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  Program and Policy AreasColumn 1 - Programs*** COVID-19 ***ACL A to Z: Programs, Networks, & Focus AreasOverviewAging and Disability NetworksAging and Disability Resource CentersAmericans with Disabilities Act National NetworkArea Agencies on AgingAssistive Technology NetworkCenters for Independent LivingProtection and Advocacy SystemsSenior Centers and Supportive Services for Older AdultsState Councils on Developmental DisabilitiesState Units on AgingUniversity Centers for Excellence in Developmental DisabilitiesAlzheimer’s Disease and DementiaConnecting People to ServicesAging and Disability Resource Centers Program/No Wrong Door SystemMedicare Improvements for Patients and Providers ActState Health Insurance Assistance ProgramConsumer Choice and ControlPerson-Centered PlanningSupported Decision MakingTransportation Research and Demonstration ProgramVeteran Directed Care ProgramData ProjectsEmpowering AdvocacyThe President’s Committee for People with Intellectual DisabilitiesEmploymentFor American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native HawaiiansHealth & WellnessBehavioral HealthBrain HealthChronic Disease Self-ManagementFalls PreventionHealth PromotionI Can Do It! (ICDI)HIV/AIDSNutritionOral HealthOpioid CrisisProgram Evaluations and ReportsProtecting Rights and Preventing AbuseElder Abuse PreventionElder Justice Coordinating CouncilHelp America Vote Act ProgramsLegal AssistanceLong-Term Care OmbudsmanFor People with DisabilitiesSenior Medicare PatrolSupporting Adult Protective ServicesResearch and DevelopmentAdvanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) ProgramDisability and Rehabilitation Research ProgramField-Initiated Projects Program Rehabilitation ResearchModel Systems ProgramNIDILRR Annual ReportNIDILRR External EvaluationNIDILRR Performance and EvaluationRehabilitation Engineering Research Center ProgramRehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) ProgramSmall Business Innovation Research ProgramSwitzer Research Fellowship ProgramRetirement Planning and Pension SupportSupport to CaregiversLifespan Respite Care ProgramNational Family Caregiver Support ProgramRAISE Family Caregiving Advisory CouncilSupporting Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenSupport for People with Limb Loss, Paralysis and TBILimb Loss Resource CenterParalysis Resource CenterTraumatic Brain InjuryStrengthening the Aging and Disability NetworksAging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and PracticesDiversity & Cultural CompetencyDuals Demonstration Ombudsman Program Technical AssistanceImproving Business PracticesImproving Quality of ServicesNational Resource CentersProjects of National SignificancePerson-Centered, Trauma-Informed ServiceSuccess StoriesVolunteer Opportunities and Civic EngagementGrantsColumn 1 - GrantsACL’s Grants ProcessApplying for GrantsApplication TipsHow to ApplyFunding OpportunitiesClosed OpportunitiesGrant LifecycleManaging a GrantData, Research & IssuesColumn 1 - AgingOverviewData and ResearchACL DataThe State of the States in Developmental DisabilitiesNIDILRR Publications and ResourcesProfile of Older AmericansIssue Briefings and Other ReadingNewsroomColumn 1 - NewsLatest NewsAnnouncementsACL BlogEvents and ObservancesSpeeches and TestimonyColumn 2 - NewsACL UpdatesReady-to-publish materialsACL LogosArticles, Infographics, and Fact SheetsVideosFor ReportersStory IdeasCommunicating with Older AdultsFOIAAbout ACLColumn 1 - About ACLAbout Community LivingAbout the Aging and Disability NetworksMission & VisionOrganizationOrganizational ChartLeadershipRegional OfficesHistoryBudgetPolicy and RegulationsPublic InputReports to Congress               and the PresidentColumn 2 - About ACLAuthorizing StatutesDevelopmental Disabilities ActOlder Americans ActWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity ActElder Justice ActHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)Help America Vote ActMedicare Improvements for Patients & Providers ActPublic Health Service ActRehabilitation ActWorking at ACLContact Us
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          Program and Policy Areas
          Managing Conflicts of Interest in SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA Programs Managing Conflicts of Interest in SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA Programs
 Program and Policy Areas
  

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    *** COVID-19 ***
                          ACL A to Z: Programs, Networks, & Focus Areas
                          Overview
                                
                
        Aging and Disability Networks
          
                                  Aging and Disability Resource Centers
                          Americans with Disabilities Act National Network
                          Area Agencies on Aging
                          Assistive Technology Network
                          Centers for Independent Living
                          Protection and Advocacy Systems
                          Senior Centers and Supportive Services for Older Adults
                          State Councils on Developmental Disabilities
                          State Units on Aging
                          University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
                                Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
                                
