Strategies for Improving Benefits Access Marisa Scala-Foley Director, National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment ADRC TA call August 6, 2009

History 2006 Older Americans Act reauthorization –Directed AoA to establish a national center on benefits outreach and enrollment In September 2008, NCOA was awarded this cooperative agreement In May 2009, NCOA/the Center was awarded the contract to serve as the MIPPA Resource Center

Audiences Primary: Local, state and national organizations that want to help find and enroll seniors and younger adults with disabilities in need-based benefits programs Secondary: Consumers and their families

Mission To increase access to benefits for seniors and younger adults with disabilities by: –providing tools and resources that help organizations to find, counsel and assist seniors and younger adults with disabilities to apply for and enroll in the benefits for which they may be eligible –generating and disseminating knowledge about best practices and cost-effective strategies for benefits outreach and enrollment.

What we do Web-based decision support, screening and enrollment tools ( Training and technical assistance on effective outreach, screening, enrollment, and follow-up strategies Clearinghouse on best practices and cost-effective methods for finding and enrolling people in benefits outreach and enrollment Data aggregation and analysis Fund and support Benefits Enrollment Centers

Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (Mobile, AL) AgeOptions (Oak Park, IL) Green River Area Development District (Owensboro, KY) Maine SHIP, Office of Elderly Services (Augusta, ME) Washington County Commission on Aging Inc. (Hagerstown, MD) Elder Law of Michigan (Lansing, MI) Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (Helena, MT) Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York (New York, NY) Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (Cleveland, OH) Benefits Data Trust (Philadelphia, PA)

Express Lane Eligibility Ability to make eligibility determinations for public benefits programs based on information provided through other government programs or agencies Can take multiple forms: –Identification –Information sharing –Deeming or auto-enrollment

What features can promote ELE in aging/disability programs? Linking programs with similar eligibility rules –Linking programs that already have compatible rules –Aligning program eligibility rules more closely –Using eligibility for programs that are similar, but not exactly the same, as a basis for ELE

Promoting ELE (cont’d) Using a one-step process Invest in technology and training to support ELE Take steps to protect privacy and prevent errors

Link to Issue Brief ssue_Brief_june09.pdfhttp:// ssue_Brief_june09.pdf

How can you get involved? Connect with one of our BECs Share your thoughts, ideas, and promising practices, and become part of our network – us at Visit our web site: Marisa Scala-Foley