Technical Assistance on Community Living
Promising Practices in Home and Community Based Services
Promising practices spotlights innovations in home and community based service programs implemented by various States from around the country. The promising practices website is intended as a resource for States exploring HCBS options to improve their community living programs.
Quality in Home and Community Based Services
Medicaid has a critical role to play in developing Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement (QA/QI) systems that effectively address the health and welfare of individuals who are elderly or have a disability or long-term illness. CMS is committed to assisting in the design and implementation of effective and enduring improvements in the quality management of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
Technical Assistance to CMS Grantee States (link to new TA site)
As part of CMS's continuing efforts to improve community-based services for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, we issue grants to States to develop and improve their service delivery systems. Among the recent grant initiatives are the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and Real Choice Systems Change grant programs. Recognizing that some of the best resources for program development come from State experiences, CMS has encouraged States to interact and share information with one another through partnership and exchange. Below is a list of organizations that are facilitating the technical assistance among State grantees.
Employment of People with Disabilities: Medicaid Infrastructure Grants
The Medicaid Infrastructure Grant program provides funding to states to eliminate barriers and disincentives for people with disabilities who wish to be employed.
| Center for Workers with Disabilities Development PDF 192KB | National Consortium for Health Systems PDF 82KB |
| Gail Stefl
(505) 476-6817 Gail.Stefl@state.nm.us |
Melissa Wittman, Project Director
(312) 925-3040 melwittman@mindspring.com |
Real Choice Systems Change Grants for Community Living
Real Choice Systems grants: Helps states design and implement enduring improvements in community long-term support systems to enable people with disabilities or long-term illnesses to live and participate in community life.
Community-integrated Personal Assistance Services and Supports grants: Supports states' efforts to improve personal assistance services that are consumer-directed.
Nursing Facility Transition grants: Helps states transition eligible individuals from nursing facilities to the community.
National Technical Assistance Exchange Collaborative: Provides technical assistance, training, and information to states, consumers, families, and other agencies and organizations.
| Exchange Collaborative at ILRU | Exchange Collaborative at Rutgers/CSHP |
| Richard Petty, Project Director
Independent Living Research Utilization 2323 South Shepherd, Suite 1000 Houston, TX 77019 repetty@compuserve.com Phone: 713/520-0232 |
Susan Reinhard, R.N., Ph.D.
The Center for State Health Policy Rutgers, New Jersey 317 George Street, Suite 400 New Brunswick, NJ 08901-2008 sreinhard@cshp.rutgers.edu Phone: 732-932-3105 ext. 230 |
Dual Eligibles for Medicare and Medicaid
Provides policy and technical information for Federal, State, and local and beneficiary advocates and representatives interested in learning more about the Medicare Savings Program. In addition, it provides information for Medicare beneficiaries about programs administered by the States as part of the medical assistance program that can help pay Medicare out-of-pocket expenses.
HCBS.org
Provides information about activities of The Community Living Exchange Collaborative: A National Technical Assistance Program, the Formative Evaluation for the Systems Change Initiative, and the Home and Community-Based Services Resource Network.
CarePlanner
CarePlanner is a decision support tool for successful living and care choices. It is for seniors, physically disabled and individuals who have a chronic illness and need supportive services, and mature adults who like to plan ahead.
