Tribal LTSS program funding opportunities, news, events, resources, and more
| Upcoming webinar: New Medicare Card Updates and Social Security Disability Benefits Overview |
|
|
LTSS Training and Technical Assistance Center
Visit the online LTSS TA Center for videos, best practices, toolkits, a resource library, and a step-by-step planning roadmap.
|
|
|
Data show increased use of home- and community-based care
|
|
A 2018 report suggests that communities are moving toward more home- and community-based care options. The report on Medicaid spending for LTSS (PDF, 6.9 MB, 154 pp) explains that, during Fiscal Year 2016, spending for home- and community-based services grew 10% while spending for institutional services fell 2%.
Additionally, a recently published analysis of Medicaid data for 16 states (PDF, 1.5 MB, 27 pp) found that patients who received community-based LTSS prior to entering institutional care facilities had shorter stays at those facilities and were 3 times more likely to seek community-based care after their stay than patients who initially received LTSS in institutional settings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Community-based LTSS resources for tribes
|
|
| |
|
Learn more about the differences between home- and community-based care and facility-based care on the LTSS Technical Assistance Center to determine which is the best fit for your community.
Watch this video that highlights Pueblo of Zuni's LTSS program to learn how they deliver home- and community-based services.
|
|
|
Disabilities and health care access
|
|
CDC determined that disabilities are more common among AI/AN people, compared with other groups, in a recent study of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Accessing health care is often more difficult for people with disabilities. Further, this study found that young and middle-aged adults with disabilities tend to face more challenges accessing health care than other age groups.
|
| |
|
These findings highlight the importance of offering services for younger adults with disabilities as part of LTSS programs. Visit the CMS LTSS Technical Assistance Center for more information on planning for long-term care that fits your community’s needs.
|
|
| |
|
Excessive earwax can cause health problems for elders
|
|
The answer to improving poor balance or addressing declining hearing could be simple — have a medical provider clean out impacted earwax.
According to a recent article in Kaiser Health News, excessive earwax can be a problem for more than 30% of elders and people with developmental disabilities and for up to 2/3 of people living in nursing homes.
|
 |
| |
|
Impacted earwax can cause many health issues, including contributing to falls and hearing loss. Hearing loss can hamper communication with people who have dementia, which can worsen aggression. Cleaning out excessive earwax can lead to immediate health improvements. Caregivers can help by making sure that earwax is checked and impacted earwax is removed during patient medical visits.
|
|
| |
|
Native American Nutrition Conference
|
|
|
|
|
The Conference on Native American Nutrition provides an opportunity to learn about and discuss Native nutrition and food science. This year’s topics look at nutrition across the lifecycle, education across generations and Indigenous communities, agriculture, and historical trauma.
|
|
A series of optional half-day workshops range from a youth garden tour to healthy traditional food prep with a Sioux chef.
|
|
This conference is one of many efforts by tribal communities in Minnesota to revitalize traditional foods. These efforts aim to reverse the high rates of Native diabetes and obesity by promoting healthy indigenous foods, food sovereignty, and healthy living initiatives.
|
| |
|
Join the conversation on LinkedIn
Want to learn more about or discuss LTSS in Indian Country? Looking to connect with others working in the same field? Join the Tribal Affairs Group on LinkedIn and join the conversation.
|
|
|
|
Get ahead of sepsis
|
|
Each year, at least 1.7 million Americans develop sepsis, a risky complication that can develop due to infection. Nearly 270,000 people die as a result. Adults in nursing homes can be especially vulnerable, since bedsores can cause sepsis.
Septicemia is an infection in the bloodstream that can cause sepsis. Data shows that septicemia may be more dangerous for American Indians and Alaska Natives. From 2009–2011, American Indians and Alaska Natives died from Septicemia at a rate of 17.3%, compared to 10.6% in 2010 for the general U.S. population.
|
|
The following resources help explain the seriousness of sepsis and why timely treatment is so important:
|
 |
|
| |
LTSS and Medicaid Toolkit
|
|
A recently released toolkit from the Center for Health Care Strategies provides information about how states and those who work with them can enhance the LTSS they provide to Medicaid patients.
Strengthening Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports in an Evolving Policy Environment (PDF, 3.4 MB, 66 pp) examines how to match care settings to patients’ needs and the benefits of integrating physical and behavioral health services.
|
| |
|
New Medicare Card Updates and Social Security Disability Benefits Overview
|
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Learn about benefits programs for elders and people with disabilities. Presenters will provide updates on new Medicare cards and review the Social Security Administration’s online services and disability programs. The discussion will include eligibility requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income disability program.
| Presenters |
 |
Priya Helweg
Health Insurance Specialist
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
|
|
 |
Kirk Larson
Public Affairs Specialist (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington)
Social Security Administration
|
|
|
Please note your
location's call-in time:
8 a.m. Hawaii
10 a.m. Alaska
11 a.m. Pacific
11 a.m. Arizona
12 p.m. Mountain
1 p.m. Central
2 p.m. Eastern
|
|
|
|
Send Us Your News
Do you have news to share about LTSS in Indian Country? Send it to ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com, and we’ll include it in a newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too.
|
|
|
About the Newsletter
Long-Term Services and Supports Solutions is published monthly by the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with LTSS planners, tribal leaders, and supporters.
|
|
