Beverly Roberts, Director
The Arc of New Jersey's Mainstreaming Medical Care Program promotes quality health care for people with developmental disabilities through
- strong advocacy on statewide committees assigned to make recommendations on health care for people with developmental disabilities
- presentations on managed care and women's health issues to large or small groups of families, staff and consumers
- information and referral services to families, staff and consumers on how people with disabilities should access health care services from the current health care system
- an annual medical care conference (usually held in late May) for health care professionals, service provider staff, government agency personnel, caregivers, families and others
- publication of Healthy Times, a medical newsletter for health care professionals and caregivers
- major initiatives with regard to (1) Medicaid Managed Care for People with Disabilities and (2) Medicare Part D for Dual-eligibles
24th Annual Medical Care Conference Registration Now Open!
We are pleased to announce that registration is now underway for The Arc of New Jersey's 24th Annual Conference on Medical Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Please visit our Conference Page to view the conference brochure and to complete your online registration.
This statewide medical care conference is also an outstanding and unique oppoirtunity to put your business or your product in front of a diverse audience of health care professionals; disability and human service professionals; and family members and caretakers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting, contact Helen Rivera at 732.246.2525 x35 or hrivera@arcnj.org.
New! Medicaid-Covered Transportation More Than 20 Miles from Home
LogistiCare, the company that NJ Medicaid has contracted with to provide transportation for people with disabilities who require regular physician visits for chronic illnesses, has recently implemented a new policy for individuals who need non-emergency transportation to access healthcare services located more than 20 miles from their home.
LogistiCare's new policy is applicable when an equivalent provider or service is available within a distance of 20 miles from home. However, there are some exceptions to this new policy:
- if the consumer is seeing a unique specialist for an unusual condition;
- if an equivalent provider is not available within 20 miles; or
- if the consumer is currently in the middle of a treatment course (e.g., chemotherapy or surgical evaluation and treatment).
When the circumstances listed above are applicable, then this Closest Provider Certification Form must be filled in by the healthcare provider or by the Medicaid HMO care manager, and forwarded to LogistiCare prior to the day of the medical appointment, to ensure that medical transportation is provided beyond the 20 mile limit.
Information for Dual Eligibles (those with Medicare and Medicaid)
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP)
For those who are considering a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), please review The Arc of New Jersey's overview, What is a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), and What are the Differences Between a Medicaid HMO and a Medicare HMO D-SNP?. For assistance with this and other issues regarding Medicaid or Medicare, you can also contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Diabetes Materials Reprinted and Now Available in Spanish
Launched in 2006 with funding from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, The Arc of New Jersey’s Diabetes Awareness and Education Project has produced materials intended to educate individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers regarding important steps that can be taken toward the prevention and control of Diabetes, including changes in diet and exercise habits and regular monitoring by a health care professional.
We have recently updated and reprinted these free materials. The combination English/Spanish Diabetes booklet is available now and an educational DVD, which includes a Spanish-language option, will be available before the end of August. These materials are a valuable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as those who support them, including families and guardians, group homes, day programs, health care providers, service organizations and government agencies.
To order, complete and fax the Diabetes Order Form or contact Helen Rivera at 732.246.2525, x35. There is no cost for the materials, but shipping charges will apply for orders greater than one booklet and/or one DVD.
Let's Talk About Health
The Arc of New Jersey and its Mainstreaming Medical Care Program have developed an initiative called Let's Talk About Health, which is a comprehensive effort to develop educational programs and materials that address health care issues of people with developmental disabilities in accesible formats. Projects to date include the following:
Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction
- Health Screening and Risk Reduction for Breast Cancer
- Health Screening and Risk Reduction for Colon Cancer
- Health Screening and Risk Reduction for Prostate Cancer
Diabetes Prevention and Management
- Prevent, Understand and Live with Diabetes: A Guide for Individuals with DD in English and Spanish
To order a hard copy of the Diabetes Guide Booklet, you can contact Helen Rivera by email or by phone at 732.246.2525 x35. Or you can print and mail/fax the Diabetes Order Form. Larger quantities of the booklets are available for organizations, but shipping costs must be covered by the ordering organization.
Women's Health Project
Adult Personal Health Record and Medical History Form
With a grant from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of New Jersey has developed a new Adult Personal Health Record and Medical History Form, available in both English and Spanish. Completed by a family member or caregiver, the form provides accurate documentation of the most important aspects of a person’s medical history. The original remains with the consumer or caregiver; a copy can be provided to the consumer’s primary health care providers; and copies can be brought when the consumer has other health appointments, such as a clinic or emergency room.
Adult Personal Health Record and Medical History Form: English
Adult Personal Health Record and Medical History Form: Spanish
Additional Resources:
- Medicare's Quality Care Finder
Medicare's Quality Care Finder is a new online resource to help consumers and their loved ones access all of Medicare.gov’s comparison tools so they can get information that will help put them in control and feel more confident about the healthcare decisions they make.The Quality Care Finder is a collection of current Medicare.gov and HHS.gov tools that make it easy to find health care providers, facilities, suppliers and more in specific geographic areas, and then make “apples-to-apples” comparisons of their quality.
- Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Needs
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), together with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has prepared a two-page Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Needs. In an emergency situation, it is essential that the emergency room physician has immediate access to the child's medical history. Without this information, children with special health care needs are at risk of delayed treatment, unnecessary tests, and sometimes, serious medical errors. This form will be of interest to parents, school personnel, day care programs, physicians, nurses and health maintenance organizations (HMOs); and although the form was developed for children with special health care needs, it will also be useful for adults with developmental disabilities. - Being a Healthy Adult: How to Advocate for Your Health and Health Care
The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities has published an excellent new resource, Being a Healthy Adult: How to Advocate for Your Health and Health Care, for young adults with developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers. Please visit the Boggs Center Publications Page on their website for information about ordering print or audio copies.
