Open Streets Lompoc

Save the date for Open Streets Lompoc: Friday August 3, 4-8 pm: A mile of car-free space in downtown Lompoc for people of all ages and abilities to exercise! Click here for more details.

(Posted on behalf of Emily Casarez, MSc., Community Health Program Manager, Healthy Lompoc Coalition, Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization - LVCHO)

Free fruits & veggies

Seniors can get $20 in free Farmers Market coupons at selected locations this August.

The Area Agency on Aging is distributing Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons to eligible senior citizens in Santa Barbara County. The coupon books can be used to purchase up to $20 in fresh fruits and vegetables only at WIC-authorized Certified Farmers Markets in this area. Seniors over the age of 60 and on a limited income are eligible to receive the FREE coupon book. Click here for a full-page printable flyer with dates and locations in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria. Or phone (805) 925-9554 for more information.

(Posted on behalf of Dennis Tivey, Communication & Outreach Coordinator, Santa Barbara County Dept. of Social Services)

Oral Health Advocacy Guide

The new Advocacy Guide for Oral Health for Low Income Older Adults is now available. Please share in your network and organization.

Materials for SB 1026

Here are the materials and information on SB 1026 (State Sen. Jackson's Fall Prevention Bill) mentioned at our meeting.

Thank you for voting to support SB 1026. The results of yesterday's Senate vote are that it passed 39 to 0! Hooray! It has been sent to the Assembly…which is where we now need to focus our requests for support!

Click here for the materials. The materials include the latest Version of the Bill, the two research reports discussed at the meeting, and a supplemental table to the Economic Burden report. Specifically, note that the Economic Burden document (see page 4 bottom left) states that CA is the state in the nation with the "highest estimated all payer health care spending for older adult falls." Note, however, that CA was NOT on the page 5 table. However, supplemental table, referenced on page 4, does include our CA data. Thank you to the Board of Supervisors for supporting SB 1026!

(Posted on behalf of Cheri Jasinski, Coordinator Sen. HBJ Working Group on Aging and Older Adults.)

Lompoc Senior Health Expo

The Lompoc Senior Health Expo is coming on Friday, May 18. This is the key event of the year for Lompoc seniors to learn about health, information and community resources. Click here for the flyer and share it widely. Thank you!

(Posted on behalf of Margaret Weiss, MPH, Health Education Director, Sansum Clinic)

Report on EVV

A new report on Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) has been released by the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD).

The report, titled "Electronic Visit Verification: Implications for States, Providers, and Medicaid Participants," was developed in partnership with Jennifer Burnett, former Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Office of Long Term Living.

Click here to read the report.

The report describes key considerations and policy decisions that states should consider as they work to implement EVV systems in accordance with the mandate included in the 21st Century Cures Act.
The paper also examines different approaches that states may wish to use to establish EVV within their HCBS programs, and discusses some of the benefits and challenges associated with each approach. Lastly, it includes case studies of four states with existing EVV systems.

 Martha Roherty, NASUAD Executive Director, offered the following comments on the report release, "In accordance with the CURES Act, states must have electronic visit verification in place by January 1, 2019. There are many considerations that should be taken into account when developing a system that meets the statutory requirements while also improving quality of care and promoting participant choice. We developed this paper to assist states as they work towards EVV implementation in accordance with CURES. We think it will be a valuable resource both for the current efforts to come in compliance with CURES and beyond."

Some of the considerations discussed in this paper include:

• Setting goals and defining system requirements
• Ensuring robust stakeholder engagement
• Addressing the unique concerns of participants with disabilities
• Developing an implementation plan
• Performing a readiness review
• Utilizing a soft launch strategy
• Maintaining openness to new and updated technology
• Using EVV to promote quality improvement. 

NASUAD hopes that this report be a useful tool that assists states understand the options available to them and identify ways to promote overall quality of care and program integrity within the HCBS system.

(Posted on behalf of Kathleen Riel, Program Manager, Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.)

Care Planning seminar

We hope you will join us for "Let's Talk: Putting Advance Care Planning into Practice," Thursday May 17 in Santa Barbara. This two-hour seminar covers Advance Care Planning education, goals of care conversations, skills training, and support to help ensure Advance Care Planing conversations occur with grater regularity and earlier in the course of a patient's care.  This seminar program is open to all interested professionals and not limited to health care providers. It is free of charge but reservations are required. Click here for a flyer with details. We hope to see you there!

  

(Posted on behalf of Margaret Weiss, MPH, Health Education Director, Sansum Clinic)