Definitions -- Long-term care is full of jargon and undefined words. This beginning dictionary is an ongoing effort to corral them. If you have a term or word you feel needs a little explaining, please let us know.
- AoA -- Administration on Aging
- an arm of the
federal Department of Health and Human Services
- the federal agency that directs the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as the Office of the State Ombudsman Programs
- CMS -- Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- federal agency under the Administration on Aging that monitors both the Medicare & Medicaid programs in the states, directs the survey & complaint agencies, and writes the regulations that govern these programs
- maintains web site Nursing Home Compare that publishes considerable information on nursing homes in all states and issues the nursing home star ratings
- http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx
- HCBC -- Home and Community-Based Care
- generally used in referring to alternative long-term care settings
- Money Follows the Person programs and Medicaid Waiver programs allow the use of Medicaid funds for in-home care and care in other community based settings
- MDoA -- Maryland Department on Aging
- houses the Maryland Ombudsman Program
- manages the Older Adults Waiver
- MHCC -- Maryland Health Care Commission
- provides information on Maryland long-term care facilities and other health care providers
- this is the only place to go for survey reports for some Maryland assisted living facilities
- some information provided here may be as much as 2 to 3 years out of date
- OHCQ -- (Maryland) Office of Health Care Quality
- Maryland state agency with the responsibility for writing regulations for long-term care services
- conducts surveys and complaint investigations in nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- monitors care in hospitals and other health care settings
- complaints to "the state" in Maryland regarding nursing homes or assisted living facilities should be directed to this government agency
- http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ohcq/
