North Dakota Governor -- Review Your Medicare Part D Drug Plans

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2008

Contact: Don Canton or Jody Link
(701) 328-2200
Andrea Fonkert, Insurance Department
701.328.2484

GOVERNOR, HHS SECRETARY LEAVITT, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER HAMM
ENCOURAGE NORTH DAKOTANS TO COMPARE PART D PLANS
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt and Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm encouraged North Dakotans today to review and compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans during this year’s open enrollment period. The annual open enrollment, which kicked off Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31, gives beneficiaries the opportunity to enroll in a new Part D plan or make changes to their existing coverage for 2009 to better serve their needs.

“Every year, prescription drug and health plans change, as well as the health needs of Medicare beneficiaries,” said Hoeven. “That is why seniors are encouraged to review and compare their Medicare Part D plans during open enrollment to ensure they are receiving the best coverage for their health needs. The state has resources in place to assist them with their plan reviews and enrollment.”

“Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to do comparison shopping to find a prescription drug plan that best meets their needs,” said Leavitt. “By using the tools provided by HHS and local partners, people with Medicare Part D can find the best plan for them during this open enrollment period.”

According to the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), some beneficiaries may see premium increases or changes if they do not choose a 2009 prescription drug plan that is best for them. Of the 48 plans available to North Dakota seniors, 27 plans have no deductible, 12 cover at least some generic drugs even after the initial coverage limit is reached and 2 have premiums under $25.

Hamm encouraged consumers to act quickly so they may have a smooth transition into the 2009 benefit year.

“Secretary Leavitt’s presence in North Dakota today emphasizes the importance of the open enrollment period,” said Hamm. “There are significant changes in the 2009 plans, so it’s important for consumers to review their options, even if they’re happy with the plan they had in 2008. I encourage beneficiaries to attend one of the department’s open enrollment events or call 211 to do a plan comparison.”

The North Dakota Insurance Department’s State Health Insurance Counseling Program (SHIC) is holding 10 open enrollment events around the state to help people with Medicare Part D make the most of their prescription drug benefits. For event details, visit www.nd.gov/ndins or call 1-888-575-6611.

Eligible North Dakotans who are unable to attend an open enrollment event can call 2-1-1 to switch plans or sign up for a plan. After answering a few questions, a customized comparison list of Part D plans will be sent to callers. Once a plan is chosen, joining is easy. Beneficiaries can:

Enroll directly with the plan by calling the plan’s toll-free number
Call their insurance agent
Go to www.medicare.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227
Call Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at 701-258-5436 12:30–3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Call SHIC at 1-888-575-6611

For more information on open enrollment and Medicare Part D, call SHIC at 1-888-575-6611.

- ### -

North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance

For immediate release

November 25, 2008



North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance has Lowest Premiums in the Country



Workers’ compensation insurance premiums in North Dakota are ranked the lowest in the country once again according to a national study undertaken by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The study is undertaken every two years and marks the fourth time in a row that North Dakota has ranked as the most affordable place for businesses to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. National premium rates ranged from a low of $1.08 per hundred dollars of payroll in North Dakota to a high of $3.97 in Alaska, with a median value of $2.26.



"This is great news," said Bruce Furness, Interim Executive Director and CEO of Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI). "With the legislative cooperation of the past 15 years along with the strategic decisions made by our Board of Directors, we have come a long way."

WSI has also been able to maintain low premiums while raising the benefits to workers through the legislative process over the last 15 years, such as:

· Increasing Death Benefits.

· Enhancing Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits to help retrain injured workers and find them employment after they are seriously injured on the job.

· Moving the waiting period from 10 to 3 years for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for those on Permanent Total Disability.

This legislative session the WSI Board of Directors approved 2009 legislative proposals to further enhance injured worker benefits including:

· Increasing the lifetime cap on death benefits from $250,000 to $300,000, doubling the one-time payments to dependent children and spouses and increasing the burial expenses to $10,000.

· Increasing the dependency allowance for those hurt on the job with dependent children.

· Increasing the maximum disability benefit from 110% to 125% of state’s average weekly wage.

In addition, Furness added, the money employers saved on premiums can be used to pay higher salaries and benefits to workers while investing in workplace safety to prevent injuries from happening.

“The best injury is the one that doesn’t happen in the first place,” said Furness. WSI has committed nearly $15 million over the last three years by partnering up with employers throughout the state through safety grant programs to make workplaces safer.



----------------------------------------------------------------

The complete national premium study can be accessed online at:

http://www4.cbs.state.or.us/ex/imd/reports/rpt/index.cfm?fuseaction=version_view&version_tk=181097&ProgID=FEARA012

To talk to Executive Director/CEO Bruce Furness about this story, please contact the WSI Communications Department at 1-701-328-5931.

Hotels and Motels in Bismarck, North Dakota -- Wireless Status

Hotel Name
Address Phone Number Offer Wireless Free Breakfast Offer State Rate
$55 + Tax

Hampton Inn 1440 Mapleton Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
751-3100
Yes
Yes
No

AmericInn Lodge & Suites
3235 State Street
Bismarck, ND 58503

250-1000

Yes

Yes Yes
$55 + tax single 1 bed
$65 + tax double 2 beds

Doublewood Inn 1400 E. Interchange Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
258-7000
Yes
No
Yes

Comfort Inn 1030 E. Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND
223-1911
Yes
Yes
Yes

Comfort Inn Suites 929 Gateway Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
222-4009
Yes
Yes
Yes

Candlewood Suites 4400 Skyline Crossings
Bismarck, ND 58503
751-8900
Yes
No
Yes

Country Inn and Suites 3205 N. 14th Street
Bismarck, ND 58503
258-4200
Yes
Yes
No


Days Inn
1300 E. Capital Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501

223-9151

Yes

Yes Yes
$55 + tax single 1 bed
$65 + tax double 2 beds

Expressway Inn 200 E. Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND
222-2900
Yes
Yes
Yes

Expressway Suites 180 E. Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58504
222-3311
Yes
Yes State Rate
$64.95 + Tax
Fairfield Inn by Marriott (North)
Note: Fairfield block of rooms are full

1120 E. Century Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503


223-9077


Yes


Yes


Yes
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
(South)
Note: 4 rooms left in the block

135 Ivy Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58504


223-9293


Yes


Yes
Yes
Free Pass to Anytime Fitness



Hotel Name
Address Phone Number Offer Wireless Free Breakfast Offer State Rate
$55 + Tax
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites 3001 N. 15th Street
Bismarck, ND 58503
221-0850
Yes
Yes
No

Best Western Ramkota Hotel
800 S. 3rd Street
Bismarck, ND 58504

258-7700

Yes

No

No






Kelly Inn




1800 N. 12th Street
Bismarck, ND 58501





223-8001 Yes
Request room with the best location for wireless
access





No





Yes

Ramada Limited Suites 3808 E. Divide Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
221-3030
Yes
Yes
Yes

Seven Seas I-94 and Exit 152
Mandan, ND 58554
663-7401
Yes
No
Yes


Radisson
605 E. Broadway Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501

255-6000

Yes

No Yes
Note: Not all session days may be available

Saturday November 29 --- A Medicare Update

Hello Everyone,

Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.





Table of Contents



1. New From the Medicare Learning Network



2. National Medicare Training Program Update



3. Reminder – Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP): Feedback About the CAP ~ A Special Open Door Forum Teleconference



4. Important Information on Medicare Payment and Supplier Requirements for Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment



5. Physicians and Other Health Professionals Value-Based Purchasing Issues Paper Posted



6. Continuing Education Available on E-Prescribing Topics



7. Medicare Publishes New Information on Quality of Care at Dialysis Facilities



8. November Flu Shot Reminder



9. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs









~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



1. New From the Medicare Learning Network



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an MLN Matters article that is based on Change Request (CR) 6223, which announces expanded coverage of the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) also know as the “Welcome to Medicare Visit” of “Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam”. This expanded coverage applies to IPPEs performed on or after January 1, 2009. The article, MM6223 Update to the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) Benefit, is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6223.pdf on the CMS website.



# # # # #



Flu Season Is Here! Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to Medicare patients. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. For quick information to assist with filing claims for the influenza vaccine and it’s administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has prepared The Quick Reference Information: Medicare Part B Immunization Billing Chart (Feb. 2008) - This two-sided laminated reference chart gives Medicare fee-for-service physicians, providers, suppliers, and other health care professionals a quick reference to coding and billing information. To view, download, and print the quick reference chart, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/qr_immun_bill.pdf on the CMS website. To order a copy, free of charge, go to the MLN Products Ordering web page at http://cms.meridianksi.com/kc/pfs/pfs_lnkfrm_fl.asp?lgnfrm=reqprod&function=pfs . Get Your Flu Shot – Not the Flu.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



2. National Medicare Training Program Update



SAVE THE DATE!
My Health. My Medicare. Audio-conference training session

When: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Time: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. EST

Topic: Open Enrollment Season Q&A

Dial toll free: 800-369-3155

Pass code: NMTP

Subject matter experts will be available to provide updates and answer questions on Open Enrollment. Feel free to submit questions in advance to NMTP@cms.hhs.gov.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



3. Reminder – Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP): Feedback About the CAP ~ A Special Open Door Forum Teleconference



Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP): Feedback about the CAP – A Special Open Door Forum (ODF) Teleconference on the 2009 CAP Postponement and How to Submit E-mail Comments



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting public feedback about the CAP. CMS is interested in hearing about a range of issues, including, but not limited to:

§ the categories of drugs provided under the CAP

§ the distribution of areas that are served by the CAP

§ procedural changes that may increase the program's flexibility and appeal to potential vendors and physicians.



