Senate Health Reform Proposals Hit Bumps

The HELP committee began marking up this week its version of health care reform as scheduled. The incomplete proposal, according to the CBO, has an initial price tag of $1 trillion. HELP and Finance originally planned to mark up their bills this month and then merge negotiations after the July Fourth recess. However, Senate Finance Chairman Baucus (D-MT) announced that the Finance committee’s scheduled markup next week would be delayed until after July Fourth due to his determination to bring the $1.6 trillion Finance proposal down to less than $1 trillion AND make it deficit neutral. Read more!

House Plan for Health Care Reform Unveiled

House Democrats released today an 852-page discussion draft of their health care reform proposal. The three House committees that worked together on the proposal(Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor) will begin debate on the measure in hearings next week. They are expected to mark up the bill soon after the July Fourth recess. Watch WICs Live and ANCOR's web for more information next week. Read more!

Iowa Makes Good on Pledge to Use Enhanced FMAP Exempt Providers from Across Board Cuts

Iowa Governor Chet Culver implemented an across-the-board cut of 6.5% in his FY09 budget. For FY10 beginning July 1, 2009 there was an additional across-the-board cut of 4.8% on top of the previous 6.5%. The good news for Iowa providers is that the Governor made a commitment to them that they would be exempted from the across-the-board cuts if Congress came through with the enhanced FMAP funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The Governor kept his commitment and providers were exempt. Thanks to Rod Braun of Christian Opportunity for this update. Read more!

Federal Sick Leave Bill Introduced

Senator Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative DeLauro (D-CT) introduced The Healthy Families Act (S.1152 and H.R. 2160) which would require employers with 15 or more employees to accrue paid sick leave (with up to 56 hours of paid sick leave) for every 30 hours worked. The paid sick leave could be used after 60 days for an employee to care for the medical needs of a child, parent, spouse, or any blood relative, or for their own medical needs including those resulting from domestic violence. The HFA mandated sick leave would be in addition to leave required under the Family Medical Leave Act or state workers compensation laws, and employers' leave policies would have to be meet the HFA requirements should it be enacted. The Senate bill has 20 cosponsors and the House bill has 105 cosponsors. ANCOR will provide members with additional information on the HFA. Read more!

Bill Watch: The Community Choice Act

The Community Choice Act would provide Americans with equal access to community-based services and supports. This ANCOR-supported bill would provide individuals with disabilities in nursing homes and other institutional settings with options to receive community-based services.Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) along with Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) introduced the Community Choice Act (S. 683; H.R. 1670) on March 23, 2009. The legislation has bi-partisan support. The Community Choice Act has been referenced in testimony at hearings concerning long-term services and supports within the context of health care reform. For more information visit www.passthechoiceact.com. Read more!