CMS Actively Promotes the Community Living Initiative, Offers Assistance for State Long-Term Care Reform

We'd like to share a letter from Cindy Mann, Director of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), to State Medicaid Directors promotes the Community Living Initiative, and offers assistance to states to balance the long-term care system to reflect more home and community based options for older adults and persons with disabilities.

In Ms. Mann’s letter to State Medicaid Directors, she outlines “Opportunities and Partnership –Tools for Community Living”.  CMS offers, among other supports:

·         technical assistance,

·         waiver programs,

·         information on managed care models for long-term care,

·         information on affordable housing options,

·         support for infrastructure reforms,

·         financial support for demonstration projects,

·         guidance in discharge planning.

We commend CMS for continuing to promote the Community Living Initiative, and for assisting the states in our efforts to balance the long-term care system to reflect more home and community based options for older adults and persons with disabilities.  This letter is a great opportunity for education and advocacy to ensure that Illinois takes advantage of the support and guidance CMS is offering.  Please visit this link to read the letter in full: http://www.nasua.org/pdf/health_reform/CMS%20Olmstead.pdf.