May 20, 2010
MEETING NOTICE
Senator Tony S. Grindberg, Chairman, has called a meeting of the WORKFORCE COMMITTEE.
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Prairie Room, Student Union, Bismarck State College, Bismarck
Agenda: Committee participation in the Workforce Training Forum being conducted by the State Board
of Higher Education as part of the study of the status of the training activities provided by the
four institutions of higher education assigned primary responsibility for workforce training in the
state required under Section 2 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2019
Special Note: Anyone who plans to attend the meeting and needs assistance because of a disability
should contact the Legislative Council staff as soon as possible.
Committee Members: Senators Tony S. Grindberg, Tim Flakoll, Ray Holmberg, Karen K. Krebsbach,
Dave Nething, Larry J. Robinson, Mac Schneider, Tom Seymour, Ryan M. Taylor;
Representatives Donald L. Clark, Eliot Glassheim, Nancy Johnson, Lee Kaldor, Lisa Meier,
Corey Mock, Lee Myxter, Michael R. Nathe, Ken Svedjan, Clark Williams
Staff Contact: Jennifer S. N. Clark, Counsel
Any member unable to attend this meeting is asked to notify this office as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Jim W. Smith
Director
JWS/JFB
Professor Emeritus -- Dr. Tom Seymour from West Fargo, North Dakota -- Professor, Minot State University, MSU Faculty Regents Award (2015) -- PAST Peer Reviewer (Higher Learning Commission - Chicago); - Author and Presenter Board of Directors, SRT Communications, Inc and Minot City Alderman - Ward 5 (2010-June, 2016) PAST - Editor-in-Chief (North Dakota State Senator (2002-2010) 2017-Cass County Electric Cooperative- Board of Directors
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
North Dakota Legislative Workforce Committee to meet in Fargo
NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT
Tentative Agenda
WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Room 370, Richard H. Barry Hall, North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the previous meetings
Comments by Chairman Tony S. Grindberg
9:15 a.m. Welcome by Mr. Craig Whitney, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Fargo
Moorhead
9:30 a.m. Presentation by Mr. Eric Johnson, CEO, Avenet, regarding the eFolio web-based
portfolio management system
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Comments by representatives of the North Dakota University System regarding:
• eFolio;
• TrainND--the workforce training quadrant program; and
• Resident and nonresident students
11:15 a.m. Presentation by Mr. Jim Hirsch, Director, Division of Workforce Development,
Department of Commerce, regarding an update on the activities of the North Dakota
Workforce Development Council
Presentation by Mr. Hirsch and Ms. Maren Daley, Executive Director, Job Service North
Dakota, providing an update on the Workforce 20/20 program
12:00 noon Luncheon recess
1:00 p.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff regarding the results of the survey of
center of excellence private sector partners
1:15 p.m. Presentation by Mr. Shane C. Goettle, Commissioner, Department of Commerce,
regarding the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation's strategic plan for
economic development and related accountability standards, measurements, and
benchmarks to evaluate the Department of Commerce's effectiveness of implementing
the strategic plan
Presentation by Mr. Goettle and Mr. Thomas P. Miller, Thomas P. Miller and
Associates, regarding the Department of Commerce and Centers of Excellence
Commission best practices review of the centers of excellence program
2:30 p.m. Presentation by Mr. G. Michael Alder, Chairman, National Centers of Excellence,
regarding an overview of national best practices for centers of excellence
3:30 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives
4:00 p.m. Adjourn
2
Committee Members
Senators Tony S. Grindberg (Chairman), Tim Flakoll, Ray Holmberg, Karen K. Krebsbach, Dave
Nething, Larry J. Robinson, Mac Schneider, Tom Seymour, Ryan M. Taylor
Representatives Donald L. Clark, Eliot Glassheim, Nancy Johnson, Lee Kaldor, Lisa Meier, Corey
Mock, Lee Myxter, Michael R. Nathe, Ken Svedjan, Clark Williams
Staff Contact: Jennifer S. N. Clark, Counsel
Tentative Agenda
WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Room 370, Richard H. Barry Hall, North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the previous meetings
Comments by Chairman Tony S. Grindberg
9:15 a.m. Welcome by Mr. Craig Whitney, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Fargo
Moorhead
9:30 a.m. Presentation by Mr. Eric Johnson, CEO, Avenet, regarding the eFolio web-based
portfolio management system
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Comments by representatives of the North Dakota University System regarding:
• eFolio;
• TrainND--the workforce training quadrant program; and
• Resident and nonresident students
11:15 a.m. Presentation by Mr. Jim Hirsch, Director, Division of Workforce Development,
Department of Commerce, regarding an update on the activities of the North Dakota
Workforce Development Council
Presentation by Mr. Hirsch and Ms. Maren Daley, Executive Director, Job Service North
Dakota, providing an update on the Workforce 20/20 program
12:00 noon Luncheon recess
1:00 p.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff regarding the results of the survey of
center of excellence private sector partners
1:15 p.m. Presentation by Mr. Shane C. Goettle, Commissioner, Department of Commerce,
regarding the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation's strategic plan for
economic development and related accountability standards, measurements, and
benchmarks to evaluate the Department of Commerce's effectiveness of implementing
the strategic plan
Presentation by Mr. Goettle and Mr. Thomas P. Miller, Thomas P. Miller and
Associates, regarding the Department of Commerce and Centers of Excellence
Commission best practices review of the centers of excellence program
2:30 p.m. Presentation by Mr. G. Michael Alder, Chairman, National Centers of Excellence,
regarding an overview of national best practices for centers of excellence
3:30 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives
4:00 p.m. Adjourn
2
Committee Members
Senators Tony S. Grindberg (Chairman), Tim Flakoll, Ray Holmberg, Karen K. Krebsbach, Dave
Nething, Larry J. Robinson, Mac Schneider, Tom Seymour, Ryan M. Taylor
Representatives Donald L. Clark, Eliot Glassheim, Nancy Johnson, Lee Kaldor, Lisa Meier, Corey
Mock, Lee Myxter, Michael R. Nathe, Ken Svedjan, Clark Williams
Staff Contact: Jennifer S. N. Clark, Counsel
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
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. Update on Claims Processing for Ordering/Referring Providers
2. The 2010 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey -- Time Is Running Out!!
3. Affordable Care Act – Provisions Impacting Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems (OPPS) Hospitals
4. Important message regarding Medicare's implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
5. Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) Public Meeting Agenda for Durable Medical Equipment
6. Medicare’s Home Health Pay for Performance Demonstration Year 1 Incentive Payments Issued
7. Newly-Released MLN Matters Article Regarding Changes to Medicare Claims Submission Requirements
8. New from the Medicare Learning Network
9. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Update on Claims Processing for Ordering/Referring Providers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will delay until January 3, 2011, the implementation of Phase 2 of Change Request (CR) 6417 (Expansion of the Current Scope of Editing for Ordering/Referring Providers for Claims Processed by Medicare Carriers and Part B Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)) and CR 6421 (Expansion of the Current Scope of Editing for Ordering/Referring Providers for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Supplier Claims Processed by Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs)).