On December 3, 2008, CMS will host a Special ODF Teleconference to obtain feedback about the program. This teleconference will be a listening session and is intended for current and former participating CAP physicians, potential Approved CAP Vendors, and any other interested parties. CMS will assess the information that it receives as it considers implementing changes to the CAP.



Call Details:



Date and Time: December 3, 2008 from 2:00-3:30PM EST

Toll Free Call Number: (800) 837-1935

Conference ID: 66307647



Interested parties can also submit comments to the CAP e-mailbox at MMA303DDrugBid@cms.hhs.gov

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



4. Important Information on Medicare Payment and Supplier Requirements for Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an MLN Matters article that emphasizes important information on Medicare payment and supplier requirements for oxygen and oxygen equipment. To assure proper implementation of these policies, the MLN Matters article focuses on significant supplier requirements for furnishing oxygen and oxygen equipment to our beneficiaries. The article (# SE0840 entitled, Changes in Medicare Payment for Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment) is available on the CMS website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0840.pdf .



CMS has also released questions and answers to address beneficiary concerns regarding the changes in payment and supplier requirements for oxygen and oxygen equipment. To view these questions and answers visit questions.medicare.gov on the Internet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



5. Physicians and Other Health Professionals Value-Based Purchasing Issues Paper Posted



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the Issues Paper that is part of the development of a Plan to transition to a Medicare Value-Based Purchasing Program for physician and other professional services, as required by Section 131(d) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). The Issues Paper is posted on the CMS Website Physician Center Spotlights at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/physician.asp.



This Issues Paper will be the basis of a Listening Session to be held at the CMS Central Facility on December 9, 2008, from 10 AM EST to 4 PM EST. The notice for this meeting was published in the Federal Register on October 24, 2008. Physicians and other professionals, their associations, health care purchasers, consumers, and all other interested parties are invited to participate, in person or by calling in to the teleconference. The issues identified and discussed during this meeting will assist CMS in developing options for the Plan. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to space and teleconference lines available.



Interested parties are reminded that to participate, either in person or by teleconference, on‑line registration is required via the CMS website at: http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2. Registration will close at 5 PM EST on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.



Written comments or statements on the Issues Paper are welcome and may be sent via email to PhysicianVBP@cms.hhs.gov; faxed to 410-786-8005; or sent via regular mail to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Mail Stop C5-15-02, Attn: Physician VBP Comments. All persons planning to make a statement in person at the Listening Session are urged to submit statements in writing during the Listening Session and should subsequently submit the information electronically. The deadline for receipt of comments is 5 PM EST on Tuesday, December 16, 2008.



For further information regarding the December 9, 2008 Listening Session, contact Robin Phillips, at 410-786-3010 in the Provider Communications Group. Inquiries may also be sent via e‑mail to mpf@cms.hhs.gov



Listening Session Format

The Listening Session will consider the key design issues raised in the Issues Paper. The session will begin at 10 AM EST with an overview of the objectives for the session and a brief summary of the approach to developing the Plan. Beginning at approximately 10:30 AM EST, the remainder of the meeting will be devoted to presenting and receiving comments on key design and policy issues for each of the major components for the Plan: (1) measures, (2) incentive structure, (3) data strategy and infrastructure, and (4) public reporting. The agenda will provide opportunities for brief 2-minute comments on each of the key issues from on-site session attendees. As time allows, telephone participants will also have the opportunity to provide brief 2-minute comments. A lunch break will occur from approximately 12:15 to 1 PM EST. The meeting will conclude by 4 PM EST with brief comments on next steps.



The final Agenda and copies of the PowerPoint slides to be used in the Listening Session will be posted by 5 PM EST Friday, December 5, 2008, on the CMS Website Physician Center Spotlights at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/physician.asp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



6. Continuing Education Available on E-Prescribing Topics



In 2009 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide incentives for health care providers who use e-prescribing. In October 2008, CMS and 34 partner organizations hosted a meeting about the mechanics of implementing an e-prescribing program in a practice. Audiotapes and slides are now archived online for continuing education credit. The Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Pharmacist Association are pleased to provide Continuing Medical Education (a maximum of 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, (risk management study for MA Physicians) and Continuing Education for pharmacists (up to 13.25 hours of continuing education credit (1.325 CEUs)). Simply go to www.massmed.org/cme/CMS_eprescribing to view the presentations and hear the audiotapes of the program. There are no registration or certificate fees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



7. Medicare Publishes New Information on Quality of Care at Dialysis Facilities



Changes to Web Site Will Help Consumers Compare Care and Make

Informed Health Care Choices



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS has announced important additions to the Dialysis Facility Compare consumer Web site (http://www.medicare.gov/dialysis) that will give consumers even better insight into the quality of care provided by their local dialysis patient facilities.



The improvements include two new quality measures that demonstrate how well dialysis patients are treated for anemia (low red blood cell count) as well as updated information that will help patients better understand survival rates by facility.



To view the entire Press Release, please see: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



8. November Flu Shot Reminder



“Flu season is here! Medicare patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu shot, including—“It causes the flu"; "I don’t need it"; "It has side effects"; "It’s not effective"; "I didn’t think about it"; "I don’t like needles!” The fact is that every year in the United States, on average, about 36,000 people die from influenza. Greater than 90 percent of these deaths occur in individuals 65 years of age and older. You can help your Medicare patients overcome these odds and their personal barriers through patient education. Talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of getting an annual flu shot--and don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect yourself, your patients, and your family and friends. Get Your Flu Shot – Not the Flu. Remember - Influenza vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered drug.



For information about Medicare’s coverage of the influenza virus vaccine and its administration as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf on the CMS website. To download the Medicare Part B Immunization Billing quick reference chart, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/qr_immun_bill.pdf on the CMS website. A copy of this quick reference chart can be ordered, free of charge, by going to the MLN Products web page and clicking on “MLN Product Ordering Page” in the Related Links Inside CMS section of the web page.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



9. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs



Do You Know Someone Who Is Having Trouble Paying For Prescription Drugs?

Medicare Can Help!



If an individual has limited income and resources, they may qualify for extra help from Medicare. It could be worth over $3,300 in savings on prescription drug costs per year.
Encourage people with Medicare to file for Extra Help online: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1020/main.html or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to apply over the phone.
State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) offices can assist with the application. Find contact information for a local SHIP Counselor at http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/static/allStateContacts.asp or by calling
1-800-MEDICARE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~









Lucretia James

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Region VIII

1600 Broadway, Suite 700

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 844-1568

lucretia.james@cms.hhs.gov

North Dakota Farm Credit Council - Legislative Social -- Tuesday in Bismarck

TO:
North Dakota Legislators




FROM:
Dana Bohn, NDFCC Executive Director




DATE:
November 25, 2008




RE:
December 2 NDFCC Reception



On behalf of the three North Dakota Farm Credit associations, we’d like to remind you about our reception on Tuesday, December 2, at the Best Western Doublewood Inn in Bismarck. The reception will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will conclude at 6:00 p.m.



If your schedule permits, you are also invited to join us for the Ag Leaders Forum which will begin at 12:45 p.m. with a keynote address by John Phipps, host of the US Farm Report and columnist for Farm Journal. This is our ninth forum at which representatives from the major North Dakota commodity groups join us in a round table discussion about the issues, challenges and opportunities facing agriculture.



We hope you can join the Farm Credit Services directors and management and ag organizations from across the state for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks at 4:30 p.m. on December 2 at the Doublewood.



Please RSVP to Julie Ellingson at info@clearwatercommunications.net or 701-355-4458.



Respectfully,






Dana Bohn

Executive Director

North Dakota Farm Credit Council

University of North Dakota Legislative Reception on Tuesday in Bismarck

North Dakota State Legislators:

Just a quick follow-up to an earlier invitation. UND will be hosting an hors d'oeuvre reception for all legislators on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008, from 5:30 - 7:00 PM, in the Rembrandt Room at the Bismarck Radisson Hotel. You and a guest are invited to meet our new President Robert and First Lady Marcia Kelley for a brief discussion of higher education issues.

Please RSVP by return e-mail or call Sandy Rios at 701-777-3860 by Friday, November 28th, with the number attending. Thank you.

NOTE: We are aware that there are many functions that evening and you are being pulled in many directions. If your schedule changes at the last minute and you are able to attend, please feel free to stop in.

Sandy Rios
Administrative Officer
President's Office, University of North Dakota
264 Centennial Drive Stop 8193
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8193
701-777-3860/701-777-3866 (Fax)
sandyrios@mail.und.nodak.edu

North Dakota Department of Human Services Leadership Program Graduates

NEWS from the North Dakota Department of Human Services

600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck ND 58505-0250


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2008


Contacts: Heather Steffl, Public Information Officer, 701-328-4933



N.D. Department of Human Services announces leadership program graduates


BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Human Services celebrated the graduation of the inaugural class of its new Leadership Development Program on November 25 in Bismarck. The 17 graduates were selected from across the agency to participate in the 16-month program that was designed to help them explore leadership concepts, individual leadership styles, and interpersonal traits. Programming promoted a deeper understanding of the Department’s programs and services, and its strategic planning and budgeting process. Participants also learned about the legislative process.



