Good morning,
I have tried to open 3 of these links and none of them open. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Cindy Phillips
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| (Previous discussion continued) | ||
| FW: USDA Approves Nevada to Accept SNAP Benefits Online - Leslie Fried (04 May 2020 15:04 EDT) | ||
| (Previous discussion continued) | ||
| FW: COVID-19 Updates from ACL - Leslie Fried (05 May 2020 10:55 EDT) | ||
| Upcoming webinars of interest - Brandy Bauer (05 May 2020 13:36 EDT) | ||
| Re-sending registration notice for upcoming MIPPA grantee listening sessions - Thursday May 14 at 2:00 (eastern) - Ann Kayrish (05 May 2020 16:25 EDT) | ||
| (Previous discussion continued) | ||
| FW: Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Individuals Affected by a FEMA-Declared Weather-Related Emergency or Other Major Disaster: Applicable for COVID-19 - Leslie Fried (05 May 2020 16:27 EDT) | ||
| Important news regarding Medicare Enrollment (IEP, GEP, SEP) - Equitable Relief due to the COVID-19 Pandemic - Leslie Fried (05 May 2020 16:35 EDT) | ||
| (Previous discussion continued) | ||
| FW: Feedback webinar recording link - Ann Kayrish (05 May 2020 17:08 EDT) | ||
Monday news from USDA FNS……
Leslie
Leslie Fried, J.D.
Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access
Office: 571.527.3992
National Council on Aging
Improving the lives of millions of older adults
251 18th Street South, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
ncoa.org | @NCOAging
Join us online at the 2020 Age+Action Virtual Conference, June 8-11
From: USDA Food and Nutrition Service <xxxxxx@service.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2020 3:03 PM
To: Leslie Fried <xxxxxx@ncoa.org>
Subject: USDA Approves Nevada to Accept SNAP Benefits Online
Caution. This email is EXTERNAL.
Contact: USDA Press
xxxxxx@oc.usda.gov
USDA is expanding access to innovative online food purchase program
(Washington, D.C., May 4, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced approval of a request from Nevada to provide online purchasing of food to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households. This approval will allow Nevada to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers with a target start date to be announced at a later time. Nevada’s SNAP participation is nearly 400,000 individuals, more than 200,000 households, and totals nearly $600 million annually in federal benefits. This announcement further demonstrates President Trump’s whole of America approach to fighting the coronavirus pandemic by ensuring those affected are fed.
Background:
SNAP
online purchasing is currently operational in Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, and Washington State. The authorized retailers working with all states are Amazon and Walmart, while Wrights Market and ShopRite are working with Alabama and New York
respectively. USDA previously announced
Arizona, California,
Florida, Idaho,
North Carolina,
the District of Columbia,
West Virginia,
Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, Vermont,
and
Minnesota would also be implementing online purchasing in the near future. With these states, more than half of all households receiving SNAP will have access to online purchasing.
Multiple stakeholders – notably, state agencies, their third-party processor, and any retailers that wish to participate – must work together to implement online purchasing using SNAP benefits. To ease the process, FNS put together a simplified template for
states that want to operate online purchasing and provided guidance to interested retailers, which is available online.
USDA continues to provide significant technical assistance to all interested stakeholders to ensure implementation plans are thorough and appropriate preliminary testing is conducted to avoid compromising the state’s entire benefit system. Each state, EBT
processor, and retailer presents their own mix of challenges so FNS is providing customer service based on each of their specific needs.
Until states are prepared to operate the pilot, USDA recommends utilizing other options that retailers may already provide, such as Pay at Pick-up (also known as “Click and Collect”), where SNAP cardholders can shop online and then pay for their purchase using
their EBT card at pick-up. Grocery pickup is already an option that these retailers offer beyond SNAP so they are already thinking through how they can provide a safe environment to do so with the growing concerns around social distancing.
During these challenging times, FNS is working hand-in-hand with state program leadership, to provide support and guidance to adapt to the challenges of this public health emergency. FNS is granting states significant program flexibilities and contingencies to best serve program participants across our 15 nutrition assistance programs. For up to date information and to learn more about flexibilities being used in FNS nutrition programs, please visit the FNS website.
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Sharing these resources from ACL.
Leslie
Leslie Fried, J.D.
Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access
Office: 571.527.3992
National Council on Aging
Improving the lives of millions of older adults
251 18th Street South, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
ncoa.org | @NCOAging
Join us online at the 2020 Age+Action Virtual Conference, June 8-11
From: Administration for Community Living <xxxxxx@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 10:53 AM
To: Leslie Fried <xxxxxx@ncoa.org>
Subject: COVID-19 Updates from ACL
Caution. This email is EXTERNAL.
