Department of Health and Human Services – Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement

Opportunity ID: 42199

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2008-AOA-CD-0814
Funding Opportunity Title: Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Income Security and Social Services
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 15
Assistance Listings: 93.048 — Special Programs for the Aging_Title IV_and Title II_Discretionary Projects
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Version: Synopsis 5
Posted Date: Jul 01, 2008
Last Updated Date: Aug 05, 2008
Original Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008
See link to full announcement for details.
Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008 See link to full announcement for details.
Archive Date: Sep 13, 2008
Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $600,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Only a State Unit on Aging (SUA) may apply for a Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant. As State Units on Aging are both the State agency and Aging Services Network entity designated with directing the planning and provision of OAA funds and services within their State for the targeted population, they are the only organization positioned to collaborate with all the necessary partners in the State (including: the State Medicaid agency, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging Service Providers), and to coordinate the development of and implementation of State nursing home diversion programs. State Units on Aging are uniquely positioned in their states to manage and implement the primary goal of this grant: to develop and implement, or expand an existing, nursing home diversion program that helps individuals and families avoid unnecessary institutionalization and spend down to Medicaid.

Additional Information

Agency Name: Administration on Aging
Description: This Program Announcement provides an opportunity for the Aging Services Network to modernize its approach to helping individuals who are at imminent risk of nursing home placement but not eligible for Medicaid to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act. The Announcement also includes a special funding opportunity?€”being made available by the Veterans Health Administration?€”for the Aging Services network to provide home and community-based services to veterans and their family caregivers. Under this Announcement, applications will be accepted from State Units on Aging (SUA). A successful applicant will propose to implement projects in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), aging services provider organizations, Single-Entry-Point programs, and other long-term care stakeholders including the Single State Medicaid Agency. The total amount of AoA funds available for this new funding opportunity is expected to be up to $10,000,000. AoA plans to fund up to 10 to 15 states for a period of 18 months. Grants under this Announcement are to be used to advance long-term care program changes at the state and community level that will: Enable the Aging Services Network to make better use of single-entry-point programs to efficiently and effectively identify individuals who are not Medicaid eligible but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down; Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to rapidly authorize and provide services and supports to help high-risk individuals avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid; Enhance the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use service delivery models that provide a full range of options and allow the Network to tailor services to the unique and changing needs of high-risk individuals; Expand the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use consumer-directed models so the Network can give more people the option to control the types of services they receive and the manner in which those services are provided; and, Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to track client outcomes and document how the Network can help the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down and also reduce the rate of growth in Medicaid long-term care expenditures. Projects to be funded under this Announcement must: 1.) No later than the end of the 9th month of the project period, have at least one local project up and running and delivering services to the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement in a way that: A. Uses a Single-entry-point (SEP) program to identify individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, B. Uses formal protocols and other tools across, and by, key stakeholder organizations (e.g., SEP, aging services providers, AAAs, hospitals, nursing homes, Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Health Administration, etc.) for making client referrals, prioritizing clients, authorizing services, and following-up with clients to ensure that the local project can rapidly provide home and community-based services and supports to the high ?€“risk individuals who are identified by the Single-entry-point program, and that the services for these individuals can be quickly adjusted as necessary as their needs change. C. Has in place formal SUA and AAA policies which are in effect-at least in the PSA(s) where the local project(s) are operating?€”that support the investment of some OAA dollars to serve the high-risk individuals who are targeted under this Announcement. 2.) No later than the end of the 15th month of the project period, in addition to the items in #1, be providing a full range of service options to the individuals who are targeted under this Announcement, as well as giving them the option to use consumer-directed models. Two examples of tools and protocols that a SUA and/or AAA might want to promote in their policies include: Contracting ?€“ States or Area Agencies that have fixed contracts (e.g. $25,000 to a specific homemaker agency) may consider implementing fee for service contracting or other variations. Based on an established unit rate, the total amount of funds and service hours can then become more consumer driven. When money follows the consumer, a choice of service providers can be made and a greater focus on quality service provision can result. Prioritization ?€“ The specific aim of the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants is to identify and serve individuals at imminent risk of going into a nursing home and spending down to Medicaid. States and Area Agencies that have served consumers on a “first come, first served” basis may consider implementing assessment and screening tools, as well as care planning and case management processes, that have been proven to identify and serve those individuals in priority order. Projects funded under this Announcement must be able to monitor and follow-up with the individuals they are serving under this grant to ensure that the necessary services are being provided, that client needs are being met, and that adjustments in the services are being made as necessary. Projects must also be able to report on client-level data and be able to document the effectiveness of the program in successfully diverting individuals away from long-term nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down, and any associated cost avoidance for the Medicaid program. AoA, along with the Nursing Home Diversion Technical Assistance Center, will work with successful applicants to identify the specific data that will need to be collected. States may use one or more of the following sources to support the delivery of home and community-based services to the individuals targeted under this Announcement: grant funds made available under this Announcement; the Older Americans Act; Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS); and any other public program or source that can be used to serve individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. The specific requirements and fundable activities for this opportunity are outlined in Section I.5. Applications will be scored in part based on the degree of progress a state proposes to make toward achieving the types of long-term care program changes called for in this Announcement (see Page 1), in comparison to the status quo statewide and within the geographic areas covered by the grant project.
Special Funding Opportunity to Serve Veterans