Graduates included the following Bismarck-based employees: James Fleming, Child Support Enforcement Division; Casey Goodhouse, Human Resources Division; Twyla Lee, Executive Office; Bill Marsh, Fiscal Administration; Rhonda Obrigewitch, Fiscal Administration; Shelly Paul, West Central Human Service Center; Terry Peterson, Child Support Enforcement Division; Lauren Sauer, Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Sandy Thompson, West Central Human Service Center; and Susan Van Asperen, Economic Assistance Policy Division.



Leadership program graduates from other department locations included: Julie Baumgarn, Lake Region Human Service Center, Devils Lake; Maureen Lilleby, formerly of Southeast Human Service Center, Fargo; Ruleen McMillan, North Dakota State Hospital, Jamestown; Tammy Ness, North Central Human Service Center, Minot; Holly Pope, North Central Human Service Center, Minot; Doug Rumpza, Southeast Human Service Center, Fargo; and Randy Slavens, Northeast Human Service Center, Grand Forks.



“The Department of Human Services wants to attract and retain qualified and talented staff, and we are committed to developing future leaders,” said Executive Director Carol K. Olson. “This program complements other professional development efforts, and we expect our management team to look to these graduates, as well as other emerging leaders, as future resources.”



An umbrella agency, the department provides health and human services to vulnerable individuals, including many children, directly and in partnership with private providers and county social service offices. The agency employs about 2,200 individuals; many are involved in direct work with clients at the regional human service centers, State Hospital, and Developmental Center.



# # #

Higher Education in the United States

AACTE Weekly News Briefs | November 25, 2008___________

. . . delivered to your inbox so you can enjoy up-to-date news on Colleges of Education, Teaching and the Classroom, Campaigns, Legislation, STEM Teacher Issues, International Teacher Issues, Grants, and Upcoming Events. Please click on linked headlines for full story.





AACTE IN THE NEWS



NCATE to Develop Options within Accrediting Process

From NCATE

The NCATE Executive Board voted unanimously at its fall meeting in October to redesign the NCATE accreditation process. The Board asked Dr. James Cibulka, President of NCATE, to return in Spring 2009, after consulting with all NCATE constituencies, with a comprehensive set of recommendations for redesign of NCATE's unit accreditation and program review processes to provide options, promote rigor, relevance, and inquiry, and ensure cost-effectiveness.





AACTE ANNOUNCEMENTS



AACTE Board Elections

All AACTE Institutional Representatives are eligible to vote for new members of the AACTE Board of Directors, one of the most important benefits of AACTE membership. Please take advantage of this privilege and make your voice heard. For more information please click here.



AACTE Web Conference

AACTE presents "Building an Accreditation Learning Community," a Web Conference for Deans and NCATE Coordinators. From December 2, 2008 through December 4, 2008 participate from the comfort of your own office in this multi– day web event that includes a mix of pre -recorded and live sessions, online chats, and resource sharing on topics such as Assessment Rubrics, Creating the Electronic Exhibit Room, Writing An Institutional Report and preparing for the Visit. For more information about fees and registration, please click here.



AACTE Focuses on 21st Century Schools, Colleges and Departments of Education

AACTE is inaugurating a new national conversation on 21st Century Schools, Colleges and Departments of Education to parallel the efforts of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. This theme will be front and center at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago. AACTE will feature a special preconference professional development program titled “Developing a Vision for 21st-Century Schools of Education: An Out-Loud Session of Critical Thinking for the Profession by Veteran Deans.” In addition to a number of concurrent sessions on this theme, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills will present a session titled “Colleges of Education and 21st Century Skills”.





NATIONAL NEWS



Obama Faces Fierce Fight to Keep Education Promises

From the Washington Post

President-elect Barack Obama has made big promises to educators, parents and the nation's nearly 50 million public school students. He vowed to recruit an "army of new teachers," create better tests and give public schools more funding. He also said he would make college more affordable.



New Model for Education Research

From Inside Higher Ed

Current practices in education research — most of which is conducted in a university setting — are insufficient to meet the demand for a better K-12 system, the new president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching says. In his first major policy address since becoming the foundation’s president, Anthony S. Bryk announced his vision for the future of education research and development at the American Enterprise Institute here Wednesday, putting particular emphasis on the possibility of reforming teacher education programs.



Researchers Pitch Policy Ideas to Obama Advisers

From Education Week

Some of education’s most prominent scholars are offering President-elect Barack Obama’s advisers and other Washington policymakers their collected wisdom on research-backed strategies the next administration can use to improve schooling.





NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY



College reaches out to inspire future teachers

From Arizona State University

ASU’s College of Teacher Education and Leadership sponsored the recruitment event to attract middle school and high school students to the profession of teaching and to consider teaching in their own neighborhoods. The students were hand-picked to attend by Teach for America (TFA) corps members, part of a national program to place the most promising recent college graduates in high-need classrooms for two years. Through a partnership with the college, these TFA teachers attend classes downtown and work with faculty and clinical professors to earn their master’s degrees in education.



Training load to grow for 'alternate' teachers

From the Star-Ledger

Thousands of new teachers coming into the classroom as a second career will need to take many hours of additional training under rules approved by the state Board of Education last week.



Colorado State Awarded $12.5 Million National Science Foundation Grant For Stem Teacher Development

From Colorado State University

Colorado State University's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory is the lead institution of a $12.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Mathematics and Science Partnership program to create a dynamic teacher development program targeted at middle school and high school teachers in the STEM disciplines - science, technology, engineering and mathematics.



University of Chicago Teaching Preparation Program Expands to Include Training for Mathematics and Biology High School Teachers

From the University of Chicago

Responding to a national shortage of high school mathematics and science teachers, the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute will expand its teacher preparation program in 2009 to ready secondary math and biology teachers for urban classrooms.



Recruitment begins for Teacher Quest Tampa Bay pilot program

From Business Journal Tampa

The Technological Research and Development Authority is recruiting businesses in Tampa Bay to participate in the Teacher Quest Tampa Bay pilot program, a professional development initiative. The effort aims to employ Florida certified teachers in grades 6-8 in science, math and technology-based positions during the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011.





Other Announcements




AERA Grants and Fellowship Programs

AERA Grants and Fellowship Programs provide funding to help graduate students and early career scholars develop research skills and conduct studies in education and related fields. Application deadlines for the 2009 competitions are fast approaching! Please follow the links below for more information.



AERA-AIR (A²) Fellows Program
Application deadline: December 15, 2008.

AERA-ETS Fellowship Program in Measurement
Application deadline: December 15, 2008.
· Minority Fellowship Program in Education Research
Application deadline: December 15, 2008.

· AERA Grants Program
The next application deadlines are August 29, 2008; January 7, 2009; and March 6, 2009.

From the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is accepting applications to serve on committees responsible for reviewing and revising standards in two areas: English as a New Language and Social Studies-History. To access the online application click here. The application will be available through December 12, 2008, 5:00pm EST.



For assistance or additional information please contact NBPTS at nominations@nbpts.org.





AACTE 61st ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITS

February 6 - 9, 2009
Hyatt Regency Chicago - Virtual Tour
Chicago, IL





REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Click Here to register for the 61st Annual Meeting & Exhibits. This will lead you through creating an account which you can use for future meetings. If you registered for the Accountability, Accreditation, and Quality Conference, Click Here to use the account you set up when registering for that meeting.



Alyssa J. Mangino

Communications Manager

AACTE

1307 New York Ave., NW Suite 300

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 478-4596 -Direct

(202) 457-8095 -Fax

amangino@aacte.org

North Dakota School Funding Status on November 26, 2008

Department of Public Instruction
600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept. 201, Bismarck, ND 58505-0440 Dr. Wayne G. Sanstead
(701) 328-2260 Fax - (701) 328-2461 State Superintendent
http://www.dpi.state.nd.us
To: School Superintendents
From: Dr. Wayne G. Sanstead
State Superintendent
Date: 11/26/2008
Re: State Aid Funding Status
In March you were provided preliminary information on the status of the state aid budget. At that
time we projected a very tight budget outlook concerning the state aid payments line.
This update is based on information to date regarding kindergarten, adjusted equity factors and
actual student membership data reported as of the December 2008 payment. Based on these
numbers and estimates of additional obligations through the remainder of the biennium the status
the state school aid appropriation lines are as follows:
Appropriation
Over/Under
Budget
State School Aid 726,765,879 (4,488,289)
Transportation 35,500,000 726,256
Regional Education Agencies 1,000,000 -
Special Education Contracts 17,500,000 4,622,985
Total 780,765,879 860,952
The existing appropriation language provides that remaining transportation funding will be
distributed based on transportation entitlements. There is no provision for remaining special
education contracts funding so any un-obligated funds must be returned to the general fund. The
state school aid entitlements will have to be reduced by $4.5 million (the current year entitlement
estimate is $373 million) to stay within the appropriation.
The Commission on Education Improvement plans to recommend legislation with an emergency
clause authorizing the transfer of un-obligated Special Education Contract funding to the State Aid
appropriation line as part of their recommendations to the governor and the legislature.
We are hoping the legislature will approve the transfer. Since this approval may not occur until
May we will withhold a prorated amount (15%) from the April payment. Once we receive
authorization to make the transfer funding will be reinstated.
If you have questions contact Jerry Coleman at (701) 328-4051.
Cc ND Legislators
Governor’s Office
Commission on Education Improvement

Social Welfare Policy

E-Newsletter for November 25, 2008
In this issue:
Q&A on the Legacy of the Bush Administration's Faith-Based and Community Initiative
Register Now! Roundtable Experts to Assess Legal Outlook for Faith-Based Initiatives
Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community Organization Eligibility
Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories
An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research project
of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State University of New York.