What's new at ACL.gov/COVID-19
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
May 5, 2020
Here's what's new on our COVID-19 resource page:
Understanding program reporting requirements: We’ve posted guidance to help grantees with reporting requirements associated with COVID-19 funding, including program-specific guidance for:
Centers for Independent Living Long-term Care Ombudsmen programs Older Americans Act Title III grantees Older Americans Act Title VI granteesProtecting rights and addressing abuse: ACL and our federal grantees and partners continue to monitor emerging threats to the rights and dignity of older adults and people with disabilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We've added a number of resources, including:
A statement from the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice on protecting civil rights during the COVID-19 response. A video series from the National Disability Rights Network on the rights of people with disabilities. The series covers topics including housing, jails and prisons, healthcare rights, and domestic violence. A letter to faith leaders on elder abuse and supporting survivors from the Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse and the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life. The letter has been endorsed by over 20 national organizations, including several ACL grantees and partners.Supporting grandfamilies: Generations United and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging will be hosting a webinar on May 21 at 2:00pm ET to discuss how the aging network can best support older adults raising grandchildren or other young relatives during this tumultuous time.
Missed a webinar? We also have added recordings from five webinars that took place in April:
"Ensuring Continuity of Home and Community-Based Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic," part of a monthly webinar series hosted by ACL and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "The Americans with Disabilities Act at Work: Considerations for COVID-19" was hosted by the ODEP-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and featured speakers from NIDILRR's ADA National Network. "Supporting Family Caregivers of Older Adults through Times of Stress and Isolation" hosted by Resources for Integrated Care. "Providing Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Services During a Pandemic" hosted by the ACL-funded Center for Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care at the Jewish Federations of North America. "Living With COVID-19: A Guide for Volunteer Programs" hosted by the SMP National Resource Center, the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center, the Center for Benefits Access, and ACL.Spanish and ASL videos: We continue to grow our Spanish and ACL resources. We've added four new Spanish-language videos developed by the California DD Council and a regularly-updated list of coronavirus-related ASL videos being compiled by the National Association of the Deaf.
Info on Economic Impact Payments for Social Security Beneficiaries: The Social Security Administration has created a document to help beneficiaries quickly determine whether they need to take any action to receive economic impact payments under the CARES Act. SSA has also published answers to common questions about representative payees and economic impact payments.
Last but not least: Here are a few more resources we've added:
Questions and answers from ACL's April 22 call with State Unit on Aging directors. Information on daily 20-minute "huddles" organized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to discuss high-priority COVID-19 challenges faced by nursing homes. Information on the United States Department of Agriculture's Farmers to Families Food Box program.Please do not respond to this e-mail. Contact the Administration for Community Living
This email was sent to xxxxxx@ncoa.org using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Administration for Community Living
·330 C Street SW · Washington, D.C. 20001
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Some additional webinars are coming up that may interest those of you in the MIPPA network:
Virtual Volunteering
Thursday, May 21, 2020 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Description: There's nothing new about virtual volunteering - it's a proven, successful practice that's been around for more than 30 years, and many thousands of programs engage volunteers online. However, per the current global COVID-19 health crisis and widespread home quarantines, many organizations are converting much of their volunteer engagement and online service delivery online. What does this really look like? What about safety? What are keys to keeping the human touch in online interactions? This webinar will help you know the keys to success in virtual volunteering and how to move forward with confidence.
Speakers: Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Jayne Cravens, SMP and SHIP Centers Consultant
Intended Audience: The intended audiences for this webinar are SHIP coordinators of volunteers (CoVs), project directors, and others who SHIP project directors wish to invite, such as partners who help train or manage SHIP volunteers. This webinar is being conducted jointly with the SMP National Resource Center. Anyone in the MIPPA network who is interested in this topic is also welcome to attend.
Changes to Medicare and Benefits Eligibility Under COVID-19
Thursday, May 28, 2020 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Description: The coronavirus public health emergency has heightened the need for certain health care services and affected how beneficiaries can access care. In light of ongoing waivers and relaxed coverage and billing rules, SHIP, MIPPA, and SMP team members have an important role to play in helping beneficiaries navigate these Medicare changes and get the care they need.
During this webinar, presenters will discuss current topics related to Medicare coverage and coronavirus. Topics will include, but are not limited to:
Speaker: Emily Whicheloe-SHIP TA Center
Intended Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested SHIP, MIPPA, and SMP representatives.
Brandy Bauer
Associate Director, Center for Benefits Access
Office: 571-527-3911
xxxxxx@ncoa.org
National Council on Aging
251 18th St S, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
ncoa.org
Disclaimer
The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution
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This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in;
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MIPPA list serv members,
Per several requests – I am resending the invitation to our upcoming listening sessions. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the 3 posed questions.
Please join us on Thursday, May 14 from 2-3:00 pm (eastern) for a MIPPA network listening session entitled: A Listening Forum on Benefits Enrollment and Outreach during COVID19.
