FYI

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From: Annie Acosta <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Subject: The Capitol Insider for the week of October 6
To: Kendall Corbett <[log in to unmask]>



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Volume 13, Issue 40

October 6, 2008



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Major Events Last Week

U.S. Congress

A wild week on Capitol Hill ended with the Congress sending several
key bills to the White House for the President's signature.  The
Congress then adjourned until after the election in November.

Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution

Just hours before the start of FY 2009 on October 1, President Bush
signed into law the FY 2009 Continuing Resolution (CR).  The
Resolution maintains FY 2008 level funding for all human services
programs until March 6, 2009.  This action essentially freezes all
federal spending for domestic programs for five months.  The law does
appropriate FY 2009 funding for the Departments of Defense, Homeland
Security and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.  The CR does
allow for an increase of up to $618 million for certain HUD project
based Section 8 contracts.

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

Following the defeat in the House on Monday of a bill to stabilize the
financial markets and the banking and housing industries, the stock
market plummeted and the House and Senate were forced to seek a new
approach.  The Senate acted first.  The Senate voted 74-25 to add a
number of new provisions to better monitor and enforce the banking and
housing industries, authorizing up to $700 billion to buy troubled
assets from banks.  The Senate also tacked on a major bill that
contained a number of tax credit extenders.  The House then voted
263-171 to adopt the package, with 58 House Members switching their
votes.  President Bush promptly signed the bill into law on Friday
afternoon.  The full effect of the bill will not be known for weeks or
months.  The key indicator will be how the stock market reacts.  The
new law is also expected to assist homeowners at high risk of mortgage
foreclosure.

Health Care

The Senate and the House of Representatives passed the Paul Wellstone
and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which
was included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (H.R.
1424). The bill mandates that commercial insurers must set mental
health insurance co-payments and treatment limits equal to those for
coverage of physical conditions. It also bans cost-sharing
requirements that only apply to mental health or substance abuse
disorder benefits.

Unemployment Benefits Extension

Immediately after the House completed action on the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act, it voted to extend unemployment benefits. The
unemployment extension bill will provide an additional seven weeks for
workers whose benefits have expired and an additional thirteen weeks
for workers in those states that have an unemployment rate of 6
percent or higher.  The Senate has not acted on a similar bill.  This
bill may be addressed in mid November when the Senate holds what is
expected to be a brief lame duck session.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

President Bush signed into law the SSI Extension for Elderly and
Disabled Refugees Act, P.L. 110-328, on September 30. The law became
effective on October 1 and extends SSI eligibility for elderly and
disabled refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian immigrants from
seven to nine years. In addition, a provision of the bill will cover
those who have already lost their SSI benefits. These individuals fled
persecution or torture in countries such as Iran, Russia, Iraq,
Vietnam, and Somalia and now meet the criteria for SSI eligibility
based on disability or age. The Social Security Administration is
working to ensure implementation as soon as possible.

Transportation

On Wednesday the Senate cleared by a 74-24 margin a bill (H.R. 2095)
authorizing $13 billion for Amtrak. H.R. 2095 includes rail safety
provisions and the Amtrak reauthorization. The language requiring
Amtrak to report on their plans for meeting the ADA deadline of
station accessibility by 2010 remains in the bill. The President is
expected to sign the bill.

Prevention

The Senate and the House of Representatives passed the Mercury Export
Ban Act of 2008 (S. 906) which prohibits the sale, distribution,
transfer, and export of mercury. Public health experts believe mercury
causes neurological disorders, particularly through prenatal exposure.

Victimization

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) introduced the "Crime Victims with
Disabilities Act" (S. 3668) on October 1 . The legislation would
provide grants to states to facilitate collaboration among the
criminal justice system and a range of agencies and other
organizations that provide services to individuals with disabilities.
In addition to increasing the awareness, investigation, prosecution,
and prevention of crimes against individuals with a
disability--including developmental disabilities--the legislation
would also improve services to those who are victimized. A companion
bill has not yet been introduced in the House.

