Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2008

State Receives Federal Grants to Target Medicare Fraud, Alzheimer's Interventions and Nursing Home Diversion

COLUMBUS - The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) recently announced the release of $2.55 million to Ohio for four grants that will target Medicare fraud, develop interventions for individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers and explore effective ways to divert individuals in need of nursing home services into community-based care options. The projects were selected in a competitive process and are a part of more than $36 million in new grant programs issued by the Administration for the new fiscal year.

"For Ohio, these grants are an opportunity to find new solutions for the challenges faced by our aging population," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. "Ultimately, combating Medicare fraud serves all Medicare beneficiaries by keeping health care costs low," she continued. "Our health care system also benefits when we provide those with Alzheimer's more healthy years and offer lower-cost community-based options to those seeking nursing home care."

The Senior Medicare Patrol Integration Project will educate Medicare recipients in east central, southern and southeastern Ohio counties on how to identify and address healthcare fraud, error and abuse. Senior Medicare Patrols train individuals in local communities to recognize potential Medicare fraud and report it appropriately. More than $50 million in savings to Medicare, Medicaid, and other entities have been related to the efforts of similar projects across the country. Working with a network of Regional Long-term Care Ombudsmen based in Dover, Rio Grande and Marietta, the project will expand the existing Senior Medicare Patrol project to previously underserved areas of the state.

Ohio's Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Project will link non-Medicaid eligible individuals in south central Ohio counties who are at imminent risk of nursing home admission and Medicaid spend-down with community-based care alternatives. The project will be based at Area Agency on Aging 7 in Rio Grande and will utilize consumer-directed models of care, allowing individuals the most flexibility in designing the program of support services that they receive. The model program developed through this grant will guide development of similar programs throughout the state.

Two other grants, Reducing Disability in Alzheimer's disease (RDAD) and Empowering Elders by Enhancing Cognitive Health Outcomes: The ECHO Project, both focus on reducing disability for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. RDAD works directly with the individual with Alzheimer's and their caregiver, emphasizing physical conditioning, improving physical health and reducing depression. The project is in cooperation with the Alzheimer's Association- Northwest Ohio chapter, the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio based in Toledo, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging based in Mansfield and PSA 3 Agency on Aging, based in Lima. The ECHO Project is a research study that will test ways to help individuals with early-stage dementia build cognitive reserve and combat late-life depression. The project also facilitates discussions about future care preferences between the individual and their caregiver. The research project will be led by the Benjamin Rose Institute in Cleveland.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.