As part of this Program Announcement, The Veterans Health Administration plans to invest approximately $3,000,000 in up to 12 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) to successful AoA NHDM grantees that submit a complete application for the Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Service Program (VDHCBS) along with their AoA NHDM grant application.

Link to Additional Information: Program Announcement
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Richard Nicholls

Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email:Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Version History

Version Modification Description Updated Date
**On Thursday July 31, additional guidance regarding what details applicants should include in letters of support was provided by the VHA to the VHA Network due to a number of concerns and misunderstandings that both VHA and SUA/AAA organizations have brought to bear regarding the VDHCBS opportunity and the process to apply for this opportunity. The program announcement has now been updated and this guidance is available at the end of Attachment I:**

Aug 05, 2008
Program Announcement has been revised to the following:
On page number 12 of the announcement, under the last bullet before Section II Award Information begins, the last sentence of that bullet which is in bold and underlined has been changed to read “States interested in applying for this option…” rather than “States interested in applying for these funds…”. This change is being made so that it is clear that the VA is not making awards as part of the grant.
Aug 05, 2008
Edit of the funding opportunity description. Jul 07, 2008
Program announcement link updated. Jul 01, 2008
Jul 01, 2008

DISPLAYING: Synopsis 5

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2008-AOA-CD-0814
Funding Opportunity Title: Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Income Security and Social Services
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 15
Assistance Listings: 93.048 — Special Programs for the Aging_Title IV_and Title II_Discretionary Projects
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Version: Synopsis 5
Posted Date: Jul 01, 2008
Last Updated Date: Aug 05, 2008
Original Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008
See link to full announcement for details.
Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008 See link to full announcement for details.
Archive Date: Sep 13, 2008
Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $600,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Only a State Unit on Aging (SUA) may apply for a Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant. As State Units on Aging are both the State agency and Aging Services Network entity designated with directing the planning and provision of OAA funds and services within their State for the targeted population, they are the only organization positioned to collaborate with all the necessary partners in the State (including: the State Medicaid agency, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging Service Providers), and to coordinate the development of and implementation of State nursing home diversion programs. State Units on Aging are uniquely positioned in their states to manage and implement the primary goal of this grant: to develop and implement, or expand an existing, nursing home diversion program that helps individuals and families avoid unnecessary institutionalization and spend down to Medicaid.