This delay will give physicians and non-physician practitioners who order items or services for Medicare beneficiaries or who refer Medicare beneficiaries to other Medicare providers or suppliers sufficient time to enroll in Medicare or take the action necessary to establish a current enrollment record in Medicare prior to Phase 2 implementation.
Although enrolled in Medicare, many physicians and non-physician practitioners who are eligible to order items or services or refer Medicare beneficiaries to other Medicare providers or suppliers for services do not have current enrollment records in Medicare. A current enrollment record is one that is in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) and contains the National Provider Identifier (NPI). Under Phase 2 of the above referenced CRs, a physician or non-physician practitioner who orders or refers and who does not have a current enrollment record that contains the NPI will cause the claim submitted by the Part B provider/supplier who furnished the ordered or referred item or service to be rejected.
CMS continues to urge physicians and non-physician practitioners who are enrolled in Medicare but who have not updated their Medicare enrollment record since November 2003 to update their enrollment record now. If these physicians and non-physician practitioners have no changes to their enrollment data, they need to submit an initial enrollment application which will establish a current enrollment record in PECOS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. The 2010 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey -- Time Is Running Out!!
Time Is Running Out – Have You Responded?
Your opportunity to participate in the 2010 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) is quickly coming to an end and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) still needs your feedback. If you or your office received notification from CMS that you were randomly selected to participate in the 2010 MCPSS, this is your last chance to respond before the survey closes. Your feedback is very important. The MCPSS is your opportunity to tell us about your satisfaction with the services you receive from the Medicare contractor that processes and pays your fee-for-service Medicare claims.
Completion of the survey is quick and easy. It only takes a few minutes of your time. To respond to the survey or to designate a proxy respondent to complete it on your behalf, please call the MCPSS Provider Helpline today at 1-800-835-7012, or send an email to mcpss@scimetrika.com. A representative from the MCPSS team will be happy to assist you.
We assure you we will not provide information that identifies you or your practice or facility to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law.
If you have already responded to the 2010 MCPSS, thank you. If you have not, don’t pass up this golden opportunity to let your voice be heard. Time is running out… please respond today!
Please Note: Only providers and suppliers who have been randomly selected and notified can participate in the 2010 MCPSS. A new random sample of providers and suppliers is selected annually to participate in the MCPSS study.
For more information about the MCPSS, please visit the CMS MCPSS website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcpss, or read the CMS MLN Matters Special Edition article, SE1005, at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1005.pdf featuring the survey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Affordable Care Act – Provisions Impacting Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems (OPPS) Hospitals
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 3401(i) of the ACA imposes a 0.25 percentage point reduction to the OPPS market basket for Calendar Year (CY) 2010, effective for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working to expeditiously implement Section 3401(i) of ACA. Providers will begin seeing payments under this provision in the late May/early June time frame. Be on the alert for more information about this provision and its impact on past and future claims.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Important message regarding Medicare's implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
“On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One week later, on March 30, the President also signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. These two new laws have a significant impact on the Medicare program and many of the provisions have effective dates prior to this point in time. Over the past several weeks, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun implementing various provisions of the new laws, including those with past effective dates. In addition to implementing these legislative changes, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is being updated to include certain corrections, retroactive to January 1, 2010, as prescribed in recently published notices in the Federal Register.
Once Medicare contractors have the new payment files in place, per the above, all claims going forward will be processed at the revised rates. However, we continue to work on the best way to address the many claims that are paid at the rates that were in place before the current corrections and updates are made. Please be on the alert for further information about how CMS will address past claims. Until then, providers should NOT resubmit previously-processed claims affected by the payment changes, as it is likely that these resubmissions may be denied as duplicate claims.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) Public Meeting Agenda for Durable Medical Equipment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is pleased to announce the scheduled release of the June 8, 2010 HCPCS Public Meeting Agenda for Durable Medical Equipment. This document and the link for the corresponding public meeting registration are located on the HCPCS website at http://www.cms.gov/MedHCPCSGenInfo/08_HCPCSPublicMeetings.asp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Medicare’s Home Health Pay for Performance Demonstration Year 1 Incentive Payments Issued
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it is sharing more than $15 million in savings with 166 home health agencies (HHAs) based on their performance during the first year of the Medicare Home Health Pay for Performance (HHP4P) demonstration. The 2-year demonstration, which began in January 2008 and ended in December 2009, was undertaken to show the impact of financial incentives on the quality of care provided to home health patients in traditional fee-for-service Medicare and their overall Medicare costs. Savings in the program are being shared with agencies that either maintained high levels of quality or made significant improvements in quality of care. This demonstration is part of CMS' value-based purchasing initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of care furnished to Medicare beneficiaries.
All Medicare-certified home health agencies in seven states representing four U.S. census regions were invited to participate in the demonstration. The Northeast region included HHAs in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the South included HHAs in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, and the Midwest and West regions included HHAs in Illinois and California, respectively. HHAs that volunteered were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Performance was measured using seven home health quality measures that are computed from the Outcome-Based Quality Improvement (OBQI) data set and are currently publicly reported on the Home Health Compare Web site. Each measure evaluated the performance of the HHA’s for the quality and efficiency of care provided to traditional Medicare patients. Each HHA in the intervention group was compared only to other intervention agencies within the same state. For each measure, HHAs that ranked by performance in the top 20 percent in their state, as well as those demonstrating the greatest degree of quality improvement, were eligible to share in Medicare savings generated in their region.
Medicare savings for the demonstration were determined by comparing total Medicare costs for beneficiaries receiving care from the intervention group’s HHAs with the costs for beneficiaries served by the control groups HHAs in the same region. These costs include Medicare payments for home health care, inpatient hospital care, nursing home and rehabilitation facility care, outpatient care, physician care, durable medical equipment (DME), and hospice care. If no savings were generated in a region, no incentive payments were made in that region. Results for calendar year 2008, the first year of the demonstration, indicated an aggregate Medicare savings of $15.4 million for three of the four regions; the Midwest region did not achieve any savings.
