New Freedom Initiative

1
New Freedom Initiative

• A government-wide framework for helping provide
  elders and people with disabilities with
  necessary supports to live and fully participate
  in community life.
• www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom

2
New Freedom Initiative

• Independence Plus
• Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003
• Open Door Forums
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/nfiforums.pdf

3
New Freedom Initiative

• Next Open Door Forum - August 27 at 300 pm
  Mental Health Issues/Initiatives
• How to Register
• www.cms.hhs.gov
• Click on the NFI Open Door Forum under
  Initiatives in the left hand column. (chart of
  all 13 Open Door Forums)
• Click on the NFI Open Door Forum to link with
  information on how to register.
• You may also click on and register for other Open
  Door Forums as well.

4
Independence Plus

• Tools to assist States in the development of
  programs that enable individuals and families to
  decide how best to plan, obtain and sustain
  community based services, placing control into
  the hands of the people using the services.

5
Independence Plus

• Information available on the CMS web site
• Overview Information
• Templates 1915(c) 1115
• Budget Shell for the 1115

6
Independence Plus

• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/independenceplus/
• or -
• Click on Accomplishments at the bottom of the
  New Freedom Initiative home page
• Click on Independence Plus

7
Independence Plus

• The CMS Essential Elements associated with a
  successful self-directed program include
• Person Centered Planning
• Individual Budgeting
• Self-Directed Supports (e.g., Supports Brokerage
  and Financial Management Services)
• Quality Assurances and Improvement

8
Independence Plus (I)

• Information on I Essential Elements
• Home and Community Based Services From
  Institutional Care to Self-Directed Supports
  Services (especially pages 14-18 under Question
  10)
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/528hill.pdf
• At the New Freedom Initiative home page click on
  Background Materials for Past Open Door Forums

9
Independence Plus

• Approved Programs
• Florida Cash and Counseling Demonstration
• New Hampshires In Home Support Waiver for
  Children with Developmental Disabilities
• Louisiana New Opportunities Waiver
• South Carolina Choice

10
Independence Plus

• Approved Programs (continued)
• access information on approved programs at
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/odfback.asp
• same page as the essential elements

11
Independence Plus

• Questions the program may be addressed to
• selfdirectionwaiver_at_cms.hhs.gov
• for waivers
• selfdirectiondemo_at_cms.hhs.gov
• for demonstrations

12
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Information Sources
• CMS New Freedom Initiative
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom
• Addresses Follow for
• Solicitations
• QAs
• E-Mail Contacts

13
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• States and others, in partnership with their
  disability and aging communities, may submit
  proposals aimed at building infrastructure that
  will result in effective and enduring
  improvements in community long-term support
  systems.

14
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Main Real Choice Systems Change Grants
• Solicitation (PDF 689KB) Includes 10 different
  grant opportunities
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/2003solicitation
  .pdf
• Appendices to Solicitation (PDF 704KB)
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/2003appendix.pdf

15
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Respite for Adults
• Respite for Children
• Community-Based Treatment Alternatives for
  Children
• Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in Home
  and Community-Based Services
• Independence Plus Initiative

16
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Initiative
• Community-Integrated Personal Assistance Services
  and Supports
• National State-to-State Technical Assistance
  Program for Community Living
• Technical Assistance for Consumer Task Forces
• Family-to-Family Health Care Information and
  Education Center

17
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Aging and Disability Resource Center Grant
  Solicitation Available on both CMS and AoA Web
  sites
• Program Announcement and Application Instructions
  (PDF 374KB)
• http//www.aoa.gov
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/resctrannappinst
  .pdf

18
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Dates of Federal Register Announcements
• Aging and Disability Resource Center Grant May
  29, 2003
• Main Real Choice Systems Change Grants May 30,
  2003

19
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Applicants Teleconference held on June 12, 2003
• Replay of teleconference was available via a
  1-800 phone for 3-full days after the
  teleconference.
• Questions and Answers (QAs) from the
  teleconference are incorporated into two QA
  documents (Real Choice and Aging and Disability
  Resource Center) of July 14, 2003.

20
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• QAs continued
• Aging and Disability Resource Center (PDF 246KB)
• http//www.aoa.gov
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/adrcqa.pdf
• Main Real Choice Systems Change Grants (PDF
  424KB)
• http//www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/71403scqa.pdf

21
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Applications due dates
• July 28 Aging and Disability Resource Center
  Grants
• July 29 All other Real Choice Systems Change
  Grants

22
Real Choice Systems Change Grants in FY 2003

• Questions concerning the grants may be addressed
  to
• Kari.benson_at_aoa.gov
• - RealChoiceFY03_at_cms.hhs.gov