New! Q&A on the Legacy of the Bush Administration's Faith-Based
and Community Initiative

President George W. Bush launched the Faith-Based and Community Initiative in 2001 to encourage
small, grassroots religious charities to provide social services in partnership with government. As
reported in last week's Roundtable e-newsletter, the Initiative has met with mixed reviews. What is
certain is that the federal effort took hold in a fashion that went largely unrecognized by most Americans.
Lacking congressional support, President Bush advanced his plan through the issuance of executive
orders creating the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and centers in 12
federal agencies to advance government partnerships with religious and secular nonprofits. The Initiative's
activities included providing training and assistance to religious and secular nonprofits, arranging for small
grants to help grassroots nonprofits increase their organizational capacity, and advancing the use of
vouchers so government funds could support intensely religious programs.

The Roundtable has asked three experts who have been involved with some aspect of the Initiative to
assess the legacy that it leaves to the Obama Administration. Responding are John Bridgeland, who
heads the public policy firm Civic Enterprises and formerly served as the first director of the USA Freedom
Corps, created by President Bush; Robert L. Woodson Sr., president of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center
for Neighborhood Enterprise, which has trained thousands of faith-based and community organization
leaders; and Harris Wofford, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and civil rights advocate who has
been at the forefront of the national service movement since helping to launch the Peace Corps in 1961.

Click here to read the Q&A.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Register Now! Roundtable Experts to Assess Legal Outlook
for Faith-Based Initiatives

Due in part to the policies set and the rule changes advanced by the Bush Administration,
President-elect Barack Obama will inherit a different legal landscape in which to forward his own
proposed Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. At a Roundtable event next week,
Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle, constitutional law experts who have closely watched
this federal effort, will offer their insights about the changes that have been wrought over the last eight
years and the key questions that remain going forward. They will also look at significant legal
developments of 2008, including those affecting taxpayers' rights to sue over church-state violations,
faith-based prison programs, and public support for structures where religious activities take place.
The event accompanies the release of their final "State of the Law" report, a publication that has
become a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the legal environment in which the Faith-
Based and Community Initiative has progressed.

Professors Lupu and Tuttle will present their findings at the National Press Club in Washington,
D.C., on Tuesday, December 2 at 9 a.m. Attendance is free.

Click here to register for the event.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community
Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through programs
administered by the U.S. Departments of Justice, Labor, and Health and Human Services.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs require specific technical expertise.

Click here for the grants digest.



Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories
Charitable Services Groups See Spike In Requests
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9142


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Economy Keeps Some Habitat for Humanity Homes Empty
USA TODAY

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9168


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

City Rule May Close 2 Island Faith-Based Homeless Shelters
silive.com (Staten Island, NY)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9169


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pathway to Redemption
Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9143


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Men of God Set Sights On Gangs
The Fayette Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9144


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Times and Long Lines;
Thousands Turn Out For Offerings of Food in Montebello and Mortgage Help in Van Nuys
Los Angeles Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9145


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are Faith-Based Programs Flawed?
news-record.com (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9146


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NY Churches Ordered Not To Shelter Homeless
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9147


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Medefind Minds Bush's Faith-Based Store
Dissident Voice

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9148


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

La. Aid to Food Banks Stays Flat; But Unmet Needs Rise During Hard Times
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9149


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Churches Prepare To Provide Thanksgiving
The Columbus Dispatch

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9150


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Charity Empowers Homeless, Single Moms
York Daily Record

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9151


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orlando-Area Food Bank Begs Religious Leaders to Help Feed Hungry
The Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9152


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study: 5,000 Living On San Gabriel Valley Streets
Pasadena Star-News (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9153


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Busy Nights on the Cold Front; Officials Predict More Demand for Reopened Shelter
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9154


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

City Council Still Undecided on Eve's House Zoning Matter
Hattiesburg American (Mississippi)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9155


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pr. William Board Wants To Help Provide Loans; Focus Is On Entry-Level County Workers
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9156


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Churches Step Up To Help the Needy
Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9157


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Activists Join For Prayers In D.C.; Putting 'A Face On The Abstract' Of Foreclosure Crisis
Modesto Bee

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9158


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faith-Based Homeless Shelter Network Adds 8th Church
Middletown Journal

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9159


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Family-Style Feast
San Marcos Daily Record (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9160


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Group Plans For Help In Face Of Need
The Union-Recorder (Milledgeville, Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9161


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clergy Rally In D.C. For Homeowner Protections
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9162


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Churches Learn To Be Prepared For Disaster
KHQA

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9163


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Charitable Giving In Forecast; Higher Tax Rate Equals Bigger Break for Donors
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9164


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 11/25/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_11_25_08.cfm




The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy promotes informed debate on the issue of publicly funded faith-based social service. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Roundtable provides independent, non-partisan research on the scope and scale of faith-based social services, their effectiveness, how public resources are being used in providing such services, and the legal and regulatory issues involved. The Roundtable's comprehensive web site makes this research and related information easily available. It can be accessed by clicking here:

The Roundtable
411 State Street
Albany, New York 12203 518-443-5014



To be removed from the weekly Roundtable E-Newsletter, please send a message to rndtbl@rockinst.org with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.

North Dakota's Governor John Hoeven Budget Address in Bismarck

NEWS
MEDIA ADVISORY
November 24, 2008

Contact: Don Canton or Jody Link
701.328.2200

HOEVEN TO DELIVER BUDGET ADDRESS TO THE
NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven will deliver his 2009-2011 Budget Address to a joint session of the 61st North Dakota Legislative Assembly Wednesday, December 3 at 10 a.m. in the House Chamber of the state Capitol building in Bismarck.

The Governor’s address will be webcast live over the Internet at www.governor.nd.gov.

-###-

Editor’s Note: For information regarding setup for electronic media, including live coverage, please contact Jody Link at (701) 328-2203.

Tuesday, November 25 - North Dakota Petroleum Council

The North Dakota Petroleum Council will once again hold Legislative Briefings in Jamestown, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot. Attached is the notice for those briefings. Please RSVP to the Petroleum Council at ndpc@ndoil.org, call 701.223.6380, or fax the form back to us at 701.222.0006, to let us know if you will be attending the briefing and in which city. Thank you.





Also attached, and below, is the NDPC November E-News. Have a great Thanksgiving!





North Dakota Petroleum Council E-News

November 2008







New Members – Thanks to the new Petroleum Council members Northern Oil & Gas and Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP.



Sales Tax Refund on Gas Connections from Oil Wells – Oil and gas producers and gas processors are eligible for a sales tax refund on sales tax paid for the connection costs of gas infrastructure from July 1, 2007 to present, and in the future. The 2007 Legislature passed HB 1462, in which the Petroleum Council had included the sales tax incentive to help discourage the flaring of gas. The Tax Department initially thought the exemption only applied to wells primarily producing gas. However, after further review, the Tax Department has determined the law and intent was designed to encourage the connection of gas on all new wells, not just wells producing gas. Therefore, companies who have connected a gas or oil well, or constructed or made improvements to a gas processing plant since July 1, 2007, can apply for a sales tax refund for the materials used to compress, process, and gather, or refine gas from an oil and gas well.



To claim the refund, send a letter of request, along with copies of invoices, to Blaine Braunberger, Sales Tax Division, State Tax Dept, 600 East Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505. Add “N.D.C.C. 57-39.2-04.5” in the Subject line of the letter. For more information, visit http://www.nd.gov/tax/.



Petroleum Council Legislative Briefings – North Dakota’s Legislature convenes on January 6, 2009. To keep legislators informed, briefings have been scheduled to provide a look at pipeline capacity issues, oil and gas activity update, workforce needs, economic impact results, refining and marketing issues, and future oil and gas legislation. For more information, contact us at (701) 223-6380 or ndpc@ndoil.org.



December 15 – Jamestown, Buffalo City Grille, 11:30-1:30 p.m. (lunch)

December 15 – Fargo, Best Western Doublewood Inn, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (dinner)

December 16 – Grand Forks, Canad Inn, 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. (lunch)

December 16 – Minot, Holiday Inn Riverside, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (dinner)



IPAMS State Legislative Preview – IPAMS is holding a 2009 State Legislative Preview on December 9 at the Westin Tabor Center Hotel in Denver. The North Dakota Petroleum Council will be presenting at this meeting, along with Ryan Bernstein from the Governor’s Office, Senator Rich Wardner, and Senator Connie Triplett. This is part of an all-day conference, with panels for each state. This event will also include a national legislative preview component. Speakers will look to provide a perspective on national energy policy.



