CMS Offers Caregiving Presentation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will offer a live broadcast program on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, from 1:00 - 3:30 pm, at regional locations on the subject "Supporting Caregivers Across the Life Span".

The broadcast will deliver the program about caregiving via satellite to various link sites around the nation at no cost to registered participants.

CMS stated two objectives for the presentation:

1) Bring greater awareness and sensitivity to the challenges in caregiving.

2) Improve the coordination of resources and services for caregivers, providers, and partners.

This is a general description of the presentation:

The New Freedom Initiative (NFI) Subcommittee on Caregiving presents this broadcast designed to bring awareness to the range of programs and services the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offers that support caregivers across the lifespan.

NFI is a government-wide effort to eliminate the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in community life.

A panel of experts will provide information about these programs to increase knowledge of partners and providers, and improve service delivery for caregiving Americans.

HHS & CMS already provide resources online regarding "caregivers":

• A-Z Topics for Caregivers (Healthfinder)
  
• Caregiving (MEDLINEplus)
• Resources for Caregivers (AoA)
• Guide for Caregivers (AoA)
• Support Programs for Caregivers (AoA)

The presentation on Wednesday afternoon, September 19, 2007, offers these speakers and their topics, in order of appearance:

• Kerry Weems, Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Josefina Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging for the Administration on Aging, will introduce the DHHS programs that support caregivers across the lifespan.

• Dr. Margaret Giannini, Director, DHHS Office on Disability, will provide an overview of the New Freedom Initiative

• Gail Gibson-Hunt, National Alliance for Caregiving, will set the current context for caregiving in the United States.

• Rick Greene, Administration on Aging, will describe and explain the National Family Caregiver Support Program at AoA, including program background, new eligibility requirements, services provided, and how to access these services.

• Susan Hill, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will discuss the home and community based Medicaid waiver program and its impact on family caregivers.

• Susie Butler, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will review Medicare prescription drug coverage, preventive services, Medicare Advantage, and new developments in “My Health. My Medicare.”

• Gary Quinn, Indian Health Service, will describe the caregiver support programs within the Indian Health System as well as programs inside and outside tribal communities.

• Yvonne Jackson, Administration on Aging, will summarize the Native American Caregiver Support Program at AoA, including its mission, eligibility requirements, and services provided through the program.

• Faith McCormick, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, will discuss how caregivers for persons with developmental disabilities can be supported and access available resources.

• Diana Denboba, Health Resources and Services Administration, will discuss HRSA’s support for family caregivers of children with special health needs.

Additional information about the presentation & its broadcast is available here. Also, CMS made available online a brochure for the program: New Freedom Initiative Caregiver Satellite Broadcast Flyer (PDF, 13MB).

You can register up to 30 minutes before the presentation using this link. Registration occurs under an organizational affiliation, with a site selection.

These are the viewing sites available in Pennsylvania:

• Altoona -- James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602-4377 (814-943-8164)

• Butler -- VA Medical Center, 325 New Castle Road, Butler, PA 16001-2480 (724-287-4781 or (800-362-8262)

• Coatesville -- VA Medical Center, 1400 Black Horse Hill Road, Coatesville, PA 19320-2096 (610-384-7711)

• Erie -- VA Medical Center, 135 East 38 Street, Erie, PA 16504 (814-868-8661 or 800-274-8387)

• Lebanon -- VA Medical Center, 1700 South Lincoln Avenue, Lebanon PA 17042 (717-272-6621 or (800-409-8771)

• Philadelphia -- CMS Regional Office, 150 South Independence Mall West, Suite 216, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215-861-4304)

• Philadelphia -- VA Medical Center, University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (800-949-1001 or 215-823-5800)

• Pittsburgh -- Allegheny General Hospital, 320 E. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412-359-3271)

• Pittsburgh -- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, H. John Heinz III Progressive Care Center, Delafield Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (866-482-7488 or 412-688-6000)

• Pittsburgh -- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (Highland Drive Division), 7180 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15206 (412-365-4900 or 866-4VA-PITT)

• Pittsburgh -- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (University Drive Division), University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240 (866-482-7488 or 866-4VA-PITT)

• Wilkes-Barre -- VA Medical Center, 1111 East End Blvd., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 (570-824-3521 or (877-928-2621)

Other locations nationwide are listed, current as of September 17, 2007. See: Caregiver Satellite Broadcast Downlink Sites (PDF, 168KB).

This presentation demonstrates the importance placed by HHS & CMS on the role and services of the caregiver -- a role that will grow in importance as the population ages.

Update: 09/17/08:

CMS will launch a new online resource directed towards caregivers on September 18, 2008. See: PA EE&F Law Blog posting New "Ask Medicare" Caregiver Tools (09/17/08).