The Core Standards for Information & Assistance Professionals in Self-Direction resource, developed with the generous sponsorship of Centene, is designed to provide information to states, managed care organizations, and other stakeholders regarding core competencies and skills for professionals providing Information and Assistance (I&A) in support of self-direction. I&A is essential for helping participants understand self-direction, navigate their program and its rules, and have a successful experience self-directing. An underpowered I&A function can limit not only a program’s growth and participant satisfaction but also its integrity, as one of the core functions of I&A is to provide additional program monitoring and safeguards.

A new fact sheet from the Department of Justice (DOJ) reiterates earlier guidance on accessibility requirements for websites under the Americans with Disabilities Act and describes some of the enforcement actions taken by DOJ to address inaccessibility of COVID-19 vaccine websites. DOJ reached agreements with several companies to address issues that limited people with disabilities in using vaccine scheduling websites, such as required information (like first and last names, birthdates, and zip codes) not being “read” to users of screen readers, and available vaccination times not being available to “select” by people using keyboards.

The ADA requires that businesses provide people with disabilities full and equal access to services including those offered online. Similarly, state and local governments must not discriminate based on disability including in services and programs provided online. Both must ensure that they communicate effectively with people with disabilities. As the aging and disability network continue to assist people with disabilities access vaccines and boosters, any suspected violations of the ADA should be reported to the Department of Justice.

The Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a new resource to help states understand and meet legal requirements for Medicaid, the Basic Health Program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program when the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends. 

With limited exemptions, states have not been allowed to disenroll Medicaid beneficiaries during the PHE. When the PHE ends, states will have to perform millions of redeterminations to see who is still eligible and who is not. To assist states with that work, the tool includes information on the requirements for eligibility renewals and redeterminations, application processing, fair hearings, coordination with the Marketplace, and other processes. It also highlights temporary options available to states during the unwinding period to facilitate eligibility and enrollment processing and to help retain coverage for eligible individuals. 

It will require “all hands on deck” to ensure the PHE unwinding period goes smoothly to avoid harmful gaps in coverage for people who rely on Medicaid to stay well and independent. The aging and disability networks are critical partners in ensuring older adults and people with disabilities can continue to receive the supports and services they need without disruption.

More info:

• CMS website on Unwinding and Returning to Regular Operations After the COVID-19 Pandemic
• ACL information on PHE unwinding for the aging and disability networks.

Federal officials say they are moving forward with implementing a Medicaid rules that standardizes what counts as home-and-community-based services for people with disabilities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services came up with a strategy to enforce the 2014 regulation that lays out criteria programs must meet in order to be community based and eligible for funding. The rule requires settings must be where people choose to be and have full access to the community. 

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Many adults with disabilities often feel left hanging when they turn 18. Navigating adulthood is scary for anyone--especially those with disabilities. There isn't a clear roadmap. A new documentary entitled, "My Disability Roadmap," is about a man with multiple physical disabilities who is trying to figure out how to navigate adulthood. The documentary shares his compelling story and asks some of the basic, yet hard, questions. 

Read more and find the link to watch the documentary

As the pandemic whines don't (or at least as things return to a new normal), many people with disabilities hope accessibility gains made during the last few years won't be forgotten. Platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams have made it possible for everyone --especially those with disabilities-- to participate in many different kinds of events that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to. Many of these accommodations weren't readily available before the pandemic. People with disabilities hope these now simple accommodations will continue. 

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