Additional Information

Agency Name: Administration on Aging
Description: This Program Announcement provides an opportunity for the Aging Services Network to modernize its approach to helping individuals who are at imminent risk of nursing home placement but not eligible for Medicaid to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act. The Announcement also includes a special funding opportunity?€”being made available by the Veterans Health Administration?€”for the Aging Services network to provide home and community-based services to veterans and their family caregivers. Under this Announcement, applications will be accepted from State Units on Aging (SUA). A successful applicant will propose to implement projects in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), aging services provider organizations, Single-Entry-Point programs, and other long-term care stakeholders including the Single State Medicaid Agency. The total amount of AoA funds available for this new funding opportunity is expected to be up to $10,000,000. AoA plans to fund up to 10 to 15 states for a period of 18 months. Grants under this Announcement are to be used to advance long-term care program changes at the state and community level that will: Enable the Aging Services Network to make better use of single-entry-point programs to efficiently and effectively identify individuals who are not Medicaid eligible but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down; Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to rapidly authorize and provide services and supports to help high-risk individuals avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid; Enhance the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use service delivery models that provide a full range of options and allow the Network to tailor services to the unique and changing needs of high-risk individuals; Expand the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use consumer-directed models so the Network can give more people the option to control the types of services they receive and the manner in which those services are provided; and, Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to track client outcomes and document how the Network can help the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down and also reduce the rate of growth in Medicaid long-term care expenditures. Projects to be funded under this Announcement must: 1.) No later than the end of the 9th month of the project period, have at least one local project up and running and delivering services to the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement in a way that: A. Uses a Single-entry-point (SEP) program to identify individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, B. Uses formal protocols and other tools across, and by, key stakeholder organizations (e.g., SEP, aging services providers, AAAs, hospitals, nursing homes, Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Health Administration, etc.) for making client referrals, prioritizing clients, authorizing services, and following-up with clients to ensure that the local project can rapidly provide home and community-based services and supports to the high ?€“risk individuals who are identified by the Single-entry-point program, and that the services for these individuals can be quickly adjusted as necessary as their needs change. C. Has in place formal SUA and AAA policies which are in effect-at least in the PSA(s) where the local project(s) are operating?€”that support the investment of some OAA dollars to serve the high-risk individuals who are targeted under this Announcement. 2.) No later than the end of the 15th month of the project period, in addition to the items in #1, be providing a full range of service options to the individuals who are targeted under this Announcement, as well as giving them the option to use consumer-directed models. Two examples of tools and protocols that a SUA and/or AAA might want to promote in their policies include: Contracting ?€“ States or Area Agencies that have fixed contracts (e.g. $25,000 to a specific homemaker agency) may consider implementing fee for service contracting or other variations. Based on an established unit rate, the total amount of funds and service hours can then become more consumer driven. When money follows the consumer, a choice of service providers can be made and a greater focus on quality service provision can result. Prioritization ?€“ The specific aim of the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants is to identify and serve individuals at imminent risk of going into a nursing home and spending down to Medicaid. States and Area Agencies that have served consumers on a “first come, first served” basis may consider implementing assessment and screening tools, as well as care planning and case management processes, that have been proven to identify and serve those individuals in priority order. Projects funded under this Announcement must be able to monitor and follow-up with the individuals they are serving under this grant to ensure that the necessary services are being provided, that client needs are being met, and that adjustments in the services are being made as necessary. Projects must also be able to report on client-level data and be able to document the effectiveness of the program in successfully diverting individuals away from long-term nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down, and any associated cost avoidance for the Medicaid program. AoA, along with the Nursing Home Diversion Technical Assistance Center, will work with successful applicants to identify the specific data that will need to be collected. States may use one or more of the following sources to support the delivery of home and community-based services to the individuals targeted under this Announcement: grant funds made available under this Announcement; the Older Americans Act; Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS); and any other public program or source that can be used to serve individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. The specific requirements and fundable activities for this opportunity are outlined in Section I.5. Applications will be scored in part based on the degree of progress a state proposes to make toward achieving the types of long-term care program changes called for in this Announcement (see Page 1), in comparison to the status quo statewide and within the geographic areas covered by the grant project.
Special Funding Opportunity to Serve Veterans

As part of this Program Announcement, The Veterans Health Administration plans to invest approximately $3,000,000 in up to 12 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) to successful AoA NHDM grantees that submit a complete application for the Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Service Program (VDHCBS) along with their AoA NHDM grant application.

Link to Additional Information: Program Announcement
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Richard Nicholls

Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email:Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

DISPLAYING: Synopsis 4

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2008-AOA-CD-0814
Funding Opportunity Title: Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Income Security and Social Services
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 15
Assistance Listings: 93.048 — Special Programs for the Aging_Title IV_and Title II_Discretionary Projects
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Version: Synopsis 4
Posted Date: Aug 05, 2008
Last Updated Date:
Original Closing Date for Applications:
Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008 See link to full announcement for details.
Archive Date: Sep 13, 2008
Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $600,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Only a State Unit on Aging (SUA) may apply for a Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant. As State Units on Aging are both the State agency and Aging Services Network entity designated with directing the planning and provision of OAA funds and services within their State for the targeted population, they are the only organization positioned to collaborate with all the necessary partners in the State (including: the State Medicaid agency, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging Service Providers), and to coordinate the development of and implementation of State nursing home diversion programs. State Units on Aging are uniquely positioned in their states to manage and implement the primary goal of this grant: to develop and implement, or expand an existing, nursing home diversion program that helps individuals and families avoid unnecessary institutionalization and spend down to Medicaid.

