This Week's Updates
Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 07/18/2025 09:05 AM AKDT
Celebrating Alaska's Centenarians this September
Celebrating Alaska's Centenarians on National Centenarian Day September 22
We are excited to share that Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA), Alaska Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office and Alaska Pioneer Homes are working on a special project to celebrate Alaska's Centenarians on National Centenarian Day, September 22, 2025.
Are you a Centenarian (age 100 years or older)? Do you know a Centenarian in your community who we should interview? Reach out to us at: doh.acoa.info@alaska.gov or call 907-230-0871. Stay tuned!
ACoA Long-Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Webinar with Alaskan Attorney Amrit Kaur Khalsa August 18
We appreciate everyone who joined our Estate Planning Webinar with Chelsea Riekkola last month in honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback and several suggestions for further educational classes, we are hosting a Long-Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Webinar with Alaskan Attorney Amrit Kaur Khalsa on August 18th via Zoom from 12pm to 1:30pm AKDT which will cover Miller Trusts, Transfer of Assets, and more.
ACoA Webpage: E-blasts Available
We have made some improvements to our new webpage including a downloadable copy of the 2024 Senior Snapshot, as well as a link to join our weekly e-blast subscription. Plus, users are now able to view recent e-blasts. Click here.
Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act Becomes Law
The Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act and the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act had both been introduced by Alaska's congressional delegation since 2019 and now have been successfully signed into law.
“Now, Alaska Natives and vulnerable Alaskans can receive support without fear of losing essential benefits, and over 80 villages can finally move forward with building homes, improving infrastructure, and growing their economies,” Representative Begich said in a statement. Alaska Natives who are “aged, blind or disabled” can now exclude certain incomes when calculating their eligibility for federal benefits.
Senior & Disabilities Services E-Alerts
Understanding Cost of Care Amount for Long Term Services and Supports
In collaboration with the Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and the Division of Public Assistance, the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) is pleased to share the attached resources regarding Cost of Care Amount (COCA) for individuals receiving Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS). The resources contain practical information and aim to address frequently asked questions regarding COCA.
There are two guides attached:
- For Recipients and Families: Understanding your Cost of Care Amount: A Guide for People Getting Long-Term Services and Supports
- For Providers and Care Coordinators: Navigating Cost of Care Amount: A Practical Guide for LTSS Providers and Care Coordinators
Please feel free to share the guides with anyone interested in learning more about COCA. Questions? Email doh.sds.info@alaska.gov.
Division of Senior and Disabilities Services Training Materials for Community First Choice (CFC)
SDS will be implementing regulation changes related to legally responsible individuals providing Community First Choice Personal Care Services on August 1, 2025. These regulations were originally adopted October 19, 2024, but implementation was delayed.
In advance of the regulation implementation, please see the following training materials:
- For recipients, families, and stakeholders:
- SDS Training video explaining the regulation changes
- CFC Service Option for Families (attached)
- SDS Training Academy courses for providers of home and community-based waiver services:
- Introduction to CFC-PCS and PCS Amendments
- Legally Responsible Individuals, Designees: CFC-PCS and Waiver Services
- Exploring Community First Choice 2025
For more information and or to register to a SDS Training Academy course, please email the SDS Training Team at SDSTraining@alaska.gov.
Alaska Department of Health Scorecard Survey
Your feedback will guide DOH in making the Scorecard more accessible, relevant, and useful for all stakeholders. The survey should take under 10 minutes to complete.
Before you begin, you can learn more about the Alaska Scorecard and the Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program Plan: Strengthening the System II, projects jointly administered by the Department of Health and Department of Family and Community Services in partnership with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. You can also view the Alaska Scorecard Dashboard here.
SAIL: Ketchikan Annual Senior Picnic July 18
Indigenous Justice Circle: Start your own Intergenerational Native Girl Society, Application Due July 21
IJC will award up to $120,000 in the form of 6-8 awards of $5,000-$25,000 each to create and sustain local Inter-generational Girl Societies over a 20-month period (approximately October 2025-June 2027).
Successful applicants will receive funding and access to an integrated suite of IMAGEN tools. IJC will support planning, implementation and skill building to initiate and run in-person IMAGEN Girl Societies in Native communities. The application is open until July 21!
