HHS Funds for Navigating Options

On June 3 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS’ Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs.  AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements but will coordinate implementation and monitoring through a single process. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs and Aging and Disability Resource Centers.  The deadline for applications is Monday, July 30, 2010.  Grants will be awarded in September 2010.  For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx or www.grants.gov.