[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Fw: UCP Washington Wire: Week of Monday, July 18, 2011

[Carlos J MontasAS]

UCP Washington Wire: Week of Monday, July 18, 2011    
----- Original Message ----- 
From: United Cerebral Palsy 
To: carlos.montas at gmail.com 
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 12:01 PM
Subject: UCP Washington Wire: Week of Monday, July 18, 2011



  UCP Washington Wire


  July 19, 2011


  CURRENT NEWS and UPDATES

  Last Week on the Hill
  Last week on Capitol Hill was all about the debt ceiling. Monday, the debt talks continued while the Energy and Commerce committee took up miscellaneous bills. Tuesday, the House Budget committee held its hearing on IPAB while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition of Affordable Health Coverage held a conference that discussed controlling health care costs. The House Oversight health subcommittee held a hearing on "Triggering a Medicare Plan from the Administration" Tuesday as well. On Wednesday, the House Budget committee held a hearing on the future of Medicaid and Social Security and Thursday the Senate Finance Committee held a field hearing in Salt Lake City, Utah on the future of Medicare and Social Security. All the while, debt talks continued with President Obama and the Debt Commission at the White House.

  UCP Signs on to Letter "National Groups Oppose the Constitutional BBA"
  Please see below to view the final letter on the National Groups Who Oppose the Constitutional BBA. UCP, along with a broad spectrum of 247 national groups have signed on to this letter in opposition to the constitutional balanced budget amendment. The letter has been widely distributed to policymakers and journalists. Click here to view the letter.

  Representative Chris Murphy (D-Ct.) on Medicaid
  Representative Chris Murphy (D-Ct.) recently wrote an article on Medicaid that appeared in the Huffington Post. Murphy made the point that many Americans don't realize how dangerous it would be to slash Medicaid because 60 million Americans, especially those with disabilities, rely on the program. He also spoke of vulnerable Americans and the need for them to have a voice. Click here to read on.

  New Campaign Mobilizes Caregivers and the People They Help
  The Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act, a bill introduced by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) would also help. The Act would extend overtime and minimum wage protections to care-giving workers, and improve care quality by providing grants to states to train workers who would be more likely to stick with this understaffed industry that helps seniors and people with disabilities. This is especially important at a time when Medicare and Medicaid cuts are being seriously considered at Debt Commission discussions. Click here to read more.

  Moving Forward with the Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act of 2011 (S.1273) and its corresponding bill (H.R.2341)
  The Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act of 2011 (S.1273) was previously introduced on June 23, 2011 by Senator Robert Casey. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Gillibrand, Harkin, and Sanders. On June 23, the bill was referred to the Senate committee and it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

  Its House-related bill, the Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act of 2011 (H.R.2341). The bill was also introduced on June 23 and is sponsored by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Ca.). The bill currently has 27 co-sponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Click here to learn more about S.1273; and here to learn about H.R.2341.

  Obama Administration Offers States Ways to Improve Care, Lower Medicaid Costs
  Last week, the administration released new initiatives that will focus directly on people receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits (Dual-eligibles). The three initiatives introduced by HHS are included below.
    a.. A demonstration program to test two new financial models designed to help states improve quality and share in the lower costs that result from better coordinating care for individuals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. 
    b.. A demonstration program to help states improve the quality of care for people in nursing homes by providing these individuals with the treatment they need without having to unnecessarily go to a hospital. 
    c.. A technical resource center available to all states to help them improve care for high-need high-cost beneficiaries. 
  More information about these initiatives is available here.

  Click here to read another article regarding the three new programs introduced to dual-eligibles.

  Medicare Age Increase Confirmed on the Debt Commission Table
  Last week, it was confirmed that President Obama has put the concept of raising the Medicare eligibility age. It was said that Obama would only agree to the change if it was part of a major deal on spending (not a “short-term” solution). Officials familiar with the situation have said that the increase in eligibility age could be OK, because the ACA would expand access to insurance coverage for aging Americans who are not yet Medicare –eligible.

  Menendez Introduces S. 1094, reauthorizing the Combating Autism Act of 2006
  In May, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act of 2006. During the second week of July, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is to hold an executive session. To learn more about the reauthorization, click here.

  Update on Reauthorization of Combating Autism Act (H.R. 2005)
  The House version of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 was part of a subcommittee hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health. The House bill, sponsored by Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ) has a total of 43 co-sponsors. Click here to learn more.

  Department of Justice (DOJ) Adds AIDS Section to the ADA Website
  The Department of Justice has recently updated the website of the Americans with Disabilities Act to include a section for people discriminated against on the assumption they are diagnosed with AIDS/HIV. Click here to view the site.

  If No Debt Agreement Reached in Time, What Bills Should the Administration Decide to Pay?
  If no agreement can be made, there would be approximately a $134 billion shortfall in August alone. The President would decide what to pay and he has many programs to choose from. From Social Security checks, salaries for members of the military and veterans, unemployment benefits, student loans, and many other government programs. An agreement in negotiations must be reached by July 22, 2011 so that legislation can get through Congress to meet an August 2 deadline. If that deadline passes, the Treasury has projected it will no longer have enough money to pay for all U.S. obligations – which could be a severe blow to the already struggling economy. Click here to read more.


  STATE CHECK-UP

  Hawaii to Receive Millions for Education
  Last week, it was announced that the federal government will be granting the state of Hawaii with over $115 million in education funds. Over $39 million of the funds will go to education programs that target kids with disabilities. The state will receive $39,562,879 from IDEA and $75,694,627 through ten programs administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Almost 18,000 local students in Hawaii in grades K-12 will receive services paid for by IDEA. Click here to read on.

  Minnesota Government Shut-Down Update
  For the past two weeks, the Minnesota state government has been in a state of shut-down because of continued budget disagreements. Services to the deaf, child care assistance to low-income parents, senior help lines and other state funded projects, including the zoo are now closed. Last week it was announced that Governor Mark Dayton had reached a deal with Republicans to re-open the government. Click here to get more information.

  July Edition of Medicaid Watch Released
  Click here for the July 1, 2011 edition of the MEDICAID WATCH. Notable and recent state developments and proposals that expand access and eligibility appear in blue, while noteworthy and recent state developments and proposals that reduce access and eligibility are printed in red. The last two pages contain a regularly-updated and current listing of sources and resources on state-level health coverage, with the most relevant news, facts and documents highlighted in yellow.

  The MEDICAID WATCH doesn't cover only state-level Medicaid eligibility and access news; it also reports on other state health assistance programs, including: State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP); States' own non-federally-funded medical assistance programs; State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs); State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs); State-subsidized or - sponsored health insurance programs for limited income persons; and State-subsidized high risk health insurance pools (including premium discounts given by some risk pools to those with incomes under state-set levels).


  ON THE HORIZON

  Health Exchange Update
  HHS estimates it will spend $2 billion setting up the health exchanges between now and 2015. The official date for the exchange's very first open enrollment period: starts Oct. 1, 2013, and ends Feb. 28, 2014.


  For more information on this UCP Washington Wire contact: Connie Garner, CGarner at ucp.org.   © United Cerebral Palsy  |  1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington D.C. 20036  |  800.872.5827 / 202.776.0406 view email in browser | Forward this email | Unsubscribe carlos.montas at gmail.com 
  Copyright (C) 2011 United Cerebral Palsy All rights reserved.