Year 1 incentive payments are being made to 59 percent of the HHAs in the intervention group based on their performance and improvement on the seven various quality measures. In addition to the number of quality measures for which they qualify for an incentive payment, the amount of the incentive paid to an individual HHA is also based on the total number of Medicare patient days associated with that HHA. CMS will calculate savings and determine which HHAs are eligible for incentive payments for the second year of the demonstration, calendar year 2009, later this year. In addition, the demonstration is still being evaluated, with results expected later in 2010.
Additional background about this demonstration can be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DemoProjectsEvalRpts/MD/itemdetail.asp?itemID=CMS1189406 .
Questions may be submitted to CMS at: hhp4p@cms.hhs.gov .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Newly-Released MLN Matters Article Regarding Changes to Medicare Claims Submission Requirements
JUST RELEASED: MLN Matters Article #MM6960 - Systems Changes Necessary to Implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Section 6404 – Maximum Period for Submission of Medicare Claims Reduced to Not More Than 12 Months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released MLN Matters Article #MM6960 to advise providers who submit claims to Medicare contractors that, as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2010, received later than one calendar year beyond the date of service will be denied by Medicare. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6960.pdf on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. New from the Medicare Learning Network
JUST RELEASED: MLN Matters Article #MM6960 - Systems Changes Necessary to Implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Section 6404 – Maximum Period for Submission of Medicare Claims Reduced to Not More Than 12 Months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released MLN Matters Article #MM6960 to advise providers who submit claims to Medicare contractors that, as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2010, received later than one calendar year beyond the date of service will be denied by Medicare. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6960.pdf on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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. Update on Claims Processing for Ordering/Referring Providers
2. The 2010 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey -- Time Is Running Out!!
3. Affordable Care Act – Provisions Impacting Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems (OPPS) Hospitals
4. Important message regarding Medicare's implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
5. Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) Public Meeting Agenda for Durable Medical Equipment
6. Medicare’s Home Health Pay for Performance Demonstration Year 1 Incentive Payments Issued
7. Newly-Released MLN Matters Article Regarding Changes to Medicare Claims Submission Requirements
8. New from the Medicare Learning Network
9. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Update on Claims Processing for Ordering/Referring Providers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will delay until January 3, 2011, the implementation of Phase 2 of Change Request (CR) 6417 (Expansion of the Current Scope of Editing for Ordering/Referring Providers for Claims Processed by Medicare Carriers and Part B Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)) and CR 6421 (Expansion of the Current Scope of Editing for Ordering/Referring Providers for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Supplier Claims Processed by Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs)).
This delay will give physicians and non-physician practitioners who order items or services for Medicare beneficiaries or who refer Medicare beneficiaries to other Medicare providers or suppliers sufficient time to enroll in Medicare or take the action necessary to establish a current enrollment record in Medicare prior to Phase 2 implementation.
Although enrolled in Medicare, many physicians and non-physician practitioners who are eligible to order items or services or refer Medicare beneficiaries to other Medicare providers or suppliers for services do not have current enrollment records in Medicare. A current enrollment record is one that is in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) and contains the National Provider Identifier (NPI). Under Phase 2 of the above referenced CRs, a physician or non-physician practitioner who orders or refers and who does not have a current enrollment record that contains the NPI will cause the claim submitted by the Part B provider/supplier who furnished the ordered or referred item or service to be rejected.
CMS continues to urge physicians and non-physician practitioners who are enrolled in Medicare but who have not updated their Medicare enrollment record since November 2003 to update their enrollment record now. If these physicians and non-physician practitioners have no changes to their enrollment data, they need to submit an initial enrollment application which will establish a current enrollment record in PECOS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. The 2010 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey -- Time Is Running Out!!
Time Is Running Out – Have You Responded?
Your opportunity to participate in the 2010 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) is quickly coming to an end and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) still needs your feedback. If you or your office received notification from CMS that you were randomly selected to participate in the 2010 MCPSS, this is your last chance to respond before the survey closes. Your feedback is very important. The MCPSS is your opportunity to tell us about your satisfaction with the services you receive from the Medicare contractor that processes and pays your fee-for-service Medicare claims.
Completion of the survey is quick and easy. It only takes a few minutes of your time. To respond to the survey or to designate a proxy respondent to complete it on your behalf, please call the MCPSS Provider Helpline today at 1-800-835-7012, or send an email to mcpss@scimetrika.com. A representative from the MCPSS team will be happy to assist you.
We assure you we will not provide information that identifies you or your practice or facility to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law.
If you have already responded to the 2010 MCPSS, thank you. If you have not, don’t pass up this golden opportunity to let your voice be heard. Time is running out… please respond today!
Please Note: Only providers and suppliers who have been randomly selected and notified can participate in the 2010 MCPSS. A new random sample of providers and suppliers is selected annually to participate in the MCPSS study.
For more information about the MCPSS, please visit the CMS MCPSS website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcpss, or read the CMS MLN Matters Special Edition article, SE1005, at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1005.pdf featuring the survey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Affordable Care Act – Provisions Impacting Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems (OPPS) Hospitals
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 3401(i) of the ACA imposes a 0.25 percentage point reduction to the OPPS market basket for Calendar Year (CY) 2010, effective for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working to expeditiously implement Section 3401(i) of ACA. Providers will begin seeing payments under this provision in the late May/early June time frame. Be on the alert for more information about this provision and its impact on past and future claims.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Important message regarding Medicare's implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
“On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One week later, on March 30, the President also signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. These two new laws have a significant impact on the Medicare program and many of the provisions have effective dates prior to this point in time. Over the past several weeks, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun implementing various provisions of the new laws, including those with past effective dates. In addition to implementing these legislative changes, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is being updated to include certain corrections, retroactive to January 1, 2010, as prescribed in recently published notices in the Federal Register.