Oil Tax Trigger – The Tax Commissioner has determined that the preliminary oil trigger price for the 2009 calendar year will be $47.66. Keep in mind, this trigger is the price of West Texas Intermediate Cushing crude oil minus $2.50. Therefore, the preliminary price used for the trigger would be $50.16. The average price of a barrel of crude oil would need to be below this trigger price each month for a five-month period in order for certain exemptions and rate reductions to become effective. The exemptions and rate reductions are subsequently removed if the average price is higher than the trigger price for each month in any consecutive five-month period.



The trigger price adjustment is published on the State Tax Commissioner’s web site at http://www.nd.gov/tax/oilgas/pubs/. If you have any questions regarding this notification, please contact the Oil and Gas Tax Section at 701.328.3657 or email oiltax@nd.gov.



Protection of North Dakota’s Migratory Birds – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recently conducted a cursory field review for migratory bird deaths in North Dakota’s oil patch. While the Service appreciates those companies who are being environmentally conscience and are netting reserve pits, there are a few companies within the oil patch that continue to flag or leave open reserve pits which are killing migratory birds by exposing them to oil. The Service wants oil producers to know that the unauthorized taking of migratory birds at oil production facilities can be prevented with a minimum of expense and effort. For further information, readers may contact the Service at (701) 255-0593.



The Service recommends the following measures:



· Keep Oil off Open Pits or Ponds. Immediate clean-up of oil in open pits is critical to prevent wildlife mortalities.

· Place Covers on Drip Buckets/Barrels Located Under Valves and Spigots. Placing a wire mesh or grate over the top of these barrels is a very practical way of preventing access for wildlife.

· Use Effective and Proven Exclusionary Devices. Netting is the most effective method of keeping birds from entering open pits; flagging does not work!

· Use Mesh Covers over Heater-Treater Exhaust Pipes. The Service suggests the placement of a mesh or metal screen and anti-perching devices over the end of each heater-treater stack, and covering any openings large enough to allow a bird to enter into the heater-treater equipment.



“Oil Can!” Provides Latest Round of Town Hall Meetings – Approximately 450 local citizens attended the series of Town Hall Meetings held in Bowbells, Powers Lake, Parshall, Stanley and Killdeer. These Town Hall Meetings were organized with the intent of expanding the public's understanding of North Dakota’s oil and gas industry. Established as part of the "Oil Can!" program developed by the North Dakota Petroleum Council, these meetings are a part of an effort intended to open channels of communication among the oil and gas industry, the general public, and public officials. Presentations from the Town Hall Meetings will be available at www.ndoil.org after Monday, November 24.



New Programs Available Through Petroleum Safety and Technology Center – A $442,000 Workforce Enhancement Grant will match a like investment by private industry to start four more oil field training courses at Williston's Petroleum Safety and Technology Center at Williston State College. The course offerings are already garnering interest from out-of-state.



The new courses include a S.M.A.R.T. school program (Safety Management And Rig up Training), a lease operator program, a derrick hand program, and an introduction to oil and gas operations for office personnel. Complete details and class schedules may be obtained by contacting Deanette Piesik at 701-774-4246 or 1-866-938-6963. Details are also available online at www.trainND.com.



Registering New Businesses in North Dakota – As a reminder, new businesses and out-of-state businesses working in the state of North Dakota must be registered with the Secretary of State’s office. The Secretary of State’s office has received several reports of out-of-state companies doing business in North Dakota without first being registered, as required by state law, with the Secretary of State’s office.



Extensive information about business registration requirements is available in the Business Services Section of the Secretary of State’s web site at www.nd.gov/sos under the Business Registrations link. Companies with questions or concerns about registration requirements, or wondering whether a company is properly registered, should visit the Secretary of State’s web site or contact the Business Information/Registration Division at (701) 328-4284 or e-mail sosbir@nd.gov.







For more information on any of these issues, or to be removed from the mailing list, contact the North Dakota Petroleum Council at

(701) 223-6380, ndpc@ndoil.org, or see www.ndoil.org.







Marsha Reimnitz

North Dakota Petroleum Council

PO Box 1395

Bismarck ND 58502

701.223.6380

701.222.0006 fax

www.ndoil.org

ndpc@ndoil.org



What is a home without children? Too quiet.

Bismarck/Mandan North Dakota Motel/Hotel List

Hotel Name
Address Phone Number Offer Wireless Free Breakfast Offer State Rate
$55 + Tax

Hampton Inn 1440 Mapleton Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
751-3100
Yes
Yes
No

AmericInn Lodge & Suites
3235 State Street
Bismarck, ND 58503

250-1000

Yes

Yes Yes
$55 + tax single 1 bed
$65 + tax double 2 beds

Doublewood Inn 1400 E. Interchange Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
258-7000
Yes
No
Yes

Comfort Inn 1030 E. Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND
223-1911
Yes
Yes
Yes

Comfort Inn Suites 929 Gateway Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
222-4009
Yes
Yes
Yes

Candlewood Suites 4400 Skyline Crossings
Bismarck, ND 58503
751-8900
Yes
No
Yes

Country Inn and Suites 3205 N. 14th Street
Bismarck, ND 58503
258-4200
Yes
Yes
No


Days Inn
1300 E. Capital Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501

223-9151

Yes

Yes Yes
$55 + tax single 1 bed
$65 + tax double 2 beds

Expressway Inn 200 E. Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND
222-2900
Yes
Yes
Yes

Expressway Suites 180 E. Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58504
222-3311
Yes
Yes State Rate
$64.95 + Tax
Fairfield Inn by Marriott (North)
Note: Fairfield block of rooms are full

1120 E. Century Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503


223-9077


Yes


Yes


Yes
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
(South)
Note: 4 rooms left in the block

135 Ivy Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58504


223-9293


Yes


Yes
Yes
Free Pass to Anytime Fitness



Hotel Name
Address Phone Number Offer Wireless Free Breakfast Offer State Rate
$55 + Tax
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites 3001 N. 15th Street
Bismarck, ND 58503
221-0850
Yes
Yes
No

Best Western Ramkota Hotel
800 S. 3rd Street
Bismarck, ND 58504

258-7700

Yes

No

No






Kelly Inn




1800 N. 12th Street
Bismarck, ND 58501





223-8001 Yes
Request room with the best location for wireless
access





No





Yes

Ramada Limited Suites 3808 E. Divide Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
221-3030
Yes
Yes
Yes

Seven Seas I-94 and Exit 152
Mandan, ND 58554
663-7401
Yes
No
Yes


Radisson
605 E. Broadway Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501

255-6000

Yes

No Yes
Note: Not all session days may be available

Medicare Information

Hello Everyone,

Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.





Table of Contents



1. Upcoming Training for the Medicare Part B Drugs Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP)



2. Award of New A/B MAC Contracts



3. “Medicare’s Practical Guide to the E-Prescribing Incentive Program” is now available online!



4. Medicare Proposes Revised Coverage Policy for Bariatric Surgery As a Diabetes Treatment



5. CMS Issues Improper Payment Rates for Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP



6. New Institutional NCCI Edits to Be Applied to Claims



7. Medicare Publishes New Information on Quality of Care at Dialysis Facilities



8. Gustave and Ike Waivers Expire



9. New From the Medicare Learning Network



10. November Flu Shot Reminder



11. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs









~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



1. Upcoming Training for the Medicare Part B Drugs Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP)



Noridian Administrative Services, the designated carrier for the CAP, offers interactive, online workshops about the CAP for Part B Drugs and Biologicals. These workshops train CAP vendors and elected physicians on a variety of CAP topics, including how to transition out of the CAP at the end of 2008 due to the postponement of the program for 2009. NAS staff will also be available to answer questions. Interested parties may view additional information about and register for these workshops on the Noridian website at:

https://www.noridianmedicare.com/cap_drug/train/schedule.html

A workshop will be held on the following date:

11/24/08 at 2:00 pm CST
Additional information about the CAP and the 2009 postponement is available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcquisforBios/01_overview.asp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



2. Award of New A/B MAC Contracts



CMS SELECTS NATIONAL HERITAGE INSURANCE CORPORATION

TO ADMINISTER MEDICARE CLAIMS PAYMENT IN

MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND AND VERMONT



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that National Heritage Insurance Corporation (NHIC) has been awarded a contract of up to five years for the combined administration of Part A and Part B Medicare claims payment in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.



NHIC will serve as the first point of contact for the processing and payment of Medicare fee-for-service claims from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, physicians and other health care practitioners in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The new Part A/Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (A/B MAC) was selected using competitive procedures in accordance with federal procurement rules.



The new contractor will take claims payment work now performed by three fiscal intermediaries and two carriers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The A/B MAC contract, which has an approximate value of $176 million over five years, will fulfill the requirements of the Medicare Modernization Act’s (MMA) contracting reform provisions.



As the A/B MAC contractor, NHIC will immediately begin implementation activities and will assume full responsibility for the claims processing work in its five-state jurisdiction no later than May 2009. NHIC will be reaching out to providers and state medical associations to provide education and information about the implementation. For more details, visit NHIC’s website at www.medicarenhic.com.



