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- NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LONG TERM CARE REFORM
- MEDICARE PART D UPDATE
- NYS DOH MEDICAID UPDATE
- REMINDER: AGENCY INFORMATION FORM
NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LONG TERM CARE REFORM
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), in conjunction with the New York State Office for Aging (NYSOFA), will pursue a statewide 1115 waiver to allow Medicaid eligible persons of all ages and disabilities to access needed services, whether or not they are eligible for nursing home care. This 1115 waiver is being pursued as a result of the expected increase in the size and associated needs of the aged and disabled populations.
NYSACRA has been asked to respond with ideas in order to ensure that this waiver contains the components necessary to effectively change New York State's long term care system. Ideas are being elicited regarding community resources, service coordination and management, long term care service programs, system oversight, infrastructure, cost neutrality and implementation issues specific to the proposed 1115 waiver. Please get us your thoughts to shape into a response to NYSDOH. Please provide responses by September 1. For more information or to provide your own comments to NYSDOH go to: http://www.nyhealth.gov/funding/rfi/ltc_restructuring /
MEDICARE PART D UPDATE
Helpful Tip: Each month, participants in Medicare Part D benefits receive an Explanation of Benefits. In many cases the drug plans make them very complicated and hard to understand. We have been told that one plan, Humana, has been able to send out “user friendly” Benefit Explanations. It is extremely important for agencies to review the Explanations, as best you can, because they often include, (sometimes on the back), important information such as, that generic medications have been used instead of brand name. This is very important to track for a person with a disability in case the generic medication is not as effective. The explanations also include any Upcoming changes to the formulary including use of generic medications. CMS has told drug plans that they must continue to cover drugs that persons are stabilized on for the rest of the calendar year.
NYS DOH MEDICAID UPDATE
On a monthly basis the NYS DOH publishes a Medicaid Update. It can be found on their website with back issues and is extremely helpful and user friendly. The latest issue can be reviewed at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/health_care/medicaid/ program/update/2006/aug2006.htm
REMINDER: AGENCY INFORMATION FORM
It’s that time of year again! If you haven’t returned the NYSACRA Information Form, please do. It has been sent out, by mail and by e-mail. As you know, this form is used to update the association’s database and to prepare our 2007 Membership Directory. The information you provide is critical to your agency’s receiving NYSACRA communications and that they be sent to the appropriate individual and is useful for networking between members. Please take a few moments to complete the form and return it to the NYSACRA office by mail, fax or electronically via the www.nysacra.org web form. |
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