Additional Information

Agency Name:
Description: This Program Announcement provides an opportunity for the Aging Services Network to modernize its approach to helping individuals who are at imminent risk of nursing home placement but not eligible for Medicaid to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act. The Announcement also includes a special funding opportunity?€”being made available by the Veterans Health Administration?€”for the Aging Services network to provide home and community-based services to veterans and their family caregivers. Under this Announcement, applications will be accepted from State Units on Aging (SUA). A successful applicant will propose to implement projects in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), aging services provider organizations, Single-Entry-Point programs, and other long-term care stakeholders including the Single State Medicaid Agency. The total amount of AoA funds available for this new funding opportunity is expected to be up to $10,000,000. AoA plans to fund up to 10 to 15 states for a period of 18 months. Grants under this Announcement are to be used to advance long-term care program changes at the state and community level that will: Enable the Aging Services Network to make better use of single-entry-point programs to efficiently and effectively identify individuals who are not Medicaid eligible but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down; Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to rapidly authorize and provide services and supports to help high-risk individuals avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid; Enhance the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use service delivery models that provide a full range of options and allow the Network to tailor services to the unique and changing needs of high-risk individuals; Expand the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use consumer-directed models so the Network can give more people the option to control the types of services they receive and the manner in which those services are provided; and, Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to track client outcomes and document how the Network can help the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down and also reduce the rate of growth in Medicaid long-term care expenditures. Projects to be funded under this Announcement must: 1.) No later than the end of the 9th month of the project period, have at least one local project up and running and delivering services to the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement in a way that: A. Uses a Single-entry-point (SEP) program to identify individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, B. Uses formal protocols and other tools across, and by, key stakeholder organizations (e.g., SEP, aging services providers, AAAs, hospitals, nursing homes, Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Health Administration, etc.) for making client referrals, prioritizing clients, authorizing services, and following-up with clients to ensure that the local project can rapidly provide home and community-based services and supports to the high ?€“risk individuals who are identified by the Single-entry-point program, and that the services for these individuals can be quickly adjusted as necessary as their needs change. C. Has in place formal SUA and AAA policies which are in effect-at least in the PSA(s) where the local project(s) are operating?€”that support the investment of some OAA dollars to serve the high-risk individuals who are targeted under this Announcement. 2.) No later than the end of the 15th month of the project period, in addition to the items in #1, be providing a full range of service options to the individuals who are targeted under this Announcement, as well as giving them the option to use consumer-directed models. Two examples of tools and protocols that a SUA and/or AAA might want to promote in their policies include: Contracting ?€“ States or Area Agencies that have fixed contracts (e.g. $25,000 to a specific homemaker agency) may consider implementing fee for service contracting or other variations. Based on an established unit rate, the total amount of funds and service hours can then become more consumer driven. When money follows the consumer, a choice of service providers can be made and a greater focus on quality service provision can result. Prioritization ?€“ The specific aim of the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants is to identify and serve individuals at imminent risk of going into a nursing home and spending down to Medicaid. States and Area Agencies that have served consumers on a “first come, first served” basis may consider implementing assessment and screening tools, as well as care planning and case management processes, that have been proven to identify and serve those individuals in priority order. Projects funded under this Announcement must be able to monitor and follow-up with the individuals they are serving under this grant to ensure that the necessary services are being provided, that client needs are being met, and that adjustments in the services are being made as necessary. Projects must also be able to report on client-level data and be able to document the effectiveness of the program in successfully diverting individuals away from long-term nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down, and any associated cost avoidance for the Medicaid program. AoA, along with the Nursing Home Diversion Technical Assistance Center, will work with successful applicants to identify the specific data that will need to be collected. States may use one or more of the following sources to support the delivery of home and community-based services to the individuals targeted under this Announcement: grant funds made available under this Announcement; the Older Americans Act; Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS); and any other public program or source that can be used to serve individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. The specific requirements and fundable activities for this opportunity are outlined in Section I.5. Applications will be scored in part based on the degree of progress a state proposes to make toward achieving the types of long-term care program changes called for in this Announcement (see Page 1), in comparison to the status quo statewide and within the geographic areas covered by the grant project.
Special Funding Opportunity to Serve Veterans

As part of this Program Announcement, The Veterans Health Administration plans to invest approximately $3,000,000 in up to 12 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) to successful AoA NHDM grantees that submit a complete application for the Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Service Program (VDHCBS) along with their AoA NHDM grant application.