CMS awarded the first A/B MAC contract in July 2006 to Noridian Administrative Services, LLC, headquartered in Fargo, N.D. The list of new contractors and the states they cover, along with other information, can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareContractingReform/



To read the CMS press release issued 11/19, click here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



3. “Medicare’s Practical Guide to the E-Prescribing Incentive Program” is now available online!



The guide explains the e-prescribing incentive program, how eligible professionals can participate, and how to choose a qualified e-prescribing system. To read or print the guide, visit: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/downloads/11399.pdf.



By adopting e-prescribing through Medicare’s program, eligible professionals can save time, enhance office and pharmacy productivity, and improve patient safety and quality of care while earning incentives from Medicare.



For additional information about e-prescribing, you can also visit:

www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI. Select “E-prescribing Incentive Program”;
www.cms.hhs.gov/eprescribing. (for information on Part D e-prescribing standards that will be effective April 1, 2009); and
www.ehealthinitiative.org to download “A Clinician’s Guide to Electronic Prescribing.”


Continuing Education Credits Available

On October 6–7, 2008, CMS and 34 partner organizations hosted the National E-Prescribing Conference to promote and explain the potential of e-prescribing to improve health care in the United States. Sessions included the e-prescribing incentive payment program; strategies and tools for integrating e-prescribing with current health care delivery practices; and privacy, security, and risk management implications.



The Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Pharmacists Association will provide continuing education for selected presentations from the conference through an online education portal. Available credits are a maximum of 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, and Continuing Education for pharmacists (up to 13.25 hours of continuing education credit (1.325 CEUs)). To view or listen to the presentations, and complete an online test on each segment, go to www.massmed.org/cme/CMS_eprescribing.



Additional information is available on the National E-Prescribing Conference site at http://www.epsilonregistration.com/er/EventHomePage/CustomPage.jsp?ActivityID=378&ItemID=1117.



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services looks forward to working with you on the adoption of e-prescribing and implementation of the incentive program.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



4. Medicare Proposes Revised Coverage Policy for Bariatric Surgery as a Diabetes Treatment



CMS Seeks Comments from Public on Proposal to Limit Coverage to Morbidly Obese Patients



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today its proposal to clarify its policies for Medicare coverage of bariatric surgery as a treatment for beneficiaries with type 2 (or non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.



Following an extensive evidence review, CMS proposes to revise its existing coverage policy for bariatric surgery. The proposed decision notes that type 2 diabetes is one of the co-morbidities CMS would consider in determining whether bariatric surgery would be covered for a Medicare beneficiary who is morbidly obese. An individual with a body-mass index (BMI) of at least 35 is considered morbidly obese.





To read the CMS Press release issued today (11/07/08) click here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp



Today’s proposed decision memorandum is available on CMS’ Coverage Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/coverage.asp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



5. CMS Issues Improper Payment Rates for Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP



CMS today reported it protected roughly $400 million of taxpayer dollars as improper payments for Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) decreased from 3.9 percent in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 to 3.6 percent, or $10.4 billion, in FY 2008. The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP improper payment rates are issued annually as part of the HHS Agency Financial Report.



In addition to improved Medicare FFS payments for FY 2008, CMS reports its first Medicare Advantage improper payment rate of 10.6 percent, or $6.8 billion, in payments made in Calendar Year (CY) 2006. Also being reported for the first time are the FY 2007 national composite error rates for Medicaid and for SCHIP. The Medicaid composite error rate is 10.5 percent, or $32.7 billion of which the federal share is $18.6 billion, and, for SCHIP, the rate is 14.7 percent, or $1.2 billion, with a federal share of $0.8 billion.



To read the complete CMS Press release issued today (11/07/08) click here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



6. New Institutional NCCI Edits to Be Applied to Claims



NCCI edits are updated quarterly and the institutional version is one calendar quarter behind the physician version. In the past, the Outpatient Code Editor (OCE) has not applied the NCCI edits for the following categories of services: anesthesiology, evaluation and management, and mental health services. Effective 1/1/09, these categorical exclusions will be removed and there will be a large number of new institutional NCCI edits applied to claims. These institutional NCCI edits will be available on or about 1/1/09 on the following CMS Website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/NCCIEHOPPS/list.asp#TopOfPage .



To review the types of NCCI edits that were previously excluded from the institutional version but are currently included in the physician version for these categories, refer to the NCCI files on the following site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/NCCIEP/list.asp#TopOfPage . One may use anesthesiology, evaluation and management, or mental health services CPT or Level II HCPCS codes to search these files. A subset of the corresponding edits in the physician version is being added to the institutional version. Consistent with longstanding practice, CMS makes specific decisions about NCCI edits that are appropriate for facilities, incorporating comments on potential edits from relevant professional associations and, therefore, the institutional NCCI edits may differ from the physician NCCI edits.



Affected providers should begin immediately to educate their staff about the application of the additional categories of NCCI edits to their claims. Note that at this time no additional providers will be subject to NCCI edits.

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7. Medicare Publishes New Information on Quality of Care at Dialysis Facilities



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced important additions to the Dialysis Facility Compare consumer Web site (http://www.medicare.gov/dialysis) that will give consumers even better insight into the quality of care provided by their local dialysis patient facilities. The improvements include two new quality measures that demonstrate how well dialysis patients are treated for anemia (low red blood cell count) as well as updated information that will help patients better understand survival rates by facility.



Dialysis Facility Compare links consumers with detailed information about the 4,700 dialysis facilities certified by Medicare, and allows users to compare facilities in a geographic region. Users can review information about the size of the facility, the types of dialysis offered, the facilities’ ownership, and whether the facility offers evening treatment shifts. Consumers can also compare dialysis facilities based on three key quality measures— how well patients at a facility have their anemia under control, how well patients at a facility have waste removed from their blood during dialysis, and whether the patients treated at a facility generally live as long as expected. Dialysis Facility Compare also links users to resources that support family members and specialized groups of kidney patients.



“Dialysis Facility Compare is yet another tool that equips consumers with the tools they need to seek better, value-based health care,” said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. “Adding more information on the Dialysis Facility Compare Web site about anemia—a condition that affects many dialysis patients—and patient survival will help us all learn more about how well the country’s dialysis facilities are serving Medicare beneficiaries and the entire health care system.”



Dialysis Facility Compare has featured information about anemia control since the Web site was launched in 2001. Historically, the Web site has shown the percentage of patients in a facility whose hematocrit levels were at 33 percent or more (or hemoglobin levels of 11 g/dL or more), based on clinical practice guidelines at the time. However, recent evidence about increased risk of certain adverse events associated with the use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), which are used to treat anemia, has raised concerns about patients who hemogloblin levels are too high as well as patients whose hemoglobin levels are too low. The Food and Drug Administration has responded by requiring manufacturers to develop a Medication Guide and to ensure that this information is provided to patients. As a result, Dialysis Facility Compare will now feature two anemia measures—one measure will show the percentage of patients whose hemoglobin levels are considered too low (i.e., below 10 g/dL) and a second measure will show the percentage of patients whose hemoglobin levels are considered too high (i.e., above 12 g/dL).



“These two new measures better reflect recent medical evidence about the challenges of managing anemia,” said CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the agency’s Office of Clinical Standards & Quality, Barry Straube, M.D. “Our new measures will help patients and health care providers to better understand how a facility’s patients are treated for anemia, a condition for which studies have shown that over- and under-treatment can affect patients’ health status and quality of life.”



In addition to adding new information about anemia treatment, CMS has also updated the way it reports patient survival rates on Dialysis Facility Compare. Since 2001, CMS has reported survival rates by comparing a facility's expected patient survival rate to its actual patient survival rate. (The expected survival rate takes into account the patients’ personal characteristics, health, and dialysis history. The actual survival rate is the rate each facility reports to CMS about how many patients have survived in a given timeframe.) Facilities’ survival rates were then rated as belonging to one of three categories: “Better than Expected” (by 20 percent or more), “As Expected” or “Worse than Expected” (by 20 percent or more). This method of calculating patient survival resulted in a finding of “As Expected” for 94 percent of dialysis facilities nationwide, with only 3 percent in the “Better” or “Worse” categories, respectively.



To help consumers make better distinctions among facilities’ survival rates, CMS updated the statistical method it used to classify facilities in the three categories. While consumers will continue to see facilities placed into one of these categories, they will find fewer facilities in the “As Expected” category, and more facilities in the “Better” or “Worse” categories.



These enhancements are only one part of CMS’ plans to improve the quality of care in America’s dialysis facilities. Earlier this year, CMS revised its conditions for coverage regulations for the first time in over 30 years, which updated the health and safety standards that dialysis facilities must meet to receive Medicare coverage. A key element of this regulation was the development of a new Web-based data entry framework for dialysis facilities nationwide, which will eventually provide substantially more detailed information for consumers as part of Dialysis Facility Compare. CMS is also working to implement a value-based purchasing program to pay for dialysis services, which will reward facilities for providing high-quality, efficient, and effective care.



