#USAgingHere4You: Amy Gotwals

• By: USAging
• On: 08/25/2023 15:19:55
• In: Program Update

Amy E. Gotwals joined USAging in September 2005 and currently serves as Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, a position created in 2014. In her role, Amy leads USAging's public policy, advocacy, communications, external relations and membership relations activities.
 
“I came to USAging 18 years ago this September, but I keep on learning more about our members’ work and our members keep evolving, so I never feel like I’ve reached the bottom of the knowledge well. Our members do such amazing work for older adults and caregivers and I find it an honor to represent them every day.”
 
In outreach to Congress and the Administration, Amy and the policy team advocate on behalf of AAAs and Title VI programs to ensure they receive needed resources and funding. Amy and the communications team raise the recognition and visibility of the work USAging’s members do to support older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. With her membership and external relations work, Amy and team facilitate peer learning and connection, identifies best practices and builds partnerships with other national groups to best respond to the evolving needs of USAging members.
 
Whether you would like a national policy update, have media questions, want to share information on a cool new program from your agency or are interested in being connected to innovative Aging Network programs, consider contacting Amy and her team.
 
USAging’s Public Policy and External Affairs Team

• Amy E. Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, agotwals@usaging.org
• Olivia Umoren, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, oumoren@usaging.org
• Joellen Leavelle, Director, Communications, jleavelle@usaging.org
• Rebecca Levine, Senior Manager, Membership, rlevine@usaging.org
• Caitlin Musselman, Manager, Communications, cmusselman@usaging.org
• Connor Kelly, Membership and Outreach Associate, ckelly@usaging.org
• Seth Ickes, Public Policy Associate, sickes@usaging.org
• Jessica Page, Communications Assistant, jpage@usaging.org

CMS Announces New Dementia Experience Model

• By: USAging
• On: 08/04/2023 09:32:16
• In: Policy & Advocacy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out a new Medicare pilot program—the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model—aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. This new model continues the momentum we’ve seen for federal efforts to address caregiving and directly aligns with USAging’s policy priority of recognizing and supporting caregivers.

Under the GUIDE Model, people will have access to training and services, including clinical and non-clinical services such as meals and transportation. Participants in the GUIDE Model will establish dementia care programs that provide ongoing care and support to people living with dementia through an interdisciplinary team.
 
GUIDE participants will be Medicare Part B enrolled providers/suppliers who are eligible to bill for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule services and agree to meet the care delivery requirements of the model. CMS will accept letters of interest for the GUIDE Model testing through September 15 and will release a GUIDE Request for Applications for the model in fall 2023. The model will launch on July 1, 2024, and run for eight years. Register here for CMS’ webinar on August 10th for more information.