National Adult Protective Services Resource Center to be created

The first National Adult Protective Services (APS) Resource Center will be established by the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) through a grant awarded by the US Administration on Aging (AoA). The goal of the Center is to provide state and local Adult Protective Services Programs with with current, accurate, research-based information and assistance to improve their capacity to provide effective protective services to vulnerable and elder adult abuse victims. Adult Protective Services (APS) are established by law in every state to receive, investigate and respond to reports of physical and sexual abuse, caregiver and self-neglect, and financial exploitation of older persons and of younger adults with severe disabilities.

"Cases of adult abuse, including rape, serious physical violence and extreme neglect, where victims are left to lie in their own waste without adequate food or water, are skyrocketing. Financial abuse cases, which may involve the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars, are increasing especially rapidly. Most APS victims have dementia or other significant disabilities and need protection and services. This new National APS Resource Center will provide state and local APS programs with the tools and information they need to respond effectively during this time of diminishing resources," said Kathleen Quinn, NAPSA's Executive Director. The objectives in establishing the National Adult Protective Services Resource Center are to: 1. Identify evidence-based best practices for APS programs and interventions; 2. Establish national baseline data on "state of APS" in 2012; 3. Identify and promote the evaluation of novel, but unevaluated, APS promising practices; 4. Compile and synthesize research that informs APS programming and interventions; 5. Provide specific and targeted technical assistance to state and local APS programs to facilitate the implementation of identified best practices and research findings.

Project activities will include the creation of an APS Resource Center webpage, Facebook page and Twitter account; comprehensive reports based on surveys of APS programs, applicable research and innovative practices; research and training webinars, a monthly newsletter, an APS-specific listserv and information packets. The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) was awarded $199,956 for the first year; the grant time frame is three years.

NAPSA's partners in the APS Resource Center are:• National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD); • National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD); • American Public Human Services Association (APHSA); • National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA); • Catholic University's School of Social Service's Center on Global Aging; • Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER); and • San Diego State University's Project MASTER in the Academy for Professional Excellence.Health Benefits ABC's will evaluate the project. Kathleen Quinn will be the Center's Director and Andrew Capehart of Ohio and NAPSA will be the Assistant Director.

ABOUT NAPSA: The National Adult Protective Services Association is a 700+ membership organization which represents state and local Adult Protective Services (APS) programs and professionals, and which serves as the national voice of vulnerable adult victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. NAPSA hosts the only national conference on elder abuse, abuse of adults with disabilities and APS, as well as the National Summit on Elder Financial Exploitation. NAPSA provides other training and services to its members as well and participates in national policy efforts to address elder and vulnerable adult abuse. For more information: www.apsnetwork.orgContact: Kathleen Quinn, Executive Director, NAPSAkathleen.quinn@apsnetwork.org 202-558-4850

Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Starts Tomorrow!

This year the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug open enrollment period starts and ends early, and is one week longer than it has been since it began in 2006. Open enrollment in 2011 is from October 15 through December 7 and your new plan election coverage will begin January 1, 2012.

Open enrollment is the annual period during which Medicare beneficiaries can choose to change to a new prescription drug plan or enroll in a plan for the first time if they have been eligible to enroll previously but chose not to. Unlike Medicare Parts A and B there is no public option for prescription drug coverage, you must choose from the numerous private prescription drug plans available under Part D.

By "numerous" I mean 36 plans available for West Virginians (and Pennsylvanians, who are also in our prescription drug plan region). This is a substantial decrease from the first years when over 80 plans were available, but a small decrease from last year, when we had 38 plans from which to choose. Half those plans this year have $0 deductible. The lowest premium is $15.10, the highest is $115.60. Two-thirds of the available plans in WV still have a donut hole (a point where you have no coverage at all after reaching a certain out-of-pocket outlay for the year).

Overall nationwide plan formularies (lists of covered drugs) seem to have largely stabilized, unlike the significant reductions in coverages we saw over the first several years of Part D. There have also been few changes regarding restrictions to coverage (for example requirements that the patient first try a cheaper drug before getting approved for coverage for a more expensive drug) this year compared to last year.

Low-income subsidies (commonly referred to as "LIS" or "Extra Help") are still available for those who qualify according to income and assets. LIS can cover premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and eliminate coverage gaps, depending on which subsidy you qualify for. Some beneficiaries are automatically qualified and enrolled in LIS, including those who are also beneficiaries of some form of Medicaid including QMB, SLMB and others. People who do not already receive Medicaid may still be eligible for LIS but may have to apply to be enrolled.

Any beneficiary who receives a notice about Medicare Part D extra help, especially a letter that is on colored paper, may have his or her benefits reduced or terminated if he or she does not respond.

Overall most Medicaid beneficiaries will benefit from the earlier and slightly longer open enrollment period, the stabilizing of plan options, formularies, and gap coverage, and the relatively low increase in average premiums this year.

As always the only practical way to compare and determine which plan is best for you is to use the Planfinder on Medicare.gov. The best source of assistance for West Virginians in choosing a plan, understanding a notice about Medicare benefits, or solving a problem related to Medicare Part D coverage is your local SHIP counselor who is housed in your county senior program. You can get contact information for your SHIP counselor at www.wvship.org.