                
        Connecting People to Services
          
                                  Aging and Disability Resource Centers Program/No Wrong Door System
                          Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act
                          State Health Insurance Assistance Program
                                      
                
        Consumer Choice and Control
          
                                  Person-Centered Planning
                          Supported Decision Making
                          Transportation Research and Demonstration Program
                          Veteran Directed Care Program
                                Data Projects
                                
                
        Empowering Advocacy
          
                                  The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
          
                                  President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities releases 2015 Report to the President
                                Employment
                          For American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians
                                
                
        Health & Wellness
          
                                  Behavioral Health
                          Brain Health
                          Chronic Disease Self-Management
                          Falls Prevention
                          Health Promotion
                          I Can Do It! (ICDI)
                          HIV/AIDS
                          Nutrition
                          Oral Health
                                Opioid Crisis
                          Program Evaluations and Reports
                                
                
        Protecting Rights and Preventing Abuse
          
                                  Elder Abuse Prevention
          
                                  Draft Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems
                          Elder Abuse Prevention Intervention
                          Late Life Domestic Violence
                          National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS)
                          National Center on Elder Abuse (Title II)
                          National Elder Abuse Incidence Study (1998)
                          Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Title VII-A3)
                          State Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services
                          The National Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center
                                Elder Justice Coordinating Council
                          Help America Vote Act Programs
                          Legal Assistance
                                Long-Term Care Ombudsman
          
                                  LTC Ombudsman National and State Data
                                For People with Disabilities
                          Senior Medicare Patrol
                          Supporting Adult Protective Services
                                      
                
        Research and Development
          
                                  Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) Program
                                Disability and Rehabilitation Research Program
          
                                  Knowledge Translation Program
                                Field-Initiated Projects Program Rehabilitation Research
                          Model Systems Program
                          NIDILRR Annual Report
                          NIDILRR External Evaluation
                          NIDILRR Performance and Evaluation
                          Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Program
                          Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program
                          Small Business Innovation Research Program
                          Switzer Research Fellowship Program
                                Retirement Planning and Pension Support
                                
                
        Support to Caregivers
          
                                  Lifespan Respite Care Program
                          National Family Caregiver Support Program
                          RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council
                          Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
                                      
                
        Support for People with Limb Loss, Paralysis and TBI
          
                                  Limb Loss Resource Center
                          Paralysis Resource Center
                          Traumatic Brain Injury
                                      
                
        Strengthening the Aging and Disability Networks
          
                                  Aging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
                          Diversity & Cultural Competency
                          Duals Demonstration Ombudsman Program Technical Assistance
                          Improving Business Practices
                          Improving Quality of Services
                          National Resource Centers
                          Projects of National Significance
                          Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Service
                                Success Stories
                          Volunteer Opportunities and Civic Engagement As the Medicare population grows, the networks serving them continue to feel conflicting pressures as they seek to serve as many individuals as possible, adhere to federal funding and policy requirements, and identify innovative funding streams. Organizations that house the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) programs must be especially conscientious in navigating these pressures, as their Team Members are tasked with providing unbiased, objective information to Medicare-eligible individuals on their health insurance options.
To assist with addressing these challenges, the Administration for Community Living convened a workgroup starting in the fall of 2019 to draft guidance and resources for the SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA networks and community partners.  This workgroup was comprised of representatives from SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA programs at both the state and local levels; area agencies on aging; national network partner organizations; and ACL. The workgroup met monthly over the course of nine months and provided thoughts, feedback, examples, and suggestions which were used to develop a grantee guidance document.
The guidance document, **Conflict of Interest: Identification, Remedy, and Removal**, provides technical assistance to SHIP/SMP/MIPPA programs and their partner Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) on how to avoid actual and perceived Conflicts of Interest (COI) and mitigate risk. The ACL Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling’s (OHIC) intention in preparing this resource is not to be prescriptive, as we know that each state and scenario is different, but instead to provide identification and remedy or removal strategies to help support grantees' risk mitigation efforts. Nor is this document intended to discourage grantees or CBOs from forming new partnerships or contracts when appropriate.
The purpose of this document and related technical assistance is to support grantees in identifying and mitigating risks in administering their SHIP/SMP/MIPPA programs. Responsibility for managing COI risk falls on the SHIP/SMP/MIPPA grantee, not upon ACL. All information provided within this resource impacts not only the direct SHIP/SMP/MIPPA grantees, but also each entity receiving sub-awarded or pass through funding.
Questions and technical assistance requests can be sent to OHIC@ACL.hhs.gov.

                    *Last modified on 07/23/2020*
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    An official website of the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.