December 2020
As our readership is keenly aware being able to receive services and supports in a persons’ community is paramount for maintaining the spirit of aging in place, having disabilities being in your community. The Conference was virtual and spanned two weeks with a cross section of payers, providers, State Medicaid Directors Federal Administrators.
Advancing States (www.advancingstates.org) brings together the stakeholders who deliver, fund and re-imagine the many delivery models that enable people to receive critical services in their homes or community based residences. Under the Advancing States umbrella are Federal agencies such as Administration for Community Living (ACL) and specifically the Administration for Aging (AoA). Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s) who are represented by N4A ( National Association of Area Agencies on Aging ),State Medicaid Directors (CMS) converge to address program innovations, integrity and the emerging technologies that are transforming the delivery of care particularly important in the Covid-19 environment.
Policy makers talking with Payers, specifically Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) who provide Long Term Support Services (LTSS) as well as MLTSS programs enable dialogs that address food insecurity, housing, delivery system models, such as telehealth. All the energy and innovation in the aging and disability networks.
Lance Robertson, Assistant Secretary for Aging vision embodies many of the underpinnings for the provision of care, namely -five pillars : supporting families and caregivers, protecting rights and preventing abuse, connecting people to resources, expanding employment opportunities and strengthening the aging and disability network.
Covid-19 has exacerbated social isolation, homelessness, the need for information and referral services, supporting patients and caregivers that are addressing dementia and enabling the reframing of aging in place.
With many funding sources having strain on their resources it takes public and private partnerships to address the revolution needed to meet the burgeoning needs that exist and further stressed by Covid-19. In a separate blog we will share a list of resources that will support you and your organizations agenda.