CoGenerate: Campus Innovation for a Multigenerational Society Webinar July 22
Join CoGenerate on July 22nd at 10am AKDT for an engaging webinar on Campus Innovation for a Multigenerational Society, exploring how colleges and universities are fostering meaningful connections between generations to address community challenges, expand opportunity, and strengthen civic life.
This conversation will highlight innovative approaches to intergenerational engagement on campuses—ranging from student-led efforts to institution-wide strategies in courses, housing, travel, and civic partnerships. The discussion will emphasize why these connections matter and what becomes possible when they’re built intentionally and creatively.
Featured speakers include:
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Lindsey Beagley, Arizona State University
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Matt Van Hoose, Goucher College
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Jennifer M. Lujan, University of Texas at El Paso
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Markya Reed, CoGen Impact Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
As the U.S. becomes increasingly age-diverse, this webinar invites educators, students, and community leaders to consider how higher education can evolve to support success across all ages and life stages.
Kawerak, Inc: Elders Advisory Committee Seeks Representatives
The Kawerak Elder’s Advisory Committee (KEAC) is an advisory committee for Kawerak. Any Elder can be nominated; they do not have to be serving on a council. Each Elder’s term is three years and may continue.
Elders nominated should be knowledgeable, can understand the issues, willing to speak up, able and willing to travel to bi-annual meetings.
To nominate or with questions, please email lgluguq@kawerak.org or call 907-443-4387.
Alaska Food Systems Network Gathering on Zoom July 24
These gatherings bring Alaskans together to connect community leaders, farmers, food businesses, enthusiasts, and everyone in between. Hosted by the Alaska Food Policy Council on July 24th from 11:30am - 1pm AKDT via Zoom. Learn more here.
View additional updates from the Alaska Tribes Extension Program here.
Caregiver Action Network: Navigating Care Coordination Webinar July 30
Join the Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network (FAM) on July 30th at 9am AKDT for a discussion about navigating care coordination and prior authorization. Hear physician, policy, advocacy, and caregiver perspectives and learn how you can navigate prior authorization to ensure your loved ones receive the care they need to be healthy.
Denakkanaaga: Elders Mentoring Elders Camp Registration Closes July 31
AHFC: Rural Professional Housing Grant Registration Deadline August 1
Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center Open House August 5
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Annual Meeting August 20
The annual meeting for the Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 20th from 1:00-2:00pm. This meeting will be held via Zoom and recorded. Please register here. We encourage you to share this invitation within your networks! It is open to anyone.
Please complete this short 3-item survey prior to July 31st. It will help us to tailor content for this meeting, and possibly identify topics for future communications. It will also help us connect partners who are considering proposing similar questions on the 2026 survey. Thank you!
Meeting Agenda
- Successes, challenges, and important updates (~20 mins)
- Results from the demographic analysis of the Social Determinants Module (~20 mins)
- FAQs and other topics based on survey monkey input above (~20 mins)
The cost to add questions on the 2026 BRFSS survey will be on a sliding scale this year due to the current fiscal climate. Obtaining full funding is ideal to allow BRFSS to meet sample size targets, but we realize that is not possible for everyone this year. We still want to prioritize needed health questions. Please see the attached document which addresses FAQs about the question proposal process and includes a proposal form. These are due by August 29th.
We have not received a draft 2026 BRFSS survey or a list of optional modules from the CDC but the following topics are scheduled for the core survey: Health Status, Health Care Access, Demographics, Immunization, Breast and Cervical Cancer, Drinking Driving/Seat Belt Use, Disability, Exercise, Tobacco Use, H.I.V./AIDS, Lung Cancer, Oral Health, Healthy Days, Chronic Health Conditions, Alcohol Consumption, Falls, and Colorectal Cancer. You can review optional modules offered in previous years here.
Recent surveys administered in Alaska can be found in the Alaska BRFSS Data Center
Sign-up to the Alaska BRFSS listserv at http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/akbrfssnews
Hospice of Anchorage: Healing Through Community
Hospice of Anchorage's Grief Support group is here to help you. Join in-person every Friday through 9/26 from 11:00 – 12:30 PM at 2612 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Call: 904-561-5322.