Once Medicare contractors have the new payment files in place, per the above, all claims going forward will be processed at the revised rates. However, we continue to work on the best way to address the many claims that are paid at the rates that were in place before the current corrections and updates are made. Please be on the alert for further information about how CMS will address past claims. Until then, providers should NOT resubmit previously-processed claims affected by the payment changes, as it is likely that these resubmissions may be denied as duplicate claims.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) Public Meeting Agenda for Durable Medical Equipment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is pleased to announce the scheduled release of the June 8, 2010 HCPCS Public Meeting Agenda for Durable Medical Equipment. This document and the link for the corresponding public meeting registration are located on the HCPCS website at http://www.cms.gov/MedHCPCSGenInfo/08_HCPCSPublicMeetings.asp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Medicare’s Home Health Pay for Performance Demonstration Year 1 Incentive Payments Issued
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it is sharing more than $15 million in savings with 166 home health agencies (HHAs) based on their performance during the first year of the Medicare Home Health Pay for Performance (HHP4P) demonstration. The 2-year demonstration, which began in January 2008 and ended in December 2009, was undertaken to show the impact of financial incentives on the quality of care provided to home health patients in traditional fee-for-service Medicare and their overall Medicare costs. Savings in the program are being shared with agencies that either maintained high levels of quality or made significant improvements in quality of care. This demonstration is part of CMS' value-based purchasing initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of care furnished to Medicare beneficiaries.
All Medicare-certified home health agencies in seven states representing four U.S. census regions were invited to participate in the demonstration. The Northeast region included HHAs in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the South included HHAs in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, and the Midwest and West regions included HHAs in Illinois and California, respectively. HHAs that volunteered were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Performance was measured using seven home health quality measures that are computed from the Outcome-Based Quality Improvement (OBQI) data set and are currently publicly reported on the Home Health Compare Web site. Each measure evaluated the performance of the HHA’s for the quality and efficiency of care provided to traditional Medicare patients. Each HHA in the intervention group was compared only to other intervention agencies within the same state. For each measure, HHAs that ranked by performance in the top 20 percent in their state, as well as those demonstrating the greatest degree of quality improvement, were eligible to share in Medicare savings generated in their region.
Medicare savings for the demonstration were determined by comparing total Medicare costs for beneficiaries receiving care from the intervention group’s HHAs with the costs for beneficiaries served by the control groups HHAs in the same region. These costs include Medicare payments for home health care, inpatient hospital care, nursing home and rehabilitation facility care, outpatient care, physician care, durable medical equipment (DME), and hospice care. If no savings were generated in a region, no incentive payments were made in that region. Results for calendar year 2008, the first year of the demonstration, indicated an aggregate Medicare savings of $15.4 million for three of the four regions; the Midwest region did not achieve any savings.
Year 1 incentive payments are being made to 59 percent of the HHAs in the intervention group based on their performance and improvement on the seven various quality measures. In addition to the number of quality measures for which they qualify for an incentive payment, the amount of the incentive paid to an individual HHA is also based on the total number of Medicare patient days associated with that HHA. CMS will calculate savings and determine which HHAs are eligible for incentive payments for the second year of the demonstration, calendar year 2009, later this year. In addition, the demonstration is still being evaluated, with results expected later in 2010.
Additional background about this demonstration can be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DemoProjectsEvalRpts/MD/itemdetail.asp?itemID=CMS1189406 .
Questions may be submitted to CMS at: hhp4p@cms.hhs.gov .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Newly-Released MLN Matters Article Regarding Changes to Medicare Claims Submission Requirements
JUST RELEASED: MLN Matters Article #MM6960 - Systems Changes Necessary to Implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Section 6404 – Maximum Period for Submission of Medicare Claims Reduced to Not More Than 12 Months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released MLN Matters Article #MM6960 to advise providers who submit claims to Medicare contractors that, as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2010, received later than one calendar year beyond the date of service will be denied by Medicare. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6960.pdf on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. New from the Medicare Learning Network
JUST RELEASED: MLN Matters Article #MM6960 - Systems Changes Necessary to Implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Section 6404 – Maximum Period for Submission of Medicare Claims Reduced to Not More Than 12 Months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released MLN Matters Article #MM6960 to advise providers who submit claims to Medicare contractors that, as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2010, received later than one calendar year beyond the date of service will be denied by Medicare. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6960.pdf on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, May 15, 2010
US Education Review
ED REVIEW
May 14, 2010
...a bi-weekly update on U.S. Department of Education activities relevant to the Intergovernmental and Corporate community and other stakeholders
______________________________________________________________________
APPRECIATING TEACHERS
In a series of events during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7), Secretary Duncan honored America’s 7.2 million early learning, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary teachers. On National Teacher Day (May 4), he visited Washington, D.C., schools: Friendship Chamberlain Elementary and Junior Academy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4PkSa0vE8I), where he stopped by special education teacher Stephanie Day’s classroom to congratulate her on being named the 2010 District of Columbia Teacher of the Year, and Houston Elementary School (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XhIACbm8wI), where he dropped in on Mary Riley, a first-grade teacher with 43 years of service, and Tracy Thomas, a fifth-grade teacher with a perfect evaluation score. Next, on May 6, he visited George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXcnywOysmI), where he stopped by the classrooms of Jamie Schraff, a social studies teacher and the 2010 Falls Church City School District Gifted and Talented Teacher of the Year; Karin Tooze, the English Department chairwomen and a former Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award nominee; and Julie Bravin, a foreign language teacher and assistant athletic director who is also a former Agnes Meyer nominee and a former Virginia Coach of the Year. Then, on May 7, he joined Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), in New Orleans for an intimate discussion with about a dozen African-American men, inspired to become teachers after working as Servant Leader Interns in CDF’s Freedom Schools program (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA6pwDul0ow). The Secretary also taped video messages thanking all teachers for their “extraordinary hard work and commitment” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY9lPFeBtr8) and joyfully acknowledging his favorite teacher, Darlene McCampbell, who teaches high school English (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py46EaAscOA). FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/teacher-appreciation-week/.
Also, throughout the spring, the Department’s Teaching Ambassador Fellows (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/awards.html) have been having conversations with teachers about reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In their first blog entry, (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/02/teacher-to-teacherlistening-to-teachers-about-a-new-esea/), they asked about assessments. Now, in their second blog entry (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/teacher-to-teacher-teacher-effectiveness-and-esea/), they solicit thoughts on defining teacher effectiveness. Should it be based in significant part on student growth? And what other measures should be taken into account?
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, Secretary Duncan sent a letter to Congressional leadership that supports emergency funding legislation to help states and school districts save jobs in the upcoming school year. In recent weeks, the Secretary has voiced serious concern about the hardships that educators, students, and schools would face if emergency funds do not become available quickly. Recognizing the difficulty of improving the quality of education while losing teachers, raising class sizes, and eliminating programs, he is urging Congress to include $23 billion in supplemental appropriations to preserve education jobs, with an additional $1 billion to protect early childhood education jobs and $2 billion to support public safety. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/obama-administration-supports-emergency-funding-to-save-teacher-jobs/.
