Affordable Care Act State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and Aging and Disability Resour
In April 2011, the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office awarded design
Subsequently, CMS released a letter to State Medicaid Directors which discussed two models for integrating care and aligning financial incentives for Medicare and Medicaid as part of CMS Financial Alignment Initiative, a joint initiative of the Innovation Center and the Medicare Medicaid Coordination Office, under which States and CMS will collaborate to integrate care and financing for Medicare-Medicaid individuals.
The Financial Alignment Initiative is a unique Federal-state partnership to test aligning the service delivery and financing of the Medicare and Medicaid programs to better serve Medicare-Medicaid individuals.
As part of this effort, there is a need for strong beneficiary support education and outreach in each State that is implementing a Financial Alignment model, including options counseling for beneficiaries.
Awardees will develop and implement a coordinated SHIP/ADRC strategy and action plan to provide beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid - during both the Phase 1 Activities and Ongoing Activities of the program, as described in the funding opportunity announcement - with objective information and one-on-one counseling on the nature of the state s Financial Alignment model.
Such activities will include, but are not limited to, providing information and counseling as to how and when the project will be implemented, the options these dual eligible beneficiaries will have for receiving their Medicare and Medicaid services in their state, the appeal rights they will have under the model, and what they need to do to participate in the program.
The SHIP/ADRC staff assigned to this project must be able to provide this information and counseling in a way that is easy for beneficiaries to understand and is culturally and linguistically appropriate.
These activities must be carried out in a SHIP/ADRC.
Also, the SHIP/ADRC should possess a basic understanding of all CMS approved State Financial Alignment Initiatives.
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Christopher Clark, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management (OAGM), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 200 Independence Ave, SW, Room 733H-02, Washington DC 20201.
Relevant Nonprofit Program Categories
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
This Funding Opportunity will provide financial assistance to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and/or Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to provide options counseling to Medicare-Medicaid Individuals (dual eligibles) to ensure that these individuals have access to an unbiased and consumer friendly source of information and counseling - distinct from the Demonstration Plans and Enrollment Brokers - to help them make informed decisions about options they have for receiving their Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants from the CMS-approved Financial Alignment States include any one of the State agencies that administers the ADRC and/or SHIP programs(s) within the State (e.g.
State Unit on Aging, State Department of Insurance, a State Disability Agency, State Medicaid Agency or other State entity).
Beneficiary Eligibility
State Medicaid Agencies and the Medicaid Agencies in the Federal Territories - This cooperative agreement only serves beneficiaries that are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
Credentials/Documentation
Yes. In order to apply, applicants must include a copy of the signed MOU with CMS to implement an approved Financial Alignment model. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application form SF-424 and related forms must be used for this program. In addition to the standard forms, applicants must provide a copy of the signed MOU with CMS to implement an approved Financial Alignment model. Applicants should review the application and submission information in the funding opportunity announcement for specific instructions on applying for this cooperative agreement program.
Award Procedures
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) signed and dated by the Grants Management Officer.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
This solicitation is being issued under section 1115A of the Social Security Act (added by section 3021 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)), which authorizes the Innovation Center to test innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce program expenditures under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children s Health Insurance Program while preserving or enhancing the quality of care.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
This Cooperative Agreement is being funded for a period of performance of three (3) years, with support beyond the first year contingent upon acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, and continuing program relevance. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by letter. Applicants should review the award administration information of the funding opportunity announcement issued under this CFDA program for more information.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Yes.
Applicants should review the individual funding opportunity announcement for information on programmatic and evaluation reporting requirements.
Yes.
Submit a quarterly electronic Federal Financial Report (FFR) via the Payment Management System.
The quarterly report identifies cash transactions against the authorized funds for the grant.
The FFR Cash Transaction Reports must be filed within 30 days of the end of each quarter.
Failure to submit the report may result in the inability to access grant funds.
Go to - www.dpm.psc.gov for additional information.
The final FFR, including both cash transactions and expenditures, must be submitted and received within 90 days of the end of the project period.
Yes.
Applicants should review the individual funding opportunity announcement for information on programmatic and evaluation reporting requirements.
Yes.
Grantees must include expenditures on the annual FFR (submitted at the end of each annual year).
The final FFR must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the project period end date and include both cash transactions and expenditures data.
No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Proper accounting records, identifiable by project number including all receipts and expenditures must be maintained for 3 years. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0522-0-1-551.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $0; FY 13 Estimate Not Available(Exp: TBD); and FY 14 Estimate Not Available(Exp: TBD)
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The total estimated amount of Federal funds available is $5,000,000. Individual awards will range from $250,000 to $1,000,000. States with a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that receive awards under this funding opportunity will, per that MOU, be required to support options counseling. Following the initial deadline, based on available funding, applications will be accepted for review and approval throughout fiscal year 2013 according to the due dates outlined in the funding opportunity announcement.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Applicants should refer to the funding opportunity announcement for applicable regulations, guidelines and literature.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Christopher Clark, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management (OAGM), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 200 Independence Ave, SW, Room 733H-02, Washington DC 20201.
Headquarters Office
Christopher Clark 200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 733H-02, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: Christopher.Clark@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 301-492-4319
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applicant should refer to the funding opportunity announcement under this CFDA program for specific criteria requirements on proposal selection.
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