The Dialysis Facility Compare Web site can be viewed at www.medicare.gov/dialysis. Other provider compare Websites are available through www.medicare.gov or directly at www.medicare.gov/HHCompare for information about home health agencies and nursing homes. For information on hospitals, visit www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. CMS also provides comparative resources about Medicare Advantage (www.medicare.gov/MPPF) and Medicare prescription drug plans (www.medicare.gov/MPDPF).

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8. Gustave and Ike Waivers Expire



In September 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance that discussed the statutory requirement under Medicare’s Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) benefit for a 3-day prior hospital stay, and the inability of beneficiaries who were evacuated or transferred as a result of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike to meet this requirement. This guidance provided temporary emergency coverage of SNF services that are not post-hospital SNF services under our authority in section 1812(f) of the Social Security Act (the Act), for those beneficiaries who are evacuated, transferred, or otherwise dislocated as a result of the hurricanes.



In addition, for beneficiaries who (prior to the hurricanes) had been recently discharged from an SNF after utilizing some or all of their available SNF benefits, this guidance addressed the inability to meet the requirement to end an existing Medicare benefit period (or “spell of illness”) before renewing SNF benefits. Under the authority of section 1812(f) of the Social Security Act (the Act), this policy enabled such beneficiaries to receive up to an additional 100 days of SNF Part A benefits for care needed as a result of the hurricanes, without first having to end a spell of illness by being discharged to custodial or non-institutional care for a 60-day period.



Unlike the general waivers issued in response to the hurricanes under the authority of section 1135 of the Act, these two SNF-related policies were not limited to States designated as emergency areas. Rather, they would apply to all beneficiaries who were evacuated from an emergency area as a result of the hurricanes, regardless of where the “host” SNF providing post-hurricane care was located. In addition, these two SNF‑related policies would remain in effect until such time as CMS issued a notification that normal procedures would resume.



We hereby announce the termination of these SNF-related policies concurrently with the 90-day expiration of the Public Health Emergencies (PHEs) declared for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The waivers and modifications granted under the section 1135 waiver authority also terminate concurrently with the expiration of the PHEs. The expiration dates for the PHEs are shown below. Accordingly, effective with SNF admissions occurring on or after the termination dates listed below, the Internet-Only Manual instructions for determining compliance with the SNF benefit’s prior hospitalization and benefit period requirements shall apply.



Finally, all program policies and Questions and Answers that implemented modifications to program requirements under the section 1135 waiver authority for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are no longer applicable on and after the dates stated below. Therefore, claims with dates of service on or after the termination dates cited below will follow all normal program requirements.



Hurricane(s) State(s) §1812(f)/1135 Waiver Term. Dates



Gustav Mississippi, Alabama November 29, 2008



Gustav and Ike Texas December 10, 2008



Gustav and Ike Louisiana December 12, 2008

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9. New From the Medicare Learning Network



The Adult Immunizations (October 2008) brochure for health care providers has been updated and is now available in downloadable PDF format from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Learning Network. This brochure provides an overview of Medicare’s coverage of influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines and their administration. To view, download, and print, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Adult_Immunization.pdf on the CMS website.

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10. November Flu Shot Reminder



Flu season is here! Medicare patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu shot, including—“It causes the flu"; "I don’t need it"; "It has side effects"; "It’s not effective"; "I didn’t think about it"; "I don’t like needles!” The fact is that every year in the United States, on average, about 36,000 people die from influenza. Greater than 90 percent of these deaths occur in individuals 65 years of age and older. You can help your Medicare patients overcome these odds and their personal barriers through patient education. Talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of getting an annual flu shot--and don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect yourself, your patients, and your family and friends. Get Your Flu Shot – Not the Flu. Remember - Influenza vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered drug.



For information about Medicare’s coverage of the influenza virus vaccine and its administration as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf on the CMS website. To download the Medicare Part B Immunization Billing quick reference chart, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/qr_immun_bill.pdf on the CMS website. A copy of this quick reference chart can be ordered, free of charge, by going to the MLN Products web page and clicking on “MLN Product Ordering Page” in the Related Links Inside CMS section of the web page.

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11. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs



Do You Know Someone Who Is Having Trouble Paying For Prescription Drugs?

Medicare Can Help!



If an individual has limited income and resources, they may qualify for extra help from Medicare. It could be worth over $3,300 in savings on prescription drug costs per year.
Encourage people with Medicare to file for Extra Help online: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1020/main.html or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to apply over the phone.
State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) offices can assist with the application. Find contact information for a local SHIP Counselor at http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/static/allStateContacts.asp or by calling
1-800-MEDICARE.

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Lucretia James

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Region VIII

1600 Broadway, Suite 700

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 844-1568

lucretia.james@cms.hhs.gov

North Dakota Adoption Celebration

NEWS from the North Dakota Department of Human Services

600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck ND 58505-0250



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 22, 2008



Contacts: Julie Hoffman, Adoption Services Administrator, Children and Family Services Division, N.D. Dept. of Human Services, (office) 701-328-4805 or (cell) 701-391-4692, or Heather Steffl, Public Information Officer, N.D. Dept. of Human Services, (office)

701-328-4933 or (cell) 701-527-7445.



Families and Individuals recognized at Adoption Celebration



BISMARCK, N.D. – Governor John Hoeven and First Lady Mikey Hoeven, adoption advocates, adoption agency staff, and families honored five families and four individuals at the 2008 Adoption Celebration on November 22, in Fargo. North Dakota licensed child placing agencies and the N.D. Department of Human Services co-hosted the event to honor exemplary individuals and to raise awareness about adoption and the North Dakota foster children who are waiting to be adopted.



“Mikey and I are pleased to help honor these inspiring families and individuals for their commitment to children,” said Hoeven.



Honored event participants included Jared and Nicole Anderson and their sons Owen, Solomon, and Abram of Fargo, N.D. They received the Multicultural Award for their efforts to nurture the cultural heritage of their sons who are from African countries. The Jeremy and Michelle Zaun family of Cooperstown, N.D. received the 2008 Special Needs Adoptive Family of the Year Award. The Zauns, who became licensed foster parents in 2005, are the parents of eight children, including five adopted from the foster care system, and are also the guardians for two other children who reside with them. They advocate for the needs of their children and appreciate the ongoing support of friends, family, and their community. The Zauns also continue to provide foster care for children in need.



The Ron and Billie Jo Nelson family of West Fargo, N.D., received the Foster/Adopt Family of the Year 2008 Award. The Nelsons have two birth children and have adopted five other children. They served as foster parents for three of these children. Their adopted children include a group of four siblings.



Brent and Carla Boen of Strandquist, Minn., and birth mother Carissa of Warsaw, N.D., shared the Adoption Triad Award for their efforts to maintain an ongoing, open relationship following an infant adoption.



Event organizers also selected three individuals and one family to receive the Adoption Advocate Award in recognition of their dedicated work on behalf of children and families. Award recipients included Mary Pat Jahner, the resident director of St. Gianna’s Maternity Home in Warsaw, N.D., who works to provide shelter, medical care, counseling, job skills, parenting support and training, and educational support to pregnant women and their children. Janet Gregory, of Grand Forks, N.D., an attorney and advocate for special needs adoptions, was honored for her expertise in special needs adoptions and work to bring families together.



Linda Kadlec, the assistant regional supervisor for Children and Family Services at Lake Region Human Service Center in Devils Lake, N.D., was honored for her team work and for her focus on advocacy, concurrent planning, and establishing permanency for children as quickly as possible. The Colin and Shelle Moran family of West Fargo, N.D., was recognized for their advocacy of adoption and the support they provide to other adoptive families. As an adoptive family, they have formed a community support group that serves families waiting to adopt, adoptive families, and adopted children.



In addition to the state awards, Jason and Dana Mitzel of West Fargo, N.D., and Jefferie and Julie Hoffman of Bismarck, N.D. were also recognized. The Mitzels and Hoffmans received the 2008 Angels in Adoption Award, presented in September by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. The Mitzels were the 2007 North Dakota Special Needs Adoptive Family of the Year, and the Hoffmans are adoptive parents, and Julie has served families as the state’s adoption administrator for over a decade.



Last year in North Dakota, 100 children were adopted from the state’s public foster care system; and 172 other adoptions were finalized. These involved stepchildren, healthy infants, and children from other countries. The need for foster and adoptive families is ongoing, and currently 19 foster children are waiting to be adopted in North Dakota.



Families and individuals interested in exploring adoption can contact a state-licensed child-placement agency in North Dakota. Agency information is available at www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childfamily/adoption/agencies.html. Placement agencies provide services including family recruitment, preparation and assessment, child preparation and placement, and post-placement support.



For adoption and foster care information, visit the Department of Human Services’ Children and Family Services Division Web site at http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childfamily, or call 701-328-2316, or 1-800-245-3736, or e-mail dhscfs@nd.gov.



The Frank O. Becker Endowment Fund, a component of the North Dakota Community Foundation, provided the funding for the celebration.