During the call, grantees will have an opportunity to share how you are meeting the benefits access needs in your community during the COVID 19 pandemic. To shape the discussion, we ask that you come prepared to share answers to the following questions.
Since face to face counseling is no longer an option, how is your office helping clients apply for benefits? What obstacle(s) are you facing in the application process and how have you overcome them? Are you currently conducting any outreach efforts and if so what do they look like?
We will hope to provide an opportunity for a number of grantees to share their responses with the group. If you are interested in sharing your responses with the network on the call, please email me at xxxxxx@ncoa.org to reserve a spot on the roster. You must register in advance for this meeting.
We are excited to try this new format and hope you will join us on May 14. Please use the link below to register:
https://ncoa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqcOCoqTwiGdyB-BFzaWpl1U4cGjng_DbL
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Ann Kayrish
National Council on Aging
Senior Program Manager for Medicare
251-18th Street South, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
571-527-3945
Join us at the 2020 Age+Action Conference, June 8-10!
Disclaimer
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SEP news from CMS….
Leslie
Leslie Fried, J.D.
Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access
Office: 571.527.3992
National Council on Aging
Improving the lives of millions of older adults
251 18th Street South, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
ncoa.org | @NCOAging
Join us online at the 2020 Age+Action Virtual Conference, June 8-11
From: HPMS <xxxxxx@cms.hhs.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 4:12 PM
To: Leslie Fried <xxxxxx@ncoa.org>
Subject: Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Individuals Affected by a FEMA-Declared Weather-Related Emergency or Other Major Disaster: Applicable for COVID-19
Please see the attached memorandum entitled “Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Individuals Affected by a FEMA-Declared Weather-Related Emergency or Other Major Disaster: Applicable for COVID-19” from Jerry Mulcahy, Director, Medicare Enrollment & Appeals Group. This memorandum clarifies that the exceptional conditions Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Individuals Affected by a FEMA-Declared Weather Related Emergency or Major Disaster is applicable and is available for beneficiaries who were eligible for -- but unable to make -- an election because they were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Disclaimer
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From our friends at CMS….
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking further action to ensure beneficiaries have access to the critical healthcare coverage they need in the wake of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. CMS may provide “equitable relief” if circumstances described in section 1837(h) of the Social Security Act (the Act) occur. Equitable relief may be in the form of extra time for certain eligible beneficiaries to enroll in Part B or premium-Part A, or refuse automatic Part B enrollment. In addition, eligible beneficiaries would not be subject to a late enrollment penalty for the period between the original enrollment period and the enrollment during this extension of the enrollment period. Beneficiaries are eligible for equitable relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related national emergency if they were unable to make their Part A or Part B enrollment choice in a timely manner due to delays and problems with access to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to file an application or enrollment election, as a result of the unexpected closure of field offices due to COVID-19.
See the COVID related FAQs available for download below (PDF)
CMS is granting equitable relief in the form of additional time to use an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), General Enrollment Period (GEP), or a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)--such as the SEP for when a beneficiary’s enrollment in employer coverage based on current employment ends--in order to file an application for Part B or premium-Part A or refuse Part B. This equitable relief will last from March 17, 2020 through June 17, 2020. Beneficiaries are eligible for this equitable relief if:
· The beneficiary had an enrollment period during the period from March 17, 2020, through June 17, 2020, that was an IEP, GEP, SEP; and
· The beneficiary did not apply for Part B (or premium-Part A) or refuse Part B during that IEP, GEP, or SEP.
Eligible beneficiaries who wish to take advantage of the equitable relief must file their enrollment request by June 17, 2020.
More information can be found here. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/OrigMedicarePartABEligEnrol/index
Leslie Fried, J.D.
Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access
Office: 571.527.3992
National Council on Aging
Improving the lives of millions of older adults
251 18th Street South, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
ncoa.org | @NCOAging
Join us online at the 2020 Age+Action Virtual Conference, June 8-11
Disclaimer
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MIPPA list serve members,
Attached are slides and a copy of the recording from todays COVID-19 Feedback from SMP, SHIP and MIPPA programs as well as a copy of the recording courtesy of the SMP Center.
Ann
Here’s the recording link for today’s webinar.
https://nei3a-webevents.webex.com/nei3a-webevents/lsr.php?RCID=6d2228a33e5b496db3d0c29959759f0a
Thank you!
Heather Flory
Training Manager
SMP Resource Center
Direct: (319) 242-8207
Fax: (319) 874-6888
Center Toll Free: (877) 808-2468
Confidentiality Notice: The information in this email and any attachments may be legally privileged and confidential. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the email and any attachments immediately. You should not retain, copy, or use this email or any attachment for any purpose, nor disclose all or any parts of the contents to any other person.
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