Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
December 1, 2006, Vol. 06-116

The 2007 New Freedom Initiative Conference
Access to Community Living: Promoting Independence and Choice
March 5-7, 2007
Marriott Waterfront Hotel
Baltimore, Maryland

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces its 7th New Freedom Initiative Conference, "Access to Community Living: Promoting Independence and Choice."

"Choice and Independence" is a key pillar of CMS' vision for a person-centered long term services and supports system for the future. The 2007 conference will focus on the policies, programs and tools, including opportunities authorized by the Deficit reduction Act of 2007, available to shape and carry out the vision.

The agenda will include presentations on CMS's Roadmap for Reform and perspectives from consumers and advocates. Concurrent sessions will address components of programs that promote independence and choice. Participants will have opportunities to meet with CMS officials to discuss the roadmap, the options available and give their recommendations for reform.

Registration Application

Participants must apply to register for the conference. CMS will approve up to ten registrants from each state. Additional applicants may be approved once all states have had a chance to register. We encourage participation by Medicaid directors and staff, grantee project directors and staff who work on your grants or who are working on programs that promote home and community based services, consumers and other stakeholders.

Please do not make airline or hotel reservations until your application has been approved by CMS. You will receive a email confirmation once it has been approved.

There is no registration fee for this conference. Funds for the travel and hotel costs may be available from the grants awarded to your state. A limited number of scholarships will be available to cover the travel costs for consumers. (See registration application).

Poster session

We welcome proposals for the poster session which will be part of the conference reception on Monday evening from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. The general poster session request form is attached.

For More Information

Contact Jen Tabor at the National Academy for State Health Policy (jtabor@nashp.org or 207-874-6524) if you have questions. More information about the conference will posted to the conference web site as it becomes available at - www.nashp.org/cmsconference2007.

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.