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August is National Wellness Month
Celebrate National Wellness Month during the entire month of August. It's important to prioritize self-care, reduce stress, and create healthier habits to feel like your best self.
National Wellness Month came from the idea that in between building careers, raising a family, furthering education, creating new ideas, and nurturing our bodies, taking care of ourselves is important too!
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Spring Webinar Series
Exploring Healthcare Topics for Women with IDD
Did you miss any of our spring webinars? See below!
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April 16, 2026 - Oral Health for Women with IDD (Recording | Slides)
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May 28, 2026 - Pap Camp: Expanding Access, Empowering Care (Recording | Slides)
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June 2, 2026 - Lifelong Gynecology Needs and Hormonal Interactions with Other Common Medical Conditions for Women with IDD (Recording | Slides)
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June 18, 2026 - Sexuality and IDD: An Introduction (Recording | Slides)
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Federal Law Changes which Non-citizens Qualify for NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid Coverage.
New federal rules, signed into law July 2025, are changing who qualifies for NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid based on immigration status. Some lawfully present non-citizens will no longer qualify for coverage after September 30, 2026.
Take action now to help ensure your coverage:
1. Update your address so NJ FamilyCare can reach you.
2. Check your mail frequently for an official letter from NJ FamilyCare.
3. If you receive a letter, follow the instructions in the letter right away — don't
ignore it. You may need to send documents to help keep your coverage, and
even U.S. citizens may be asked to respond.
Many members will keep their coverage, and taking these steps is the best way to
ensure you remain covered. For the most up-to-date information, visit:
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/obbba/noncitizen.shtml
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Important Changes to the Medicaid Fair Hearing Process
Effective July 1, 2026, the NJ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) implemented changes to the Medicaid Fair Hearing process, which is utilized when appealing the reduction, termination, or denial of Medicaid benefits.
Due to the expiration of temporary waiver flexibilities, originally approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), certain rules and regulations around the Fair Hearing process have now changed.
Major changes include:
1. Expiration of Waiver Allowing Certain Initial Decisions to be treated as Final Agency Decisions
2. Reinstatement of Federal 90-Day Final Administrative Action Requirement
3. Reinstatement of the 20-Day Fair Hearing Filing Requirement
To read the Medicaid Communication describing these changes in detail, click here.
To access the related legal notice, click here.
| | What Could Medicaid Work Requirements Mean for SSI Applicants? | | |
The 2025 reconciliation law requires 44 states to condition Medicaid eligibility for adults in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion group and enrollees in certain waiver programs, on meeting work requirements starting January 1, 2027, or sooner at state option. While the law specifies mandatory exclusions, including for individuals who are “medically frail,” the approach to determining medical frailty specified in the June 2026 interim final rule could make it difficult for some people to qualify for this exclusion. Medicaid expansion provides coverage to many adults with significant health care needs, including some with disabilities who are applying for the Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI). This coverage could be at risk for some because of the planned approach to defining medical frailty.
Read the KFF article.
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Heat Toolkits for Individuals with Disabilities
Extreme heat is a period of unusually high heat and humidity that can be dangerous to health. In New Jersey, extreme heat events are expected to become more frequent and last longer. This guide will help you learn about how heat impacts individuals with disabilities, along with tips and resources to stay safe during hot weather. Individuals with disabilities may be disproportionately impacted by extreme heat.
See below the Extreme Heat Tool Kits created by NJ state agencies:
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Hurricane Season
June 1st – November 30th is hurricane season and the best way to stay safe is to stay informed.
The ADA National Network answers ADA-related questions and provides information and referrals as needed.
NJ Office of Emergency Management
NJ Register Ready | NJ 2-1-1 Partnership
NJ Register Ready helps people with disabilities to register their information with their county office of emergency management. NJ residents with disabilities are encouraged to complete the online registration annually. This information is used by emergency planners for their disaster preparedness planning. This way, when a disaster occurs, the county has properly prepared to meet the person's needs.
Watch the NJ Register Ready video in (ASL)
| | Help Shape the Future of Care! Take a Short Survey | |
Almost all of us will give or receive care at some point in our lives.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, that can mean finding support at home, help with daily needs, or access to services, often without much say in how any of it works.
When we start talking about care honestly, we realize many of us are in the same place, facing similar issues. And we can start to figure out what we need.
The Arc is proud to be part of 1 Million Care Conversations, a national effort to listen to people across the country about what care looks like in their lives: what's working, what isn't, and what it would take to thrive.
Take a short survey and share your experience (only takes a few minutes). This survey is about listening closely to what people need and the solutions they can get behind. What we hear will shape the future of care, built by the people who live it rather than decided for them.
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New Jersey Awards First Round of Rural Health Transformation Grants
Historic $83M Investment Will Strengthen Healthcare Workforce, Infrastructure, Technology, Prevention, and Chronic Disease Services in Rural Communities
On July 31st, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced the first round of grant awards through New Jersey's Rural Health Transformation Program (NJRHT), investing $83 million in projects that aim to strengthen healthcare access and improve health outcomes for residents living in rural communities across the state. The awards represent the first investments made through New Jersey's five-year Rural Health Transformation Program, a federally funded initiative designed to improve healthcare infrastructure, expand access to care, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and support innovative approaches to prevention and chronic disease management in rural communities.
Amid such challenges, the Sherrill Administration remains committed to using Rural Health Transformation funding strategically to strengthen rural healthcare systems and maximize its long-term impact for New Jersey communities. For more information about the Rural Health Transformation Program, including future funding opportunities, please join NJ’s RHT Listserv here. Program questions can be directed to the RHT email address: mahs.njrht@dhs.nj.gov.
Read the NJ DHS Press Release in English and Español.
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Join a FREE Webinar!
Whether you’re starting fresh, continuing your journey, or returning to work, the upcoming Social Security Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinar is available to guide you.
Join the webinar on August 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET to discover the Ticket to Work Program and free resources available to you. Learn how the program can help you reach your employment goals. Register now.
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Catching Up with Connor
Join us every other Thursday at 2:30pm for these livestream videos, featuring 10-15 minute educational talks on health care issues, news, and other key topics for individuals with IDD and their families.
No registration is required, but please leave a like and comment what topics you would like to see in the future!
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Virtual Office Hours
The Health Care Advocacy Program hosts virtual office hours on Mondays from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.
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Meet with Connor Griffin, Director of Health Care Advocacy, to discuss healthcare questions, such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security inquiries, which affect your family member or person with IDD you support.
The Director meets with registrants on a first-come, first-served basis and time is limited to 20 minutes, as needed. You may need to queue in the Zoom waiting room if the Director is already meeting with someone. Your patience is appreciated!
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