Friday, May 7, 2010
ANCOR's 2009 DSP Wage Study Released
ANCOR's 2009 DSP Wage Study is now available online. To access visit www.youneedtoknowme.org or click here.
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Thursday, May 6, 2010
HHS Awards ARRA Funds to Establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability today announced the award of over $6 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration.
The contract has been awarded to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc for a two-year period and is aimed at building the infrastructure necessary to support and conduct research on the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of systems of care for people with disabilities. "With the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration, we will make necessary data improvements to better understand health and support services for people with disabilities," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The data collected will allow the Office on Disability and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine the effectiveness of different services and supports being provided, and in turn, improve care for people with disabilities."
The center will identify data sources, evaluate the usability of data, conduct research, and disseminate scientifically and clinically relevant information to help patients, providers, policy makers, consumers, caregivers, and family members make decisions on health care.
One of the key components of this effort is the collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Chronic Conditions Warehouse (CCW). "By linking existing Medicaid data sources and other datasets relevant to disability to the CCW, the Center will increase the analytic utility of CCW information for research on people with disabilities and/or chronic conditions," said Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Office on Disability and the technical and scientific lead of the initiative.
In addition, Medicaid data - state plan and waiver services supplied by specific states - will be assessed and used to identify and propose ways to achieve greater consistency on how services are used and defined. "This is a unique initiative that creates a broad array of future opportunities in comparative effectiveness research in the field of disability services, including those related to rehabilitation, behavioral and psychosocial interventions. We look forward to advancing science and enhancing services and supports that benefit people with disabilities," said Dr. Correa-de-Araujo.
Read more!
The contract has been awarded to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc for a two-year period and is aimed at building the infrastructure necessary to support and conduct research on the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of systems of care for people with disabilities. "With the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration, we will make necessary data improvements to better understand health and support services for people with disabilities," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The data collected will allow the Office on Disability and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine the effectiveness of different services and supports being provided, and in turn, improve care for people with disabilities."
The center will identify data sources, evaluate the usability of data, conduct research, and disseminate scientifically and clinically relevant information to help patients, providers, policy makers, consumers, caregivers, and family members make decisions on health care.
One of the key components of this effort is the collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Chronic Conditions Warehouse (CCW). "By linking existing Medicaid data sources and other datasets relevant to disability to the CCW, the Center will increase the analytic utility of CCW information for research on people with disabilities and/or chronic conditions," said Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Office on Disability and the technical and scientific lead of the initiative.
In addition, Medicaid data - state plan and waiver services supplied by specific states - will be assessed and used to identify and propose ways to achieve greater consistency on how services are used and defined. "This is a unique initiative that creates a broad array of future opportunities in comparative effectiveness research in the field of disability services, including those related to rehabilitation, behavioral and psychosocial interventions. We look forward to advancing science and enhancing services and supports that benefit people with disabilities," said Dr. Correa-de-Araujo.
Read more!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
HHS Consumer Website Expected July 1; Will Include Data on Public, Private Plans
The Department of Health and Human Services plans to unveil the first iteration of a website designed to help individuals and small businesses find information about insurance options in their state by July 1, according to an interim final rule published in the May 5 Federal Register. The HHS Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight will oversee the web portal that will provide consumers with state-based information about private insurance, high-risk pools, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program—as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148). To meet PPACA's July 1 deadline, HHS said it will require insurance issuers to submit needed information by May 21, such as product names and types, enrollment data, and product availability. The web portal will include information about plans' services, providers, and formularies, if available. The portal also will include information about eligibility and enrollment procedures for public programs.
Then, in October, HHS will expand the portal to include more detailed information about pricing and benefits, as well as more information about enrollment in public programs. HHS said that for plans offered in states without community rating, any information about premiums will be presented in terms of standard risks, even though insurers can vary rates based on health status. HHS also said it anticipates including medical loss ratio information through the portal, once regulations defining MLRs are promulgated. Under the reform law, insurers must spend a set percentage of premiums on health services, as opposed to administrative costs.
Comments on the interim final rule are due 30 days from its publication.
HHS also said it plans to offer training to states and health insurance issuers about the information that must be submitted for development of the portal.
The rule and further information about it are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/gatheringinfo/index.html.
Read more!
Then, in October, HHS will expand the portal to include more detailed information about pricing and benefits, as well as more information about enrollment in public programs. HHS said that for plans offered in states without community rating, any information about premiums will be presented in terms of standard risks, even though insurers can vary rates based on health status. HHS also said it anticipates including medical loss ratio information through the portal, once regulations defining MLRs are promulgated. Under the reform law, insurers must spend a set percentage of premiums on health services, as opposed to administrative costs.
Comments on the interim final rule are due 30 days from its publication.
HHS also said it plans to offer training to states and health insurance issuers about the information that must be submitted for development of the portal.
The rule and further information about it are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/gatheringinfo/index.html.
Read more!
ANCOR Calls for FMAP Extension Now!
Respond to ANCOR's FMAP Action Alert Today! ANCOR members are urged to make passage of the FMAP extension a top priority this week! Call Your Senate and House offices and spread the word!
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