Native Village of Kotzebue: July Elder Spotlight
Alaska Trends Magazine: The Cost of Living in Alaska
John A. Hartford Foundation Updates
The John A. Hartford Foundation’s recent newsletter celebrates the Older Americans Act and shares new resources supporting age-friendly care. Highlights include a new WebMD podcast featuring JAHF President Terry Fulmer discussing the film Aging in America, and a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast with JAHF’s Leslie Pelton on using the 4Ms framework in care. A video from the Nebraska Rural Health Association shows how one rural hospital is advancing age-friendly care. Six health systems also received grants to improve diagnostic excellence for older adults. Upcoming webinars cover topics such as evaluating 4Ms through EHR data (July 18), a CMS measures webinar (July 23), and integrating home health care into age-friendly systems (July 29). The GUIDE Dementia Care Collaborative kicks off its series on July 23, and the Aging in America Summit will be held in person that same day. Applications for the Journalists in Aging Fellows Program are due July 28, and hospitals can sign up now to join the next Age-Friendly Health Systems Action Community launching in September.American Society on Aging: Generations Today July Issue
The July–August 2025 issue of ASA Generations Today's theme is On Menopause: Turning Around the Silence & Stigma. Editor Alison Biggar reflects on how menopause is finally stepping into the spotlight and offers a thoughtful collection of essays and research. Highlights include a primer by Dr. Robin Noble, an exploration of stigma by Dr. Heather Currie, and Ekta Kapoor’s look at the intersection of caregiving and menopause. Deborah Jermyn examines the booming menopause market in the UK, while Elena Vacchelli shares how scholars turned to artivism to research menopause across cultures. Alison Biggar recommends essential menopause reads, and Andrea Carlisle offers a moving personal reflection on navigating “the Change."
AARP Updates
Social Security Nationwide Data Dashboard: Over 67 million people in the U.S. receive Social Security benefits, contributing $1.4 trillion annually to the national economy. AARP Research has released an interactive data dashboard that provides county-level insights into Social Security’s local impact. The tool offers detailed breakdowns by subpopulations, shows average monthly and annual payments, and compares local figures to national averages. It’s a valuable resource for raising awareness, informing advocacy, and supporting age-friendly community efforts focused on economic security. Check out Alaska's stats and more here.
What to Know About the New Tax Deduction for Older Adults: Who qualifies? How much is it? Does it affect Social Security? Read here.
Your Dementia Risk May Depend on Your ZIP Code: Why are rates highest in the Southeast and lowest in the mid-Atlantic? Read here.
9 Nutrients You Need More of As You Get Older: If you are over 50, you may not be getting enough of these vitamins, minerals and other essentials.
CMS Announces Model to Improve Prevention, Management of High-Cost Chronic Conditions
CMS is proposing the new Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM), a mandatory payment model focused on specialty care for people with heart failure and low back pain – significant areas of Medicare spending. The model aims to enhance the quality of care and reduce low-value care by improving upstream chronic condition management and coordination between primary care providers and specialists.
The proposed ASM, one of the newest CMS Innovation Center models, is designed to incentivize preventive care and increase financial accountability for specialists. ASM rewards specialists who detect signs of worsening chronic conditions early, enhance patients’ function, reduce avoidable procedures and hospitalizations, and use technology that allows them to communicate and share data electronically with patients and their primary care providers. Participants will be held accountable for their performance, generating savings.
If finalized, the model will begin in January 2027 and run for five performance years through December 2031.
Find more information on the ASM webpage, as well as the press release and fact sheet.
ASM is proposed in the Calendar Year 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule.
Send questions about the model to AmbulatorySpecialtyModel@cms.hhs.gov.
Center for Medicare Advocacy Updates
The Center for Medicare Advocacy reminds beneficiaries and providers that under the Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement, Medicare covers skilled nursing and therapy services to maintain a person’s condition—regardless of improvement—for both traditional and Medicare Advantage plans. CMS recently urged Medicare Advantage Organizations to train staff accordingly.
CMS also announced it will not expand clinical scenarios eligible for dental payment under Medicare in 2026, maintaining current coverage limited to situations linked to organ transplants, cancer treatment, and dialysis.
A national study confirms that nursing facilities temporarily increase staffing and improve care practices during state surveys, only to revert after inspections conclude—especially in for-profit facilities.
Also featured is a podcast on the Nursing Home Reform Act with Center attorney Toby Edelman, exploring the law’s impact and the need for continued advocacy.
