Many American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Elders and people with disabilities would benefit from long-term services and supports (LTSS), and tribes often deliver services such as transportation, meals, and home health to members. However, they often fund these services through tribal funds due to lack of funding from other sources. This webinar will examine the current LTSS needs and sources in AI/AN communities and then explore efforts in two states to work with tribes to improve the access of AI/AN to these services.
- Minnesota’s Medicaid program has historically contracted with some tribes to administer various aspects of home- and community-based services (HCBS) benefits, such as case management and eligibility assessments. Some of these tribes have leveraged these contracts to build their capacity and are now offering an array of LTSS, including caregiver support, personal care, and respite care. Building on this experience, Minnesota and tribal representatives have planned a new initiative that will enable other tribes to begin administering aspects of HCBS.
- The Arizona Department of Economic Security contracts with both the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and the Navajo Nation to serve as Area Agencies on Aging. These organizations administer state funding from the Older Americans Act, including the National Family Caregiver Support Program and Tribal Long-Term Care Ombudsman. These agencies combine the state funding with federal and tribal funding to offer a variety of services to older AI/AN, including nutrition and transportation services.
Speakers
- Patricia Sutton (Navajo/Diné, Cheyenne/Tsitsistas, and Arapaho/Hinónoʼeitíít), Tribal Liaison, Division of Aging and Adult Services, Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Elaina Seep, Policy Specialist, National Resource Center on Native American Aging
- Dr. Jasmine Grika (Cheyenne River Sioux/Red Lake Nation), Tribal Collective Supervisor, Transitions, Tribal, Transformations Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services
- John A. Anderson, Money Follows the Person Tribal Initiative Project Lead, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Monday, July 15, 2–3:30 p.m. E.T.
This webinar is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The John A. Hartford Foundation.