______________________________________________________________________
HONORING STUDENTS
On May 3, Secretary Duncan announced the selection of 2010 Presidential Scholars. The program was established by Executive Order in 1964 to honor academic achievement by graduating high school seniors. It was expanded in 1979 to honor students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts. Each year, 141 students are named, including at least one young man and woman from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American families living abroad. Another 15 students are chosen at-large, and 20 students are scholars in the arts. Over 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of significant ACT or SAT scores or nomination through the national youngARTS competition of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the President, chooses finalists. Scholars will be recognized June 19-22 in Washington, D.C. Each scholar will invite the teacher who had the greatest impact on his or her success to participate in the activities and receive a certificate of appreciation. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/awards.html.
Several days later, President Obama announced Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the winner of the first annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. More than 1,000 high schools competed for the honor of having the President as a graduation speaker. The applications, consisting of short videos and essays showing dedication to academics at all levels, were narrowed down by the Department and the White House Domestic Policy Council to six finalists, and, between April 26 and April 29, over 170,000 people voted online. The President selected the winner from among the three finalists with the highest average ratings. The White House was looking for a school that would serve as a model for preparing students for college. Kalamazoo Central’s application focused on the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program providing up to 100% college tuition for graduates. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement. (Note: Recognizing the extraordinary achievements and outstanding efforts by each finalist, a Cabinet secretary or senior Administration official will deliver the graduation address at the five non-winning schools.)
Secretary Duncan visited D.C.’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School for National Lab Day (http://www.nationallabday.org/). On site, he received a lesson from students on assembling and operating battery-powered cars and spoke on the long-term value of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. National Lab Day is a component of the President’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign (http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate). FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/secretary-duncan-kicks-off-national-lab-day/.
______________________________________________________________________
PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Last week, Secretary Duncan addressed the 51-delegate Mom Congress (http://www.parenting.com/momcongress) at Georgetown University. Organized by Parenting magazine, the Mom Congress gathered some of the most passionate parent involvement advocates from across the county to discuss how to effect meaningful change in American education and to mobilize millions of parents to become more involved in their children’s learning. The Secretary encouraged parents to work with teachers, principals, counselors, and other key stakeholders as advisors and decision-makers. “When parents demand change and better options for their children, they become the real accountability backstop for the educational system,” he said. He also urged parents to develop a “can do” list of actions for how they can improve schools and better support student learning. On the policy front, he proposed doubling federal funding for parent engagement (from 1% to 2% of Title I, Part A funds) for a total of $270 million, as well as allowing states to use another 1% of Title I, Part A funds for grant programs that incentivize, support, and help expand best practices in family involvement (http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/05/05052010.html). FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/secretary-arne-duncan-speaks-at-the-first-annual-mom-congress/.
______________________________________________________________________
CHILDHOOD OBESITY REPORT
This week, the Task Force on Childhood Obesity released its action plan to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. The action plan, reflecting input from 12 federal agencies and 2,500 submissions from parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, and others, includes 70 recommendations for public and private action, which can be broadly grouped into five areas:
· Getting children a healthy start on life, with good prenatal care for their mothers; support for breast-feeding; limits on “screen time;” and quality child care settings with nutritious food and ample opportunity for young children to be physically active.
· Empowering parents and caregivers with more actionable messages on nutritious choices based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans; improved labels on food and menus that provide clear information to help make healthy choices for children; reduced marketing of unhealthy products to children; and improved health services, including Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement for all kids.
· Providing healthy food in schools, through improvements in federally supported school lunches and breakfasts; upgrading the quality of other foods sold in schools; and improving nutrition education and the overall school environment.
· Improving access to healthy, affordable food, by eliminating “food deserts” in America; lowering the relative prices of healthier foods; developing or reformulating food products to be healthier; and reducing the incidence of hunger, which has been linked to obesity.
· Getting children more physically active, through quality physical education, recess, and other opportunities in and after school; addressing aspects of the “built environment” that make it difficult for children to walk or bike safely in their communities; and improving access to parks, playgrounds, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.
Many of these ideas can be implemented immediately, at little or no cost. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.letsmove.gov/taskforce_childhoodobesityrpt.html.
______________________________________________________________________
DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY
Also this week, President Obama released the Administration’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy. Endorsing a balance of prevention, treatment, and law enforcement, the strategy calls for a 15% reduction in the rate of youth drug use over the next five years and similar reductions in chronic drug use and drug-related consequences, such as drug-induced deaths and drugged driving. The Department was involved in the development of the strategy and will be a partner with other federal agencies in implementing many of its activities. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/strategy/.
______________________________________________________________________
ODDS AND ENDS
· The Administration has released a series of documents (http://www.ed.gov/eseablueprint) outlining the research that supports the proposals in its blueprint for revising ESEA.
· “Voices of Reform,” a series of new Department videos (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/voices-of-reform/), looks at schools in three cities that each underwent a different turnaround strategy.
· The Department has received 1,669 applications requesting funding from the Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/.
· The Promise Neighborhoods program (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/) is seeking peer reviewers for its grant competition. Reviewers will independently read, score, and provide written comments for applications. The review will be conducted, electronically, from the reviewer’s location. Reviewers will receive an honorarium. The deadline to apply is June 1. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/peerreviewer.html.
· The Department has updated its “Grantmaking at ED” publication (http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/grantmaking/). This non-technical resource is intended for individuals and organizations that are interested in applying for Department discretionary grants and cooperative agreements, have received an award, or are interested in knowing more about the agency’s discretionary grant process. It describes how grant programs are created by Congress and administered by the Department and the process for the public to apply for and receive discretionary grants.
· “Teachers’ Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009,” a “First Look” report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), includes information on the use of computers and Internet access in the classroom; the availability and use of computing devices, software, and school and/or district networks by educators; students’ use of educational technology; teachers’ preparation to use technology for instruction; and technology-related professional development activities. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010040.
· The Department’s Policy and Program Studies Services (PPSS) recently published three new studies on Title III of ESEA, concerning English language learners (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/reports.html#titleiii).
· After months of planning, designing, and collaborating, three teams of students from California and Michigan have been named as semi-finalists in the DASH+ contest -- sponsored by the Department of Energy and the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE -- which challenges high school students to use their STEM skills and creativity to design an eco-friendly automotive dashboard of the future. The public is invited to review each team’s designs, technical plan, and pitch video and pick a winner. Voting closes May 31. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VOTE, PLEASE GO TO http://fuelourfuturenow.com/contest/.
