People first. Prepared for what’s next.
October is about readiness: for emergencies, for the security risks that come with connected lives, and for the support people need to live the way they choose. This issue covers where we can now help, what a disaster plan really needs, what is new in the MyCompass System, and four habits that protect the people you support.
Every one of these starts in the same place: with the person.
Now a TRICARE-authorized non-network provider, East and West
Gray Matters Alliance is now a TRICARE-authorized non-network provider in both the East and West regions. Together, that means military families in both regions can explore assistive technology and individualized support with us.
Non-network means costs and paperwork can work differently than with an in-network provider. You may pay more out of pocket or file claims yourself, so we review that with you first, step by step.
Start with the person
We begin with goals, routines, and the environment, then look at what equipment and technology might fit.
Talk through coverage
Coverage depends on the person, the plan, and the service. We help you understand the steps and what to ask.
Know before you commit
You get a clear picture of what is involved, and what is still unknown, before anything is ordered.
Through Medicaid waivers, we are an approved provider in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado, and we are working toward enrollment in Iowa and Virginia. Each pathway has its own rules, and coverage always depends on the person, the program, and the service.
Missouri
Approved provider for the Missouri Brain Injury Waiver, and a durable medical equipment provider in the state.
Oklahoma
Approved Medicaid waiver provider for the Oklahoma ADvantage Aging Waiver and for IDD waiver services through Oklahoma Human Services.
Colorado
Approved provider through Colorado waiver programs.
Iowa and Virginia
We are working toward enrollment. We are not enrolled in either state yet.
OT home evaluations, statewide
Our licensed occupational therapist provides home evaluations and OT assessments in every Missouri county, in person or by virtual visit.
A home evaluation looks at how someone actually moves through their space, and where equipment, technology, or a modification could make daily life safer and more independent.
Preparedness doesn’t end in September
Beyond the Binder: Can Your Support Plan Survive a Disaster?
National Preparedness Month is over, but emergencies keep their own calendar. At the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services (MACDDS) conference, GMA led an interactive tabletop session where case managers and professionals worked through a disaster scenario together and looked for the places a written plan could break down.
Real preparedness starts with knowing the whole person.
How they communicate
How a person communicates under stress, and what helps them feel safe when routines change.
What they rely on
The equipment and technology they depend on every day, and what happens if it is left behind.
When the power goes out
What happens when power or connectivity is lost, and how long their equipment can keep going.
Who their people are
The family, caregivers, and support team who need to be reached, and how to reach them.
That is where occupational therapy, emergency management, and person-centered planning meet. We can run this exercise with your team, so the plan on paper gets tested before it is needed.
Reunification Profiles
Reunification Profiles are designed to give first responders key information about who a person is and who their people are, so someone who cannot easily speak for themselves has a better chance of being understood and reconnected with the people they trust.
What’s new in the MyCompass System
Updates reach people in stages. Now means available today. Rolling out means it is reaching people in stages, and some features need a compatible device, setup, or permissions. Here is what is new for each person and the people who support them.
More independence
Now: help choosing what to wear, and Siri support. Ask “Siri, what is my activity today?” or “Siri, call my caregiver on MyCompass.” Rolling out: a new version of MyCompass with self-managed schedules and secure messaging with the care team.
More awareness
Now: expanded maps, safe-area alerts (geofences) set up for each person, and National Weather Service and FEMA updates. Rolling out: air quality and live traffic.
Alerts that fit the person
Now: custom vital-sign alerts, and alerts for falls and changes in walking. Rolling out: Watch observations included in Nora’s caregiver summaries, where enabled.
One picture across your team
Now: Nora summaries in CompassCare Command Center across everyone your organization supports, so staff stay on the same page about what matters most.
Your information, explained
Rolling out: plain-language consent explanations showing what is collected, why, and who can see it. No cameras: monitoring works from data.
Alerts support awareness, not diagnosis. Alerts can be missed or delayed and are not an emergency service. In an emergency, call 911.
Not every piece of data becomes an alert. Families can focus on the alerts set up as most important for that person, and summaries add context, because alert fatigue is real and attention is limited.
What we’re working on next
These are not yet available. We will share more as each one is ready.
Nora planning help
Help coordinating reminders, preparation, and follow-up within a person’s approved support plan, with people making every decision.
Hydration data integration
We are integrating a remote hydration monitoring platform. We are working to bring hydration information into Nora so authorized care teams get a clearer picture, notice patterns, and follow up. It does not diagnose.
A more accessible MyCompass
Eye-tracking targets, light and dark modes, a space to talk with Nora, and achievements.
Smarter safe-area alerts and Vision Pro
Safe-area alerts that take more context into account, and an Apple Vision Pro experience.
Four habits that protect the people you support
These habits come from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and they are widely recommended. They take a few minutes to set up and make every account they touch harder to break into.
1. Turn on multifactor authentication
A second check, like a code sent to your phone, means a stolen password alone is not enough. Start with email, banking, and any account that holds health information.
2. Use a long, unique password for every account
Reused passwords let one breach open many doors. A password manager remembers them for you.
3. Turn on automatic updates
For phones, tablets, watches, and computers. Updates close security holes that attackers already know about.
4. Pause before you click
Be wary of urgent requests for money, passwords, or personal information. Call back on a number you already know, not one in the message.
For professionals: share client information only through your organization’s approved, secure channels.
Security is part of how we build
We take part in a defensive security verification program to keep strengthening the systems people rely on, knowing no system is perfectly secure.
Learning alongside the brain injury community
We spent time at the Brain Injury Association of Missouri’s annual conference with neurologists, occupational therapists, case managers, and other professionals. Brain injury touches every part of a person’s life, and good support takes all of those disciplines working together.
We are an approved provider for the Missouri Brain Injury Waiver, and those conversations shape how we think about equipment, technology, and support that fits the person in front of us.
New features, delivered with care
As new features reach you, we will let you know and help with setup. Know someone who should see this? Share it with a colleague, support coordinator, or family member.
Siri and Apple Vision Pro are trademarks of Apple Inc.
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Person-centered technology, equipment, services, and ongoing support. Every recommendation begins with the person.
Office: 122 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301
Mailing: 119 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301
314-266-2678
info@graymattersalliance.com