Plus, a helpful CMS fact sheet clarifies when to contact Social Security versus Medicare for questions about eligibility, benefits, and appeals.
View this week's CMA Alerts here.
KFF News
Maybe It’s Not Just Aging. Maybe It’s Anemia.
Even Grave Errors at Rehab Hospitals Go Unpenalized and Undisclosed
The NIH Undergoes More Shake-Ups
A Closer Look at the $50 Billion Rural Health Fund in the New Reconciliation Law
Doc Groups Say Proposed Medicare Payment Increase Is Inadequate
The Uncertain Future of Medicare’s Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan Market and Why It Matters
Key Facts About Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2025
Most Medicare Advantage Markets are Dominated by One or Two Insurers
Healthy Aging National Poll Results
National Center on Elder Abuse Survey
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) provides the latest information regarding research, training, best practices, news and resources on elder abuse, neglect and exploitation to professionals and the public. The NCEA is conducting an annual satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate our products and services and inform quality improvement. This brief questionnaire should take no longer than 5 - 10 minutes to complete. Responses will provide information NCEA needs to report back to our funder and improve the resources we provide to you and your colleagues.
National Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Summit Materials Now Available
The Elder Justice Initiative (EJI), in cooperation with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), hosted the first National Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Virtual Summit, on May 29-30, 2025. Elder abuse multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) bring together various disciplines to respond to the needs of older victims and to hold offenders accountable.
Representatives from MDTs (in all phases of development from planning to established) in every state in the country attended the Summit and shared MDT Updates and Recommendations.
As lead up to the Summit, several events took in place and materials were developed, including a series of listening sessions with MDT representatives (see Listening Session Report), network definitions, an updated 2025 statutory review of MDTs, an MDT literature review, an updated MDT Guide and Toolkit was released and relevant MDT resources were developed.
During the Summit, attendees were educated by subject matter experts in prosecuting elder abuse, trauma-informed practices, person-centered practices, recommended best practices when communicating with older victims, managing confidentiality, a series of state initiatives, and program evaluation (see Agenda). The Summit culminated with a presentation on the RISE model, a model that integrates all the information learned in the previous sessions (see all speaker presentations).
All of the materials discussed above are now available on the Elder Justice website’s National Elder Abuse MDT Summit webpage. Session recordings are forthcoming.
Generations United Updates
The July 2025 issue of the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network's Network Connection newsletter from Generations United highlights new resources, events, and policy updates supporting kinship and grandfamilies. It announces upcoming webinars on federal funding and food security for kin caregivers, and shares updated data tools and new fact sheets on improving access to TANF child-only grants. The issue also spotlights technical assistance services, funding opportunities, and recent news, including expanded Medicaid access for Tribal clinics and kin-specific foster care policies in several states. Learn more about how this national technical assistance center is working to strengthen services and supports for kinship families.
National Council on Aging Updates
In NCOA's newsletter, they share how the Older Americans Act (OAA) has quietly powered aging services for 60 years, funding senior centers and community-based programs nationwide. With National Senior Center Month coming in September, (this year’s theme is Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script) NCOA offers tools to help organizations celebrate. They also invite participation in Falls Prevention Awareness Week (Sept. 22–26), with a toolkit to support outreach.
Encore Network Updates
The Encore Network's recent newsletter highlights the growing value of experienced workers over 50 in today’s tight labor market. Programs like Allegheny Health Network’s “RetuRN to Practice” demonstrate how employers are welcoming seasoned professionals back into the workforce. Globally, countries like Denmark and China are raising retirement ages to reflect longer lifespans—Denmark plans to raise its age from 67 to 70 by 2040. MIT AgeLab’s Joe Coughlin explores what these shifts mean for workplace design, skill-building, and economic opportunity. Meanwhile, Oregon joined five other states in banning age identifiers on job applications, and new Census data shows older adults now outnumber children in nearly half of U.S. counties. Encouragingly, women—especially older women—are rapidly closing the gap in adopting generative AI tools, with usage expected to match men’s by the end of 2025.
Disclaimer: The information and announcements included in this email are being redistributed for informational purposes only. Our agency does not necessarily endorse or support the views, opinions, or activities of these organizations, and inclusion in this email does not imply any affiliation or recommendation.