Link to Additional Information: Program Announcement
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Richard Nicholls

Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email:Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

DISPLAYING: Synopsis 3

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2008-AOA-CD-0814
Funding Opportunity Title: Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Income Security and Social Services
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 15
Assistance Listings: 93.048 — Special Programs for the Aging_Title IV_and Title II_Discretionary Projects
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Version: Synopsis 3
Posted Date: Jul 07, 2008
Last Updated Date:
Original Closing Date for Applications:
Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008 See link to full announcement for details.
Archive Date: Sep 13, 2008
Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $600,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Only a State Unit on Aging (SUA) may apply for a Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant. As State Units on Aging are both the State agency and Aging Services Network entity designated with directing the planning and provision of OAA funds and services within their State for the targeted population, they are the only organization positioned to collaborate with all the necessary partners in the State (including: the State Medicaid agency, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging Service Providers), and to coordinate the development of and implementation of State nursing home diversion programs. State Units on Aging are uniquely positioned in their states to manage and implement the primary goal of this grant: to develop and implement, or expand an existing, nursing home diversion program that helps individuals and families avoid unnecessary institutionalization and spend down to Medicaid.

Additional Information

Agency Name:
Description: This Program Announcement provides an opportunity for the Aging Services Network to modernize its approach to helping individuals who are at imminent risk of nursing home placement but not eligible for Medicaid to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act. The Announcement also includes a special funding opportunity?€”being made available by the Veterans Health Administration?€”for the Aging Services network to provide home and community-based services to veterans and their family caregivers. Under this Announcement, applications will be accepted from State Units on Aging (SUA). A successful applicant will propose to implement projects in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), aging services provider organizations, Single-Entry-Point programs, and other long-term care stakeholders including the Single State Medicaid Agency. The total amount of AoA funds available for this new funding opportunity is expected to be up to $10,000,000. AoA plans to fund up to 10 to 15 states for a period of 18 months. Grants under this Announcement are to be used to advance long-term care program changes at the state and community level that will: Enable the Aging Services Network to make better use of single-entry-point programs to efficiently and effectively identify individuals who are not Medicaid eligible but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down; Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to rapidly authorize and provide services and supports to help high-risk individuals avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid; Enhance the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use service delivery models that provide a full range of options and allow the Network to tailor services to the unique and changing needs of high-risk individuals; Expand the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use consumer-directed models so the Network can give more people the option to control the types of services they receive and the manner in which those services are provided; and, Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to track client outcomes and document how the Network can help the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down and also reduce the rate of growth in Medicaid long-term care expenditures. Projects to be funded under this Announcement must: 1.) No later than the end of the 9th month of the project period, have at least one local project up and running and delivering services to the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement in a way that: A. Uses a Single-entry-point (SEP) program to identify individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, B. Uses formal protocols and other tools across, and by, key stakeholder organizations (e.g., SEP, aging services providers, AAAs, hospitals, nursing homes, Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Health Administration, etc.) for making client referrals, prioritizing clients, authorizing services, and following-up with clients to ensure that the local project can rapidly provide home and community-based services and supports to the high ?€“risk individuals who are identified by the Single-entry-point program, and that the services for these individuals can be quickly adjusted as necessary as their needs change. C. Has in place formal SUA and AAA policies which are in effect-at least in the PSA(s) where the local project(s) are operating?€”that support the investment of some OAA dollars to serve the high-risk individuals who are targeted under this Announcement. 2.) No later than the end of the 15th month of the project period, in addition to the items in #1, be providing a full range of service options to the individuals who are targeted under this Announcement, as well as giving them the option to use consumer-directed models. Two examples of tools and protocols that a SUA and/or AAA might want to promote in their policies include: Contracting ?€“ States or Area Agencies that have fixed contracts (e.g. $25,000 to a specific homemaker agency) may consider implementing fee for service contracting or other variations. Based on an established unit rate, the total amount of funds and service hours can then become more consumer driven. When money follows the consumer, a choice of service providers can be made and a greater focus on quality service provision can result. Prioritization ?€“ The specific aim of the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants is to identify and serve individuals at imminent risk of going into a nursing home and spending down to Medicaid. States and Area Agencies that have served consumers on a “first come, first served” basis may consider implementing assessment and screening tools, as well as care planning and case management processes, that have been proven to identify and serve those individuals in priority order. Projects funded under this Announcement must be able to monitor and follow-up with the individuals they are serving under this grant to ensure that the necessary services are being provided, that client needs are being met, and that adjustments in the services are being made as necessary. Projects must also be able to report on client-level data and be able to document the effectiveness of the program in successfully diverting individuals away from long-term nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down, and any associated cost avoidance for the Medicaid program. AoA, along with the Nursing Home Diversion Technical Assistance Center, will work with successful applicants to identify the specific data that will need to be collected. States may use one or more of the following sources to support the delivery of home and community-based services to the individuals targeted under this Announcement: grant funds made available under this Announcement; the Older Americans Act; Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS); and any other public program or source that can be used to serve individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. The specific requirements and fundable activities for this opportunity are outlined in Section I.5. Applications will be scored in part based on the degree of progress a state proposes to make toward achieving the types of long-term care program changes called for in this Announcement (see Page 1), in comparison to the status quo statewide and within the geographic areas covered by the grant project.
Special Funding Opportunity to Serve Veterans

As part of this Program Announcement, The Veterans Health Administration plans to invest approximately $3,000,000 in up to 12 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) to successful AoA NHDM grantees that submit a complete application for the Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Service Program (VDHCBS) along with their AoA NHDM grant application.

