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
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
Information for Dual Eligibles (those with Medicare and Medicaid)
January, 2012: Important News about Medicare Part D Prescription Co-pays
Good news for all dual eligibles (persons having both Medicare and Medicaid) with developmental disabilities who are on the Community Care Waiver (CCW): As of January 1, 2012, dual eligibles on the CCW who receive medication from Medicare Part D should not have any co-pays for their Part D drugs. This positive change is due to a change in federal regulations.
Some consumers and caregivers may not know which dual eligibles with developmental disabilities are on the CCW. In that situation, it is suggested that you contact the local Medical Assistance Customer Center (MACC) and ask to check the eligibility screen, to find out the consumer's CCW status.
If family members or agency staff know that a dually eligible consumer is on the CCW (or other Medicaid waiver) but is being charged Medicare Part D co-pays erroneously, please call the Medicaid hotline: 1-800-356-1561. In calling this phone number, you should hold on until the end of the long automated message, and then press 0 to talk to an operator.
Medicare Part D Overview for 2012
- The Arc of New Jersey's Overview of Medicare Part D Changes for 2012
- Slide presentations from The Arc of New Jersey's Webinar, The Impact of Upcoming [2012] Changes in the Medicare Drug Benefit on Dual Eligibles with Developmental Disabilities:
(1) The 2012 Medicare Drug Benefit and Dual Eligibles with Developmental Disabilities
(2) Navigating the Medicare Plan Finder for Dual Eligibles - Medicare Part D Plan Lists for 2012:
(1) Medicare Part D Benchmark Plan Changes for 2012
(2) Medicare Part D 2012: Stand-Alone BASIC Plans in New Jersey
(3) Medicare Part D 2012: ALL Plans in New Jersey
Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNP)
For those who may be considering a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan, please review this Summary of Information about Medicare Advantage (HMO) Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for New Jersey's Dual Eligibles (including persons with developmental disabilities).
Medicaid Managed Care
Medicaid Changes for 2012: Major changes in the New Jersey Medicaid system are occurring that will have an impact on everyone who receives Medicaid, including recipients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For detailed information, please view The Arc of New Jersey's latest issue of Healthy Times, or the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services' Frequently Asked Questions for Medicaid Clients.
For information on specific issues related to the 2011-2012 Medicaid Managed Care Changes, please see the folowing:
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
Women's Health Project
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.
