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STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Idaho: Companion Bill Introduced to Establish Medicaid Benefits for Family Caregivers
http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0877.html
2. Hawaii: Resolutions to Create a Focus Group to Assess Long-Term Care and Home Care Needs
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hr225_.htm
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/scr115_.htm
3. Kansas: Resolution to Recognize the Importance of Family Caregivers
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/2006_5011.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
4. House Fails to Agree on FY07 Federal Budget That Would Limit Spending on Social Services and Research
http://www.house.gov/budget/fy07mufacts032906.htm
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=36379
5. CMS Offers Long-Term Care Roadmap to Medicaid Reform
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NewFreedomInitiative/02_WhatsNew.asp#TopOfPage
6. Information About End-of-Life Issues Available from National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endoflifeissues.html
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
7. United Kingdom: Release of Year-Long Review of Services for Older Adults
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/news/press_releases/wanless_review.html
RESEARCH REPORTS & JOURNAL ARTICLES
8. Impact of Aging Population on the U.S. Health Workforce
http://chws.albany.edu/index.php?aging
9. Assessment of Caregivers’ and Care Recipients’ Experiences with Dementia Care
http://dem.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/5/1/51
10. Fact Sheet on Home and Community-Based Long-Term Services for Older Adults
http://www.aarp.org/research/longtermcare/programfunding/fs90r_hcbltc.html
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
11. California Public Television Program Explains Medicare Prescription Drug Program
http://www.aging.ca.gov/html/programs/medicare_PBS.html
12. Information on Claiming a Parent as a Dependent for Tax Purposes
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/money/264806_taxrelief30.html
13. May is Older Americans Month
http://www.aoa.gov/press/oam/May_2006/Materials_Downloads.asp
STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Idaho: Companion Bill Introduced to Establish Medicaid Benefits for Family Caregivers
The Idaho House of Representatives has introduced a companion bill (H.B. 877) to Senate Bill 1390 that would establish a Medicaid benefit for family caregivers of persons who do not currently meet the criteria for nursing facility levels of care but who show evidence of physical or mental health or emotional problems from the strain of caregiving. The bill also requires use of an established scale to assess the well-being of caregivers, and to determine eligibility for respite benefits. Both bills are currently being considered by committees. For more information, visit:
http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0877.html
2. Hawaii: Resolutions to Create a Focus Group to Assess Long-Term Care and Home Care Needs
The Hawaii Legislature has introduced companion resolutions (S.C.R. 115-06; H.R. 225-06) to convene a focus group to assess yearly service delivery needs and long-term strategic planning for Kupuna Care, which is designed to assist older adults living independently. The resolutions suggest conducting a needs assessment caregiver survey within each county to better deliver support services to caregivers. For more information, visit:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hr225_.htm
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/scr115_.htm
3. Kansas: Resolution to Recognize the Importance of Family Caregivers
The Kansas Legislature introduced a resolution (H.C.R. 5011) to express recognition and appreciation for family caregivers throughout the state. The resolution highlights that the majority of community-based and home-based services are provided by family members, and family members care for a growing number of frail elders and adults with disabilities. For more information, visit:
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/2006_5011.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
4. House Fails to Agree on FY07 Federal Budget That Would Limit Spending on Social Services and Research
The House of Representatives failed to agree on a FY07 budget resolution (H.C.R. 376) that includes $6.8 billion in spending cuts to entitlement programs but excludes reductions in Medicare and Medicaid spending. The President’s proposed FY07 budget plan had included $36 billion in spending cuts to Medicare over five years. In addition, the House budget resolution includes a cap on discretionary spending that would keep health and other nonsecurity programs at FY06 levels, as well as cuts in gerontological research, education and service programs. The House is expected to resume deliberations on the budget resolution after its two-week recess. For more information, visit:
http://www.house.gov/budget/fy07mufacts032906.htm
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=36379
5. CMS Offers Long-Term Care Roadmap to Medicaid Reform
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has outlined new flexibilities available to states under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub.L. No. 109-171) in providing long-term care services. The publication suggests that states can offer home and community-based services as a state plan optional benefit, rather than as a waiver. States can also apply for grants to “rebalance” their long-term support system under the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration program. In addition, states can apply for Real Choice System Change grants to design and construct infrastructure that will improve community long-term support systems. For more information, visit:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NewFreedomInitiative/02_WhatsNew.asp#TopOfPage
6. Information About End-of-Life Issues Available from National Library of Medicine
The National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health is the world’s largest medical library and an important resource for information about end-of-life issues. It includes links to relevant news, articles, directories, organizations and statistics related to end-of-life decisions.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endoflifeissues.html
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
7. United Kingdom: Release of Year-Long Review of Services for Older Adults
The King’s Fund in the United Kingdom has published Securing Good Social Care for Older People: Taking a Long-Term View, a comprehensive analysis of how social care for older adults and their caregivers can be funded. The report models the level and kinds of services that will be needed over the next 20 years and estimates the costs of such services. The report also discusses different scenarios for the funding of social care, from a partnership model between the government and consumers to a model where the government would fund the entire cost. For more information, visit:
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/news/press_releases/wanless_review.html
RESEARCH REPORTS & JOURNAL ARTICLES
8. Impact of Aging Population on the U.S. Health Workforce
A new publication from the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York, assesses the effects of aging on the supply of and demand for different types of health professionals needed to serve the U.S. population. The authors suggest that access to and ability to pay for care are major concerns among older people, and there is a need for new skills and procedures within the health care delivery system to effectively care for the growing population of older adults. For more information, visit:
http://chws.albany.edu/index.php?aging
9. Assessment of Caregivers’ and Care Recipients’ Experiences with Dementia Care
A study published in Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice reports the results of questionnaires given to 267 caregiver/care recipient dyads in Canada. From the perspective of the caregiver and care recipient, it is the individuals who they interact with in their care journey that define and shape the evaluation of their experiences. In the early stages of dementia, the family physician plays a central role in helping dyads understand the disease and the care resources that are available to them. In the later stages of the disease, the health care worker becomes central to their care journey. For more information, visit:
http://dem.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/5/1/51
10. Fact Sheet on Home and Community-Based Long-Term Services for Older Adults
A new Fact Sheet from AARP Public Policy Institute explains typical supports offered under home and community-based service (HCBS) programs, and offers new statistics on Medicaid and HCBS spending and utilization. Information is based off of 2004 data. For more information, visit:
http://www.aarp.org/research/longtermcare/programfunding/fs90r_hcbltc.html
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
11. California Public Television Program Explains Medicare Prescription Drug Program
Throughout April and into May, public television stations throughout California will run a program that explains the Medicare Prescription Drug program. The program offers explanations of the benefit so that consumers can make an informed decision about enrollment prior to May 15th. For more information, visit:
http://www.aging.ca.gov/html/programs/medicare_PBS.html
12. Information on Claiming a Parent as a Dependent for Tax Purposes
An article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer offers tips for claiming a parent as a dependent to receive federal tax savings. When claiming an older parent as a dependent, the parent’s income cannot exceed a $3,200 exemption amount and the tax filer must be able to prove that he or she is responsible for at least 50 percent of the parent’s expenses. For more information, visit:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/money/264806_taxrelief30.html
13. May is Older Americans Month
The theme for this year’s Older Americans Month is “Choices for Independence.” The Administration on Aging has produced informational materials to help agencies and individuals promote key issues for older adults and their families during May, as well as information about nutrition and health in the older population. For more information, visit:
http://www.aoa.gov/press/oam/May_2006/Materials_Downloads.asp
©2006 Family Caregiver Alliance. All rights reserved.
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