Link to Additional Information: Program Announcement
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Richard Nicholls

Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email:Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

DISPLAYING: Synopsis 2

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2008-AOA-CD-0814
Funding Opportunity Title: Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Income Security and Social Services
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 15
Assistance Listings: 93.048 — Special Programs for the Aging_Title IV_and Title II_Discretionary Projects
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Version: Synopsis 2
Posted Date: Jul 01, 2008
Last Updated Date:
Original Closing Date for Applications:
Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008 See link to full announcement for details.
Archive Date: Sep 13, 2008
Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $600,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Only a State Unit on Aging (SUA) may apply for a Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant. As State Units on Aging are both the State agency and Aging Services Network entity designated with directing the planning and provision of OAA funds and services within their State for the targeted population, they are the only organization positioned to collaborate with all the necessary partners in the State (including: the State Medicaid agency, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging Service Providers), and to coordinate the development of and implementation of State nursing home diversion programs. State Units on Aging are uniquely positioned in their states to manage and implement the primary goal of this grant: to develop and implement, or expand an existing, nursing home diversion program that helps individuals and families avoid unnecessary institutionalization and spend down to Medicaid.

Additional Information

Agency Name:
Description: down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act. The Announcement also includes a special funding opportunity?€”being made available by the Veterans Health Administration?€”for the Aging Services network to provide home and community-based services to veterans and their family caregivers. Under this Announcement, applications will be accepted from State Units on Aging (SUA). A successful applicant will propose to implement projects in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), aging services provider organizations, Single-Entry-Point programs, and other long-term care stakeholders including the Single State Medicaid Agency. The total amount of AoA funds available for this new funding opportunity is expected to be up to $10,000,000. AoA plans to fund up to 10 to 15 states for a period of 18 months. The average grant amount is anticipated to be approximately $800,000 with a range of awards between $600,000 to $1,000,000 each. In addition AoA may award up to 10 capacity development grants of approximately $50,000. Projects will be funded for an 18-month Project Period. Successful applicants will propose a project that will be implemented in one or more Planning and Service Areas (PSA). States with a single Planning and Service Area (PSA) may propose a project that will be implemented in one or more counties or regions of the state. Grants under this Announcement are to be used to advance long-term care program changes at the state and community level that will: Enable the Aging Services Network to make better use of single-entry-point programs to efficiently and effectively identify individuals who are not Medicaid eligible but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down; Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to rapidly authorize and provide services and supports to help high-risk individuals avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid; Enhance the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use service delivery models that provide a full range of options and allow the Network to tailor services to the unique and changing needs of high-risk individuals; Expand the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use consumer-directed models so the Network can give more people the option to control the types of services they receive and the manner in which those services are provided; and, Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to track client outcomes and document how the Network can help the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down and also reduce the rate of growth in Medicaid long-term care expenditures. Projects to be funded under this Announcement must: 1.) No later than the end of the 9th month of the project period, have at least one local project up and running and delivering services to the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement in a way that: A. Uses a Single-entry-point (SEP) program to identify individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, B. Uses formal protocols and other tools across, and by, key stakeholder organizations (e.g., SEP, aging services providers, AAAs, hospitals, nursing homes, Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Health Administration, etc.) for making client referrals, prioritizing clients, authorizing services, and following-up with clients to ensure that the local project can rapidly provide home and community-based services and supports to the high ?€“risk individuals who are identified by the Single-entry-point program, and that the services for these individuals can be quickly adjusted as necessary as their needs change. C. Has in place formal SUA and AAA policies which are in effect-at least in the PSA(s) where the local project(s) are operating?€”that support the investment of some OAA dollars to serve the high-risk individuals who are targeted under this Announcement. 2.) No later than the end of the 15th month of the project period, in addition to the items in #1, be providing a full range of service options to the individuals who are targeted under this Announcement, as well as giving them the option to use consumer-directed models. Two examples of tools and protocols that a SUA and/or AAA might want to promote in their policies include: Contracting ?€“ States or Area Agencies that have fixed contracts (e.g. $25,000 to a specific homemaker agency) may consider implementing fee for service contracting or other variations. Based on an established unit rate, the total amount of funds and service hours can then become more consumer driven. When money follows the consumer, a choice of service providers can be made and a greater focus on quality service provision can result. Prioritization ?€“ The specific aim of the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants is to identify and serve individuals at imminent risk of going into a nursing home and spending down to Medicaid. States and Area Agencies that have served consumers on a “first come, first served” basis may consider implementing assessment and screening tools, as well as care planning and case management processes, that have been proven to identify and serve those individuals in priority order. Projects funded under this Announcement must be able to monitor and follow-up with the individuals they are serving under this grant to ensure that the necessary services are being provided, that client needs are being met, and that adjustments in the services are being made as necessary. Projects must also be able to report on client-level data and be able to document the effectiveness of the program in successfully diverting individuals away from long-term nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down, and any associated cost avoidance for the Medicaid program. AoA, along with the Nursing Home Diversion Technical Assistance Center, will work with successful applicants to identify the specific data that will need to be collected. States may use one or more of the following sources to support the delivery of home and community-based services to the individuals targeted under this Announcement: grant funds made available under this Announcement; the Older Americans Act; Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS); and any other public program or source that can be used to serve individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. The specific requirements and fundable activities for this opportunity are outlined in Section I.5. Applications will be scored in part based on the degree of progress a state proposes to make toward achieving the types of long-term care program changes called for in this Announcement (see Page 1), in comparison to the status quo statewide and within the geographic areas covered by the grant project. The provisions of this section address service funding that is consistent with the provisions of the Older American’s Act and the Public Health Services Act (P.L. 78-410; 42 U.S.C. 280c-3), including provisions for targeting services to individuals at greatest social and economic need. Technical resources to assist applicants for this funding opportunity are available on the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant Announcement Resource Page (http://www.aoa.gov/doingbus/fundopp/announcements/2007/NHDP_Resource_Page.doc).
Link to Additional Information: Program Announcement
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Richard Nicholls

Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email:Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

DISPLAYING: Synopsis 1

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2008-AOA-CD-0814
Funding Opportunity Title: Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Cooperative Agreement
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Income Security and Social Services
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 15
Assistance Listings: 93.048 — Special Programs for the Aging_Title IV_and Title II_Discretionary Projects
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Version: Synopsis 1
Posted Date: Jul 01, 2008
Last Updated Date:
Original Closing Date for Applications:
Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 14, 2008
See link to full announcement for details.
Archive Date: Sep 13, 2008
Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $600,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Only a State Unit on Aging (SUA) may apply for a Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant. As State Units on Aging are both the State agency and Aging Services Network entity designated with directing the planning and provision of OAA funds and services within their State for the targeted population, they are the only organization positioned to collaborate with all the necessary partners in the State (including: the State Medicaid agency, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging Service Providers), and to coordinate the development of and implementation of State nursing home diversion programs. State Units on Aging are uniquely positioned in their states to manage and implement the primary goal of this grant: to develop and implement, or expand an existing, nursing home diversion program that helps individuals and families avoid unnecessary institutionalization and spend down to Medicaid.

Additional Information

Agency Name:
Description: down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act. The Announcement also includes a special funding opportunity?€”being made available by the Veterans Health Administration?€”for the Aging Services network to provide home and community-based services to veterans and their family caregivers. Under this Announcement, applications will be accepted from State Units on Aging (SUA). A successful applicant will propose to implement projects in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), aging services provider organizations, Single-Entry-Point programs, and other long-term care stakeholders including the Single State Medicaid Agency. The total amount of AoA funds available for this new funding opportunity is expected to be up to $10,000,000. AoA plans to fund up to 10 to 15 states for a period of 18 months. The average grant amount is anticipated to be approximately $800,000 with a range of awards between $600,000 to $1,000,000 each. In addition AoA may award up to 10 capacity development grants of approximately $50,000. Projects will be funded for an 18-month Project Period. Successful applicants will propose a project that will be implemented in one or more Planning and Service Areas (PSA). States with a single Planning and Service Area (PSA) may propose a project that will be implemented in one or more counties or regions of the state. Grants under this Announcement are to be used to advance long-term care program changes at the state and community level that will: Enable the Aging Services Network to make better use of single-entry-point programs to efficiently and effectively identify individuals who are not Medicaid eligible but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down; Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to rapidly authorize and provide services and supports to help high-risk individuals avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid; Enhance the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use service delivery models that provide a full range of options and allow the Network to tailor services to the unique and changing needs of high-risk individuals; Expand the Aging Services Network’s capacity to use consumer-directed models so the Network can give more people the option to control the types of services they receive and the manner in which those services are provided; and, Strengthen the Aging Services Network’s capacity to track client outcomes and document how the Network can help the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down and also reduce the rate of growth in Medicaid long-term care expenditures. Projects to be funded under this Announcement must: 1.) No later than the end of the 9th month of the project period, have at least one local project up and running and delivering services to the high-risk individuals targeted under this Announcement in a way that: A. Uses a Single-entry-point (SEP) program to identify individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid but are at imminent risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, B. Uses formal protocols and other tools across, and by, key stakeholder organizations (e.g., SEP, aging services providers, AAAs, hospitals, nursing homes, Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Health Administration, etc.) for making client referrals, prioritizing clients, authorizing services, and following-up with clients to ensure that the local project can rapidly provide home and community-based services and supports to the high ?