______________________________________________________________________
QUOTES TO NOTE
“The truth is, our nation’s destiny has never been certain. What is certain, what has always been certain, is the ability to shape that destiny. That is what makes us different. That is what sets us apart. That is what makes us Americans -- our ability, at the end of the day, to look past all of our differences and all of our disagreements and still forge a common future. That task is now in your hands, as is the answer to the question posed at this university half a century ago about whether a free society can still compete. If you are willing, as past generations were willing, to contribute part of your life to the life of this country, then I, like President [John F.] Kennedy, believe we can. Because I believe in you.”
-- President Barack Obama (5/1/10), in his commencement address at the University of Michigan (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/03/because-i-believe-you); the following weekend, he addressed graduates at Hampton University (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/10/education-means-emancipation)
“As I look at the world today, I realize the task in front of you is extremely difficult. You and the rest of this year’s graduates face challenges of historic significance…. But for all of those challenges, I am absolutely optimistic about our future because you and millions of others graduating this year are a smart, passionate, and dedicated group who will use your education to solve the problems that our country and our world are facing today…. Wherever you go, and whatever you do, I hope you always remember that your knowledge and commitment to serve can -- and will -- change the world.”
-- Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (5/9/09), in his commencement address at the University of Richmond (http://www2.ed.gov/news/speeches/2010/05/05092010.html); the day before, he addressed graduates at Xavier University of Louisiana (http://www2.ed.gov/news/speeches/2010/05/05082010.html)
______________________________________________________________________
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Nation’s Report Card: Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) Reading 2009 will be released on May 20 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/.
One week later, on May 27 at 10:00 a.m. ET, NCES will release “Condition of Education 2010.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=651.
August 3 and 4, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services will host a meeting for grantees focused on the innovation and integration of early childhood systems at the federal, state, and local levels. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.earlychildhood2010.org/.
______________________________________________________________________
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs -- Stacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, mailto:Stacey.Jordan@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.
May 14, 2010
...a bi-weekly update on U.S. Department of Education activities relevant to the Intergovernmental and Corporate community and other stakeholders
______________________________________________________________________
APPRECIATING TEACHERS
In a series of events during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7), Secretary Duncan honored America’s 7.2 million early learning, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary teachers. On National Teacher Day (May 4), he visited Washington, D.C., schools: Friendship Chamberlain Elementary and Junior Academy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4PkSa0vE8I), where he stopped by special education teacher Stephanie Day’s classroom to congratulate her on being named the 2010 District of Columbia Teacher of the Year, and Houston Elementary School (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XhIACbm8wI), where he dropped in on Mary Riley, a first-grade teacher with 43 years of service, and Tracy Thomas, a fifth-grade teacher with a perfect evaluation score. Next, on May 6, he visited George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXcnywOysmI), where he stopped by the classrooms of Jamie Schraff, a social studies teacher and the 2010 Falls Church City School District Gifted and Talented Teacher of the Year; Karin Tooze, the English Department chairwomen and a former Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award nominee; and Julie Bravin, a foreign language teacher and assistant athletic director who is also a former Agnes Meyer nominee and a former Virginia Coach of the Year. Then, on May 7, he joined Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), in New Orleans for an intimate discussion with about a dozen African-American men, inspired to become teachers after working as Servant Leader Interns in CDF’s Freedom Schools program (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA6pwDul0ow). The Secretary also taped video messages thanking all teachers for their “extraordinary hard work and commitment” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY9lPFeBtr8) and joyfully acknowledging his favorite teacher, Darlene McCampbell, who teaches high school English (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py46EaAscOA). FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/teacher-appreciation-week/.
Also, throughout the spring, the Department’s Teaching Ambassador Fellows (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/awards.html) have been having conversations with teachers about reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In their first blog entry, (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/02/teacher-to-teacherlistening-to-teachers-about-a-new-esea/), they asked about assessments. Now, in their second blog entry (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/teacher-to-teacher-teacher-effectiveness-and-esea/), they solicit thoughts on defining teacher effectiveness. Should it be based in significant part on student growth? And what other measures should be taken into account?
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, Secretary Duncan sent a letter to Congressional leadership that supports emergency funding legislation to help states and school districts save jobs in the upcoming school year. In recent weeks, the Secretary has voiced serious concern about the hardships that educators, students, and schools would face if emergency funds do not become available quickly. Recognizing the difficulty of improving the quality of education while losing teachers, raising class sizes, and eliminating programs, he is urging Congress to include $23 billion in supplemental appropriations to preserve education jobs, with an additional $1 billion to protect early childhood education jobs and $2 billion to support public safety. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/obama-administration-supports-emergency-funding-to-save-teacher-jobs/.
______________________________________________________________________
HONORING STUDENTS
On May 3, Secretary Duncan announced the selection of 2010 Presidential Scholars. The program was established by Executive Order in 1964 to honor academic achievement by graduating high school seniors. It was expanded in 1979 to honor students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts. Each year, 141 students are named, including at least one young man and woman from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American families living abroad. Another 15 students are chosen at-large, and 20 students are scholars in the arts. Over 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of significant ACT or SAT scores or nomination through the national youngARTS competition of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the President, chooses finalists. Scholars will be recognized June 19-22 in Washington, D.C. Each scholar will invite the teacher who had the greatest impact on his or her success to participate in the activities and receive a certificate of appreciation. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/awards.html.
Several days later, President Obama announced Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the winner of the first annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. More than 1,000 high schools competed for the honor of having the President as a graduation speaker. The applications, consisting of short videos and essays showing dedication to academics at all levels, were narrowed down by the Department and the White House Domestic Policy Council to six finalists, and, between April 26 and April 29, over 170,000 people voted online. The President selected the winner from among the three finalists with the highest average ratings. The White House was looking for a school that would serve as a model for preparing students for college. Kalamazoo Central’s application focused on the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program providing up to 100% college tuition for graduates. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement. (Note: Recognizing the extraordinary achievements and outstanding efforts by each finalist, a Cabinet secretary or senior Administration official will deliver the graduation address at the five non-winning schools.)
Secretary Duncan visited D.C.’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School for National Lab Day (http://www.nationallabday.org/). On site, he received a lesson from students on assembling and operating battery-powered cars and spoke on the long-term value of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. National Lab Day is a component of the President’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign (http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate). FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/secretary-duncan-kicks-off-national-lab-day/.