Medicaid

The Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made available to
selected disability organizations, including the Disability Policy
Collaboration, a draft white paper related to pending proposed changes
to the 1915c Home and Community Based Waiver regulation. CMS gave the
organizations only one week to respond to the planned changes which
would begin with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Two
changes are proposed: 1) CMS would allow states to combine targeted
groups (aged or disabled or both; mentally retarded or developmentally
disabled or both; mentally ill) within one waiver; and 2) strengthen
the requirements for providers to allow more choices of housing
alternatives in the community and make all the choices truly home and
community centered. The DPC will be responding to the white paper this
week and looks forward to the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
when affiliates of UCP and chapters of The Arc can also provide
comments.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published final
regulations for the Medicaid Self-Directed Personal Assistance
Services Program State Plan Option (Cash and Counseling). The rule
allows eligible beneficiaries to purchase personal assistance services
as specified in an approved self-directed services plan and budget.
Since this is an optional service, states will decide whether to
include the program in their state Medicaid plans. The final
regulations can be found at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-23102.pdf.

Employment

On October 1, 2008 President Bush issued his annual Presidential
Proclamation recognizing October as National Disability Employment
Awareness Month. Congress designated this month to recognize the
contributions of Americans with disabilities and to encourage all
citizens to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce. See the
Presidential statement at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/print/20081001-12.html



Major Events Ahead

U. S. Congress

Both Houses adjourned last Friday. The House has no schedule to return
for a lame duck session. The Senate will begin a lame duck session
during the week of November 17. There are a number of bills that have
been blocked by "holds" from one or more Senators that will be brought
up for a vote. It is possible that the Senate would also act on the
House passed unemployment benefits extension legislation. Medicaid
advocates will continue to pursue an increase in the Medicaid state
match during the lame duck session to help the escalating number of
states whose Medicaid programs are in dire straits.

Announcements

Medicaid Spending Report

The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report entitled "Headed for a
Crunch: An Update on Medicaid Spending, Coverage and Policy Heading
into an Economic Downturn." This annual 50-state survey of state
Medicaid and budget officials finds enrollment in Medicaid began to
rise in fiscal year 2008 with states expecting even larger increases
for fiscal year 2009 as they confront a weakening economy. Medicaid
enrollment across the country grew 2.1 percent, and spending increased
by 5.3 percent in fiscal year 2008. For fiscal year 2009, states
expect to see even larger increases in Medicaid enrollment and
spending. See the report at:
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7815.cfm

Voter Registration

Scheduled network maintenance of the Social Security Administration's
(SSA) computer grid over the Columbus Day holiday may interfere with
voter registration efforts. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and members
of the Election Assistance Commission raised concerns that the
shutdown would make it difficult for state election workers to perform
voter data cross-checks against SSA databases required by the Help
America Vote Act (HAVA). During record voter registration in the final
push leading to the election, as many as 12-41 states could be
affected. The potential result for newly registered voters? Some
possibilities include the need for additional identification on
Election Day or casting provisional ballots.

Family Caregiver Tele-class

Sign up for a free two-part tele-class for family caregivers on
"Communicating Effectively with Health Care Professionals." Learn how
the US healthcare system works, your role on your loved one's care
team, good communication for optimal health care, and preparing for
doctor visits. Other topics include developing rapport with providers,
composing assertive messages for communicating healthcare situations,
and preparation and coping mechanisms for emergency room visits. The
tele-classes will be held on November 6th and 13th from 2-3 PM
Eastern. To sign up, go to www.thefamilycaregiver.org or call (800)
896-3650 for more information.



________________________________

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If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at [log in to unmask]

Sincerely,

Annie Acosta
Director of Communications and Grassroots Advocacy
Disability Policy Collaboration




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--


Kendall

An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all
progress depends on the unreasonable man.

-George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950

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