News Archives

Information about the Obama Administration's efforts to reform health care in America. Includes information on the new report, Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions.

Disability Policy Seminar explored the unique challenges and opportunities facing the new 111th Congress and Obama Administration brought about by the 2008 election results and the economic crisis. Conference took place April 27-29, 2009 in Washington, DC.

This award program was created to improve the quality of life of family caregivers by recognizing and supporting the efforts of non-profit community groups that work with them. The seven awards will recognize the current work of community agencies and other organizations that support family caregivers as a significant part of their mission. Deadline for submission of applications was April 24, 2009.

Program seeks to provide professionals in health and aging with the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans. Application deadline was April 15, 2009.

Free conference from the Center for Studying Health System Change took place on April 8, 2009 from 9:00 AM - noon in Washington, DC. The conference convened leading experts to discuss cutting-edge employer approaches to promote health and wellness and innovative payer and provider efforts to improve care for people with chronic conditions.

Submit a question online or attend one of these upcoming White House forums on health reform. Forums will take place March 23, 2009 in Des Moines, IA; March 31, 2009 in Greensboro, NC; and April 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA.

The U.S. Department of Labor has joined with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to launch a Web-based directory to help wounded warriors identify resources available to assist them in transitioning back to civilian life. The National Resource Directory encompasses more than 10,000 services and resources. "This directory is valuable for our returning wounded warriors and their positive reintegration back into mainstream American life," said Neil Romano, assistant secretary for the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

This conference, hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) took place March 2-4, 2009 in Baltimore, MD. It featured presentations from nationally recognized speakers from a variety of disciplines. Topics covered include: community inclusion for persons living with a disability, innovative ways to increase housing capacity, Medicaid rebalancing, self direction and quality management systems.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (ADS Center) hosted a training teleconference on January 27, 2009.

Joint Department of Defense (DOD)/Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conference took place January 12-15, 2009 in San Antonio, TX. Attendees consisted of Suicide Prevention Program Managers, Behavioral Health Professionals, Counselors, Chaplains, Unit Suicide Prevention Officers, Members of Installation Suicide Prevention Committees, Health Promotion Professionals, Substance Abuse Professionals, Command and unit leaders involved in suicide prevention and Public Affairs Professionals.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging Medicare beneficiaries to review their current prescription drug and health care coverage before the annual enrollment period ends on December 31, 2008 to ensure they are in a plan that will best meet their needs in 2009.

This live Webcast took place December 4, 2008. Panelists addressed such questions as: Should health reform proceed state-by-state or nationally? What types of approaches could be tested at the state level to inform the national debate? What degree of flexibility should states have in structuring reform and specifying the scope of coverage and subsidies?

Worldwide the estimated number of people living with HIV is over 33 million. An estimated one million Americans are living with HIV. Read about Bloggers Unite on World AIDS Day, a blogging call to action sponsored by AIDS.gov and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

On November 20, 2008 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced important additions to the Dialysis Facility Compare consumer Web site that will give consumers even better insight into the quality of care provided by their local dialysis patient facilities.

This conference took place November 12-14, 2008 in Washington, DC. The deadline for registration was October 20, 2008.

Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals, a two-part series, took place Thursday, November 6 and Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute hosted the third National Spinal Cord Injury Conference November 6-8, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.

A final rule that would allow more Medicaid beneficiaries to be in charge of their own personal assistance services, including personal care services, instead of having those services directed by an agency, has been issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The final rule becomes effective November 3, 2008.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Ask Medicare, a new initiative to help family caregivers access valuable healthcare information, services and resources.

The 2008 Rosalyn Carter Institute conference will take place October 23-24 at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA. The conference will offer resources, ideas and practical suggestions designed to set a new standard for how caregivers are supported by agencies and communities.

Conference will take place October 17-19, 2008 on Chicago's North Shore. Participate in workshops that address your concerns and meet spousal caregivers from around the country!

This free conference was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs and took place October 1-2, 2008 in Bethesda, MD. Experts in the field informed representatives from health and human service systems (military, veteran and civilian), health care providers and researchers about socio-demographic influences with regard to the psychological health needs of populations exposed to high stress/deployment and traumatic events.

This conference, convened by the National Association of State Units on Aging and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, took place September 28 - October 1, 2008 in Boston, MA. It offered professional and network opportunities for professionals who administer and operate home and community based services programs throughout the country.

September 16, 2008 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced a five-year cooperative agreement grant award totaling $33 million to the Education Development Center, Inc. of Newton, Mass., for the National Center for Mental Health Promotion & Youth Violence Prevention.

Provides immediate, often life-saving, help to tens of thousands of Veterans and their loved ones.

This broadcast took place September 17, 2008 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Employers looking to expand or create services and programs to support employed caregivers, caregivers working full or part-time and caring for a loved one and organizations providing caregiver services were encouraged to participate.

Conference took place September 10-12, 2008 in Chicago. It was a gathering of administrative and medical leaders who are working to advance their spine, neuroscience and orthopedic services.

This conference took place August 24-27 in Garden Grove, CA. It provided dementia care information for a wide variety of care professionals, including nursing homes administrators, nurses and Alzheimer unit coordinators.

Award recognizes leadership in implementing innovative and creative partnerships between community agencies and caregiving researchers that bridge the gap between science and practice. The partnerships reflect best practices in providing effective caregiver supports to professional, family and volunteer caregivers. Deadline for applications: August 15, 2008. Document is in .pdf format.

Emotion, Behavior and Belonging: New Perspectives on Including Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Differences in Schools and Communities was held August 11-14, 2008 at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

News release from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) about a new report that reveals that adolescent females are twice as likely as adolescent males to suffer a major depressive episode.

Part 1: Assisting Individuals to Prepare for an Emergency will take place on Monday, June 23, 2008 from 3:00 PM EDT - 4:30 PM EDT. Part II: Preparing Your Organization for an Emergency will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 3:00 PM EDT - 4:30 PM EDT.

The 9th annual National Women's Health Week took place May 11-17, 2008. This nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH), encourages women to make their health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer, healthier and happier life.

Summary of Medicare benefits, rights and protections and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare.

Report issued on January 15, 2008 by the National Council on Disability (NCD) that examines employment, housing, education, transportation and other federal policies that affect people with disabilities.

Summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities as they relate to disaster care, housing and human services. This guide explains how applicable Federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector and religious organizations. Read the complete guide by clicking here.

The development of a new prosthetic ankle-foot was announced today by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The prosthesis is designed for veterans with lower-leg amputations, and is the first in a new family of artificial limbs. It will replicate natural motion by propelling people forward using tendon-like springs powered by an electric motor. The new prosthesis was developed through the VA-funded Center for Restorative and Regenerative Medicine.