What's New
This page provides announcements for events and links to news stories that affect Nebraskans with disabilities.
Final Report to the President and Congress
Year Eight of the Panel
Hosted by Easter Seals Nebraska on Friday, July 25, 2008 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Educational Service Unit #10, 76 Plaza Blvd., Kearney, Nebraska. Please fax
your registration form to 913-621-2217. If you have any questions, please contact Tim McEvoy / Social Security Administration at
timothy.mcevoy@ssa.gov or via phone at 1-800-551-9289.
After many days, weeks, months, and paper, the NMFP project was approved on June 20. We are now up and running and are very excited about the impact we may have on many of the lives of those we serve through our Medicaid services. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions as we begin our travels in transitioning up to 900 individuals out of facility settings into home and community-based settings, please email Bil Roby, Grant Manager at
bil.roby@dhhs.ne.gov or call 402-471-2308.
Read about current events and other news that affect Nebraskans with disabilities.
Under the Social Security Administration’s initial regulations for the Ticket to Work program, Employer Network (EN) participation has been minimal and there has been no improvement in the rate of beneficiaries leaving the roles due to employment. After a long delay, SSA has issued new regulations which become effective July 21, 2008. NCHSD prepared
At-A-Glance: The Final Ticket to Work Regulations to summarize and highlight the key changes SSA made through the new regulations. With these changes, SSA has created a payment system based on the attainment of increasing levels of employment over time that is attractive enough to entice Employment Networks to participate. And, SSA has modified the interaction of the Vocational Rehabilitation cost reimbursement system with the Ticket system to encourage collaboration among state VR agencies and private ENs.
In preparation for the implementation of the New Ticket to Work Program regulations on July 21, 2008, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its partners will be conducting several national training sessions to review changes to the program. Interested parties are being asked to save these training dates and participate in the appropriate teleconferences or webinars. For more information, please contact
tickettowork@cessi.net.
Semiannual Report Fiscal Year 2008
Thomas to Serve on National Disabilities Advisory Panel 
Joni Thomas, Unit Manager with the Medicaid & Long-Term Care Division, was named as one of eleven distinguished experts on an advisory panel to the National Technical Assistance & Research Leadership Center that promotes employment and economic independence for adults with disabilities. (NTAR Leadership Center). The group will play a critical role in shaping technical assistance and training activities for the NTAR Leadership Center.
"This advisory panel will ensure that our activities reflect the genuine interests and needs of state and local policy makers and practitioners as they work to move adults with disabilities to employment," said Kathy Krepcio, NTAR Leadership Center Project Manager. According to Long-Term Care Program Supervisor Ginger Goomis,
"Providing her insight, both as an administrator and a consumer, Joni will be a valuable contributor to the advisory panel in its effort to support employment of people with disabling conditions." Thomas has been a DHHS employee with the Medicaid program for seven years.