€“risk individuals who are identified by the Single-entry-point program, and that the services for these individuals can be quickly adjusted as necessary as their needs change. C. Has in place formal SUA and AAA policies which are in effect-at least in the PSA(s) where the local project(s) are operating?€”that support the investment of some OAA dollars to serve the high-risk individuals who are targeted under this Announcement. 2.) No later than the end of the 15th month of the project period, in addition to the items in #1, be providing a full range of service options to the individuals who are targeted under this Announcement, as well as giving them the option to use consumer-directed models. Two examples of tools and protocols that a SUA and/or AAA might want to promote in their policies include: Contracting ?€“ States or Area Agencies that have fixed contracts (e.g. $25,000 to a specific homemaker agency) may consider implementing fee for service contracting or other variations. Based on an established unit rate, the total amount of funds and service hours can then become more consumer driven. When money follows the consumer, a choice of service providers can be made and a greater focus on quality service provision can result. Prioritization ?€“ The specific aim of the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants is to identify and serve individuals at imminent risk of going into a nursing home and spending down to Medicaid. States and Area Agencies that have served consumers on a “first come, first served” basis may consider implementing assessment and screening tools, as well as care planning and case management processes, that have been proven to identify and serve those individuals in priority order. Projects funded under this Announcement must be able to monitor and follow-up with the individuals they are serving under this grant to ensure that the necessary services are being provided, that client needs are being met, and that adjustments in the services are being made as necessary. Projects must also be able to report on client-level data and be able to document the effectiveness of the program in successfully diverting individuals away from long-term nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down, and any associated cost avoidance for the Medicaid program. AoA, along with the Nursing Home Diversion Technical Assistance Center, will work with successful applicants to identify the specific data that will need to be collected. States may use one or more of the following sources to support the delivery of home and community-based services to the individuals targeted under this Announcement: grant funds made available under this Announcement; the Older Americans Act; Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS); and any other public program or source that can be used to serve individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. The specific requirements and fundable activities for this opportunity are outlined in Section I.5. Applications will be scored in part based on the degree of progress a state proposes to make toward achieving the types of long-term care program changes called for in this Announcement (see Page 1), in comparison to the status quo statewide and within the geographic areas covered by the grant project. The provisions of this section address service funding that is consistent with the provisions of the Older American’s Act and the Public Health Services Act (P.L. 78-410; 42 U.S.C. 280c-3), including provisions for targeting services to individuals at greatest social and economic need. Technical resources to assist applicants for this funding opportunity are available on the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant Announcement Resource Page (http://www.aoa.gov/doingbus/fundopp/announcements/2007/NHDP_Resource_Page.doc).
Link to Additional Information: http://aoa.gov/doingbus/fundopp/fundopp.aspx
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Richard Nicholls
Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email:Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Folder 42199 Full Announcement-1 -> NHDM_PA_Final_2008 07 31 08.pdf

Packages

Agency Contact Information: Richard Nicholls
Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Email: Richard.nicholls@aoa.hhs.gov

Who Can Apply: Organization Applicants

Assistance Listing Number Competition ID Competition Title Opportunity Package ID Opening Date Closing Date Actions
93.048 PKG00007710 Jul 01, 2008 Aug 14, 2008 View

Package 1

Mandatory forms

42199 SF424-2.0.pdf

42199 SF424A-1.0.pdf

42199 SF424B-1.1.pdf

42199 Project-1.1.pdf

42199 Budget-1.1.pdf

42199 GG_LobbyingForm-1.1.pdf

42199 Other-1.1.pdf

Optional forms

42199 FaithBased_SurveyOnEEO-1.2.pdf


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