______________________________________________________________________
PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Last week, Secretary Duncan addressed the 51-delegate Mom Congress (http://www.parenting.com/momcongress) at Georgetown University. Organized by Parenting magazine, the Mom Congress gathered some of the most passionate parent involvement advocates from across the county to discuss how to effect meaningful change in American education and to mobilize millions of parents to become more involved in their children’s learning. The Secretary encouraged parents to work with teachers, principals, counselors, and other key stakeholders as advisors and decision-makers. “When parents demand change and better options for their children, they become the real accountability backstop for the educational system,” he said. He also urged parents to develop a “can do” list of actions for how they can improve schools and better support student learning. On the policy front, he proposed doubling federal funding for parent engagement (from 1% to 2% of Title I, Part A funds) for a total of $270 million, as well as allowing states to use another 1% of Title I, Part A funds for grant programs that incentivize, support, and help expand best practices in family involvement (http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/05/05052010.html). FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/secretary-arne-duncan-speaks-at-the-first-annual-mom-congress/.
______________________________________________________________________
CHILDHOOD OBESITY REPORT
This week, the Task Force on Childhood Obesity released its action plan to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. The action plan, reflecting input from 12 federal agencies and 2,500 submissions from parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, and others, includes 70 recommendations for public and private action, which can be broadly grouped into five areas:
· Getting children a healthy start on life, with good prenatal care for their mothers; support for breast-feeding; limits on “screen time;” and quality child care settings with nutritious food and ample opportunity for young children to be physically active.
· Empowering parents and caregivers with more actionable messages on nutritious choices based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans; improved labels on food and menus that provide clear information to help make healthy choices for children; reduced marketing of unhealthy products to children; and improved health services, including Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement for all kids.
· Providing healthy food in schools, through improvements in federally supported school lunches and breakfasts; upgrading the quality of other foods sold in schools; and improving nutrition education and the overall school environment.
· Improving access to healthy, affordable food, by eliminating “food deserts” in America; lowering the relative prices of healthier foods; developing or reformulating food products to be healthier; and reducing the incidence of hunger, which has been linked to obesity.
· Getting children more physically active, through quality physical education, recess, and other opportunities in and after school; addressing aspects of the “built environment” that make it difficult for children to walk or bike safely in their communities; and improving access to parks, playgrounds, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.
Many of these ideas can be implemented immediately, at little or no cost. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.letsmove.gov/taskforce_childhoodobesityrpt.html.
______________________________________________________________________
DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY
Also this week, President Obama released the Administration’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy. Endorsing a balance of prevention, treatment, and law enforcement, the strategy calls for a 15% reduction in the rate of youth drug use over the next five years and similar reductions in chronic drug use and drug-related consequences, such as drug-induced deaths and drugged driving. The Department was involved in the development of the strategy and will be a partner with other federal agencies in implementing many of its activities. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/strategy/.
______________________________________________________________________
ODDS AND ENDS
· The Administration has released a series of documents (http://www.ed.gov/eseablueprint) outlining the research that supports the proposals in its blueprint for revising ESEA.
· “Voices of Reform,” a series of new Department videos (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/05/voices-of-reform/), looks at schools in three cities that each underwent a different turnaround strategy.
· The Department has received 1,669 applications requesting funding from the Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/.
· The Promise Neighborhoods program (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/) is seeking peer reviewers for its grant competition. Reviewers will independently read, score, and provide written comments for applications. The review will be conducted, electronically, from the reviewer’s location. Reviewers will receive an honorarium. The deadline to apply is June 1. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/peerreviewer.html.
· The Department has updated its “Grantmaking at ED” publication (http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/grantmaking/). This non-technical resource is intended for individuals and organizations that are interested in applying for Department discretionary grants and cooperative agreements, have received an award, or are interested in knowing more about the agency’s discretionary grant process. It describes how grant programs are created by Congress and administered by the Department and the process for the public to apply for and receive discretionary grants.
· “Teachers’ Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009,” a “First Look” report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), includes information on the use of computers and Internet access in the classroom; the availability and use of computing devices, software, and school and/or district networks by educators; students’ use of educational technology; teachers’ preparation to use technology for instruction; and technology-related professional development activities. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010040.
· The Department’s Policy and Program Studies Services (PPSS) recently published three new studies on Title III of ESEA, concerning English language learners (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/reports.html#titleiii).
· After months of planning, designing, and collaborating, three teams of students from California and Michigan have been named as semi-finalists in the DASH+ contest -- sponsored by the Department of Energy and the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE -- which challenges high school students to use their STEM skills and creativity to design an eco-friendly automotive dashboard of the future. The public is invited to review each team’s designs, technical plan, and pitch video and pick a winner. Voting closes May 31. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VOTE, PLEASE GO TO http://fuelourfuturenow.com/contest/.
______________________________________________________________________
QUOTES TO NOTE
“The truth is, our nation’s destiny has never been certain. What is certain, what has always been certain, is the ability to shape that destiny. That is what makes us different. That is what sets us apart. That is what makes us Americans -- our ability, at the end of the day, to look past all of our differences and all of our disagreements and still forge a common future. That task is now in your hands, as is the answer to the question posed at this university half a century ago about whether a free society can still compete. If you are willing, as past generations were willing, to contribute part of your life to the life of this country, then I, like President [John F.] Kennedy, believe we can. Because I believe in you.”
-- President Barack Obama (5/1/10), in his commencement address at the University of Michigan (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/03/because-i-believe-you); the following weekend, he addressed graduates at Hampton University (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/10/education-means-emancipation)
“As I look at the world today, I realize the task in front of you is extremely difficult. You and the rest of this year’s graduates face challenges of historic significance…. But for all of those challenges, I am absolutely optimistic about our future because you and millions of others graduating this year are a smart, passionate, and dedicated group who will use your education to solve the problems that our country and our world are facing today…. Wherever you go, and whatever you do, I hope you always remember that your knowledge and commitment to serve can -- and will -- change the world.”
-- Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (5/9/09), in his commencement address at the University of Richmond (http://www2.ed.gov/news/speeches/2010/05/05092010.html); the day before, he addressed graduates at Xavier University of Louisiana (http://www2.ed.gov/news/speeches/2010/05/05082010.html)
______________________________________________________________________
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Nation’s Report Card: Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) Reading 2009 will be released on May 20 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/.
One week later, on May 27 at 10:00 a.m. ET, NCES will release “Condition of Education 2010.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=651.
