HHS to Provide $60M in Affordable Care Act Grants

On Thursday June 3, 2010, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services announced the availability of funds for states and communities to help individuals and caregivers better understand and navigate health and long-term care options. Funds will go to states, Area Agencies on Aging, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, and Aging and Disability Resource Centers. Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will be able improve coordinated community-based care and services. One of the four funding areas involves testing transitional care models that help people with multiple chronic conditions successfully remain in their communities rather than being unnecessarily re-hospitalized. Transitional care is often nurse-led and coordinated, and it demonstrates the value that nurses bring to providing high quality community-based health care, which reduces wasteful Medicare spending. A transitional care Medicare benefit was one of AARP's major health reform policy priorities. Deadline for applications is Monday, July 30, 2010.  Grants will be awarded in September 2010.

To learn more about this grant opportunity, visit
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx or www.grants.gov. Read about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, here: www.healthreform.gov.