
Rhode Island's Channel 10 news ran a story on Personal Choice, Rhode Island's Cash & Counseling Program, as part of their Health Check 10 Video Reports. The story highlights program benefits for consumers. To watch the video, follow the link below and select "Personal Choice" from the video list.
VideoCash & Counseling Programs Given Major Boost
The National Conference of State Legislatures offers this summary on the Cash & Counseling model as part of their State Health Notes Series. The article explains that policymakers have long discussed the importance of making the consumer the center of care. Now a Medicaid program (Cash & Counseling) does just that and is catching on around the country, driven by studies that show the model improves the quality of care without causing costs to skyrocket; a provision in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act (DRA); and start-up grants given to 15 states.
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Press Release: Federal Government Encourages States To Make Self-Directed Personal Care An Option For Disabled Medicaid Consumers Who Need Help At Home
A decade after first launching in three states, the National Cash & Counseling program announces the federal Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) has made it easier for all states to introduce a Cash & Counseling option. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services allows State Medicaid Programs to offer a “Cash & Counseling” State Plan Option without first obtaining a Federal Waiver. The change comes after evaluation found that Cash & Counseling improves quality of life, reduces unmet needs for care, and helps disabled consumers maintain health without costing Medicaid substantially more than traditional services.
Press ReleaseWall Street Journal Article on Vermont’s LTC System
A Wall Street Journal cover story details the changes Vermont is making to their long term care system. Changes to home and community based services include the development of the Flexible Choices program, Vermont’s name for their Cash & Counseling project. Read more about the systems change in Vermont...
VTArticle.pdfArticle Published in "Consumer Voice and Choice in Long-Term Care"
“History of and Lessons From the Cash & Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation” is part of this book inspired by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- and Scripps Gerontology Center- supported conference. Review the article in our Resources section.
ArticleNational Program Office at Boston College Awards Cash & Counseling Software Project
The Sycamore Group has been selected to develop a custom software application, to be known as the Consumer Direction Module or (CDM).
Press ReleaseFiscal/Employer Agent Workshop: Key Elements, Challenges, and Lessons Learned
Close to 200 people attended the first National F/EA Workshop held in Baltimore, MD on December 5th, 2005. Materials from the conference are now available. Review the Agenda, Handouts or View a Presentation
Handouts & PresentationsCash & Counseling Congressional Briefing in Washington DC
The Alliance for Health Reform held a congressional briefing entitled, "Cash & Counseling: Part of the Long-Term Care Answer?" Lessons learned from the Original Cash & Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation were discussed and presented by Michael O'Grady, Department of Health and Human Services; Kevin Mahoney, National Program Director for Cash & Counseling; William Ditto, New Jersey Department of Human Services; and James Knickman, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
PresentationsWebcast
Illinois Joins the Cash & Counseling Team
With support from the Retirement Research Foundation the National Program Office is pleased to announce that Illinois has joined the Cash & Counseling family and will begin to design, develop and implement their own Cash & Counseling program. To learn more about the Illinois program please visit their state profile page.
Retirement Research FoundationState Profile
Director of the Cash & Counseling National Program Office Receives the Maxwell Pollack Award
Dr. Kevin J. Mahoney, Director of the Graduate School of Social Work's Center for the Study of Home & Community Life at Boston College, will receive the Maxwell Pollack Award from the Gerontological Society of America, the nation's foremost gerontological research and education organization. Dr. Mahoney currently heads several major research projects related to consumer-direction, the elderly, and people with disabilities. You may read more about this award by visiting Medical News Today. Congratulations Kevin!
Gerontological Society of AmericaMedical News Today
Cash & Counseling Expands to 11 New States!
The National Program Office at Boston College welcomes Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia to the Cash & Counseling Program! These 11 states have received a three-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, and the Administration on Aging to replicate and expand on the successful Cash & Counseling Model.