# # #

US Education Review

ED REVIEW
November 21, 2008

...a bi-weekly update on U.S. Department of Education activities relevant to the Intergovernmental and Corporate community and other stakeholders
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STUDENT LOAN ACCESS

With lenders currently committing loan volume to colleges and universities for the upcoming school year, Secretary Spellings and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson detailed their experience and success at improving the functioning of the loan marketplace and providing liquidity and stability in the near term under the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA) and outlined additional action to implement the extended ECASLA. For the current school year, the law's programs have been largely successful. Loan originations are exceeding last year's pace: in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), there have been $41.8 billion in originations through October 31, compared to $39 billion at this time last year, while in the federal Direct Loan program, there have been $17.9 billion in originations, versus $12 billion at this time last year. Also, lenders are strongly utilizing the Education Department's participation interest and loan purchase programs: 19 lenders have been approved for the Purchase of Participation Interests program, in which the agency purchases a 100% interest in pools of loans held by a custodian, providing near-term liquidity to lenders; 12 lenders have made use of this program and have, through October 31, received $8.7 billion in payments, representing 50% of current disbursements; and, under the separate loan purchase program, two lenders have sold $62 million in loans to the agency. For the upcoming school year, the Department will replicate the participation interest and loan purchase programs. Terms and conditions are anticipated to be largely consistent with the prior year's programs, although the Administration may need to refine the pricing and terms of these programs to ensure that they result in no net cost to the federal government. Also, the Administration intends to provide liquidity support to one or more conforming Asset-Backed Commercial Paper conduits. These conduits will purchase FFELP loans, supplying longer-term stability in the marketplace. The Department intends to make all fully distributed, non-consolidated FFELP loans awarded between October 1, 2003, and July 1, 2009, eligible for this program. (Update: Until these conduits are operational, or until February 28, 2009, whichever comes first, the Department will also purchase certain 2007-08 FFELP loans, to minimize disruptions in the interim period -- see http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11202008.html.) Meanwhile, the agency has taken the steps necessary to ensure the Lender of Last Resort program is ready, should it be needed. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11082008.html.

Other student loan news:
Secretary Spellings and Undersecretary Sara Martinez Tucker (see below) recently presented to Congress the Department's plan for a "rational approach to federal student aid." It includes: a simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); a federal student aid target that sets the maximum amount of federal subsidized aid (grants and subsidized loans) the neediest student could receive; a federal student aid commitment that determines a specific student's eligibility; and the consolidation of programs into single grant (Pell), loan (subsidized loan, unsubsidized loan, and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students in both the FFELP and Direct Loan programs), and work-study (Federal Work-Study) programs. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.newamerica.net/blog/files/A%20Rational%20Approach%20to%20Federal%20Student%20Aid%20-%20Final.doc.
Undersecretary Tucker announced she was leaving her position to return home to California. The Department's General Counsel, Kent Talbert, will be delegated the responsibilities of the Undersecretary. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11122008.html.
The latest Education News Parents Can Use broadcast (archived at http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/) explored the issue of paying for college and advocated using federal aid first.
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USING TECHNOLOGY

The Secretary's new white paper about technology, "Harnessing Innovation to Support Student Success: Using Technology to Personalize Education," gives the "lessons learned" from three roundtable discussions (held over the past 18 months) with representatives from across the education and technology landscape, from teachers to executives, and a roundtable discussion with students. The conversations were frank and informative, with a view into the potential and the challenges of employing technology to help transform education. Participants identified five key areas where federal, state, and local governments can better collaborate: (1) online learning and virtual schools, (2) transforming data into knowledge and action, (3) broadband connectivity, (4) research efficacy and impact, and (5) school leadership and professional preparation. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/reports/roundtable.html.
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NCLB UPDATE

On November 19, the Secretary announced the release of the "Reading First Impact Study: Final Report." This report, a follow-up to April's interim study, presents an additional year of data (from 2006-07) on student reading comprehension and classroom instruction in 248 schools (125 Reading First schools and 123 non-Reading First schools) and information on the impact of the program on first-grade students' decoding skills. While the report found no statistically significant difference in reading comprehension, Reading First had a significant impact on students' decoding, phonics, and fluency skills -- three of the five basic components of reading. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20094038.asp AND http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/reading/readingfirst-report.html.

The Department has unveiled the full slate of 2008 American Stars of Teaching award winners -- one from each state and the District of Columbia. These outstanding classroom teachers, across all disciplines and grade levels, were honored this fall with special assemblies for improving student achievement and using innovative strategies to make a difference in the lives of their students. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/Prior.asp.

The Achiever newsletter (http://www.ed.gov/achiever/), now available solely online, focuses on how successful schools across the U.S. are working toward the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act: to have every student reading and doing math at grade-level by 2014. The latest story spotlights a Philadelphia magnet middle school -- one of 320 schools honored with a Blue Ribbon School award -- where eighth-grade performance at the "advanced" level (the highest of four levels on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) has increased from 29% in 2004 to 77% in 2008 in reading and from 13% in 2004 to 67% in 2008 in math.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Although the Department is operating under a continuing resolution, several new grant competitions are in progress. For example, the Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program awards grants to states to enable them to pay all or a portion of AP test fees on behalf of eligible low-income students who are enrolled in an AP course and intend to take an AP exam. Only states are eligible to apply. Applications are due December 15. And, the Transition to Teaching Grant Program funds the development and expansion of alternative routes to full state teacher certification and the recruitment and retention of highly qualified mid-career professionals, recent college graduates who have not majored in education, and paraprofessionals to teach in high-need schools operated by high-need school districts. States, high-need districts, and partnerships of states, districts, and for- and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. A notice of intent to apply is due December 15. Applications are due January 21, 2009. http://www.ed.gov/GrantApps/ lists all competitions that are currently underway, with links to electronic application packages, forms, and other information.
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SURVEY DATA

Don't miss these insightful reports, based on survey data:

"Community Service and Service-Learning in America's Schools 2008" (http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/role_impact/performance_research.asp#LSA_2008), from the Corporation for National and Community Service, finds 68% of all K-12 schools offered or recognized service opportunities for their students, up from 64% in a similar study conducted in 1999. High schools are especially supportive of community service, with a whopping 86% recognizing student service, up from 83% in 1999. However, while school-based community service has remained robust, the percentage of schools with service learning has declined from 32% in 1999 to 24% in 2008.
"National Survey of Student Engagement: 2008 Results" (http://nsse.iub.edu/NSSE_2008_Results/), from Indiana University's Center for Postsecondary Research, summarizes the views of 380,000 first-year and senior students at 722 four-year colleges and universities on five benchmarks: (1) level of academic challenge, (2) active and collaborative learning, (3) student-faculty interaction, (4) enriching education experiences, and (5) supportive campus environment. A primary conclusion? The quality of undergraduate education varies far more within institutions than between them.
"Open Doors 2008" (http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/), published annually by the Institute of International Education, reports on Americans studying abroad and international students in the U.S. During the 2006-07 school year, 241,791 Americans studied abroad -- an increase of 8.5% from 2005-06. The leading destinations were the United Kingdom (14.6% of total), Italy (12.5%), and Spain (10.7%). Ecuador (+29.6% change from previous year), South Africa (+28%), and Argentina (+26.2%) reported the largest percentage increases. On the other hand, during the 2006-07 school year, 623,805 international students studied in the U.S. -- an increase of 7% from 2005-06. The top sending countries of origin were India (15.2% of total), China (13%), and South Korea (11.1%), while Vietnam (+45.3% change from previous year), Saudi Arabia (+25.2%), and China (+19.8%) reported the largest percentage increases.
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USA LEARNS

On November 7, the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) officially launched USA Learns (http://www.usalearns.org/), a web site providing the approximately 11 million adults who have low levels of English proficiency with accessible and free English language training. The launch of the site completes one of the goals in President Bush's August 2007 announcement of 26 immigration reforms his Administration would pursue within existing law, including the assimilation of new citizens and helping immigrants learn English to expand their opportunities in America. Upon entering the site, users can choose directions in either English or Spanish and then pick which level they need: beginner or immediate. Once inside the modules, the instruction is almost exclusively in English. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11072008.html.
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QUOTE TO NOTE

"Today, no group is embracing new technologies more than our young people. More than eight out of 10 teenagers, including my own daughters, report having helped a struggling adult to do something online that the adult could not do for him or herself. But, many students will tell you that when it comes to technology, school is the least advanced part of their day. Our country has done a great job of wiring our classrooms, but we have yet to realize technology's potential to transform the way education is defined and delivered…. Harvard economists Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz note in their recent book, The Race Between Education and Technology, that 'in the first half of the century, education raced ahead of technology, but, later in the century, technology raced ahead of educational gains.' It's high time to balance the equation by using technology to amplify educational opportunity."

-- Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings (11/14/08), announcing a new white paper on technology on the blog Eduwonk.com
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UPCOMING EVENTS

December 5 is International Volunteer Day, an opportunity for individual volunteers and volunteer organizations to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Among those goals are combating disease, hunger, illiteracy, poverty, discrimination against women, and environmental degradation. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/.

In December, the Department will be exhibiting at the Association for Career and Technical Education's Annual Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (December 4-6). If you are attending this event, please stop by the Department's booth.
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Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs -- Rogers Johnson, (202) 401-0026, mailto:Rogers.Johnson@ed.gov
Deputy Director -- Keith Brancato, (202) 401-6178, mailto:Keith.Brancato@ed.gov
Program Analyst -- Adam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, mailto:Adam.Honeysett@ed.gov
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!),
contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/.

This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.