August 3 and 4, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services will host a meeting for grantees focused on the innovation and integration of early childhood systems at the federal, state, and local levels. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.earlychildhood2010.org/.
______________________________________________________________________
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs -- Stacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, mailto:Stacey.Jordan@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.
Friday, May 14, 2010
North Dakota Human Services Mental Health Conference
NEWS from the North Dakota Department of Human Services
600 East Boulevard Avenue – Department 325, Bismarck ND 58505-0250
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2010
Contact: Heather Steffl, N.D. Dept. of Human Services, Public Information Officer, 701-328-4933
Agency to host Mental Health Conference May 19-20 in Bismarck
BISMARCK, N.D. – The N.D. Department of Human Services is sponsoring the sixth annual Clinical Forum on Mental Health: Turning Knowledge into Practice conference on May 19-20 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck with pre-conference workshops on May 18. The forum will feature national, regional, and local speakers on mental health topics that promote the well-being of children, adults, and the elderly.
“Serious mental illnesses directly affect about 26,800 North Dakotans each year. Mental illnesses also affect family members, friends, employers, and others,” said JoAnne Hoesel, director of the department’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division. “This Forum is an opportunity for the department to address important topics and to share information about treatment methods that support recovery.”
Hoesel said the forum is intended for mental health and addiction treatment professionals, students, consumers of mental health services, and other interested individuals.
Presenters will focus on a variety of topics including: religious and spiritual concerns in psychotherapy, juveniles with sexually abusive behavior, elderly victimization, suicide prevention, type two diabetes, geriatric mental illness and dementia, compassion fatigue, the effects of substance abuse on brain development and behavior, hoarding, mental health disorders, psychiatric emergency trauma, loneliness, treating online compulsive and offending sexual behavior, and more.
People can register and obtain a conference schedule and other details online at http://conferences.und.edu/clinicalforum/index.html.
Continuing education units are available. Preregistration is encouraged but registrations will be accepted at the door for pre-conference sessions on May 18, or one or both days of the Clinical Forum. About 200 people have already registered.
Featured Keynote Speakers:
May 19, 2010
Michael Rosmann, Ph.D. the executive director of AgriWellness, Inc., will give the opening keynote address on May 19, from 9 – 10 a.m. about understanding the culture of rural North Dakota and delivering behavioral health services in rural settings.
May 20, 2010
Derrick Dufresne, the founder and President of Community Resource Associates, Inc., who works to promote the full inclusion of all individuals in their communities, will give the keynote presentation titled “Loneliness Kills; Friendship Saves” at 8:45 a.m.
Michael Hingson, a Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center Survivor, will give the keynote presentation “Out of the Ashes – Learning to Survive in a Changing World” from noon to 1 p.m. He’ll share his story about how he and his guide dog “Roselle” escaped the 78th floor and how people can overcome life’s challenges.
Matt Bellace, Ph.D., a motivational speaker and comedian who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, will give the closing keynote address from 3 to 4 p.m. It is titled “A Better High: A Humorous Look at Getting High Naturally Everyday,” and focuses on how to help young people build healthy lifestyles and become leaders in promoting prevention.
###
Heather Steffl, Public Information Officer
N.D. Department of Human Services
701-328-4933 / hsteffl@nd.gov
www.nd.gov/dhs
----------Confidentiality Statement----------
This transmission is intended only for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is made confidential by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please respond immediately to the sender and then destroy the original transmission as well as any electronic or printed copies. Thank you.
600 East Boulevard Avenue – Department 325, Bismarck ND 58505-0250
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2010
Contact: Heather Steffl, N.D. Dept. of Human Services, Public Information Officer, 701-328-4933
Agency to host Mental Health Conference May 19-20 in Bismarck
BISMARCK, N.D. – The N.D. Department of Human Services is sponsoring the sixth annual Clinical Forum on Mental Health: Turning Knowledge into Practice conference on May 19-20 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck with pre-conference workshops on May 18. The forum will feature national, regional, and local speakers on mental health topics that promote the well-being of children, adults, and the elderly.
“Serious mental illnesses directly affect about 26,800 North Dakotans each year. Mental illnesses also affect family members, friends, employers, and others,” said JoAnne Hoesel, director of the department’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division. “This Forum is an opportunity for the department to address important topics and to share information about treatment methods that support recovery.”
Hoesel said the forum is intended for mental health and addiction treatment professionals, students, consumers of mental health services, and other interested individuals.
Presenters will focus on a variety of topics including: religious and spiritual concerns in psychotherapy, juveniles with sexually abusive behavior, elderly victimization, suicide prevention, type two diabetes, geriatric mental illness and dementia, compassion fatigue, the effects of substance abuse on brain development and behavior, hoarding, mental health disorders, psychiatric emergency trauma, loneliness, treating online compulsive and offending sexual behavior, and more.
People can register and obtain a conference schedule and other details online at http://conferences.und.edu/clinicalforum/index.html.
Continuing education units are available. Preregistration is encouraged but registrations will be accepted at the door for pre-conference sessions on May 18, or one or both days of the Clinical Forum. About 200 people have already registered.
Featured Keynote Speakers:
May 19, 2010
Michael Rosmann, Ph.D. the executive director of AgriWellness, Inc., will give the opening keynote address on May 19, from 9 – 10 a.m. about understanding the culture of rural North Dakota and delivering behavioral health services in rural settings.
May 20, 2010
Derrick Dufresne, the founder and President of Community Resource Associates, Inc., who works to promote the full inclusion of all individuals in their communities, will give the keynote presentation titled “Loneliness Kills; Friendship Saves” at 8:45 a.m.
Michael Hingson, a Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center Survivor, will give the keynote presentation “Out of the Ashes – Learning to Survive in a Changing World” from noon to 1 p.m. He’ll share his story about how he and his guide dog “Roselle” escaped the 78th floor and how people can overcome life’s challenges.
Matt Bellace, Ph.D., a motivational speaker and comedian who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, will give the closing keynote address from 3 to 4 p.m. It is titled “A Better High: A Humorous Look at Getting High Naturally Everyday,” and focuses on how to help young people build healthy lifestyles and become leaders in promoting prevention.
###
Heather Steffl, Public Information Officer
N.D. Department of Human Services
701-328-4933 / hsteffl@nd.gov
www.nd.gov/dhs
----------Confidentiality Statement----------
This transmission is intended only for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is made confidential by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please respond immediately to the sender and then destroy the original transmission as well as any electronic or printed copies. Thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)