President Obama announced Mondaythe formation of a White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families that would target raising the living standards of middle-class, working families. In addition to regular meetings, the task force will conduct outreach sessions with labor, business, and advocacy communities. The President set out five goals for the task force. The announcement includes the creation of a new website at www.AStrongMiddleClass.gov that also solicits public comment. ANCOR will explore ways that its policy issues can be brought forward to the task force.
Vice President Bidgen will lead this initiative that will be comprised of top-level administration policy makers including the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Commerce, and the Directors of the National Economic Council, the Office of Managemen and Budget, the Domestic Policy Council, and the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. President Obama has set the following goals for the task force: expanding education and lifelong training opportunities; improving work and family balance; restoring labor standards, including workplace safety; helping to protect middle-class and working-family incomes; and protecting retirement security. The first official meeting will be on February 27, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The topic of the first meeting will be: "Green Jobs: A Pathway to a Strong Middle Class."
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Friday, January 29, 2010
Bipartisan Policy Center Launches Debt Reduction Task Force
Co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center, former Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Former Office of Management and Budget and Congressional Budget Office Director Alice Rivlin announced Monday that they will lead a task force to develop a comprehensive, balanced and politically-viable budget plan for expedited consideration by the Administration and Congress.
The task force believes that the U.S. cannot simply rely upon economic growth to solve the federal fiscal imbalance and it plans to examine a broad range of spending and revenue options—with all options on the table. This effort is separate from failed Senate efforts this week to establish through statute a commission to make recommendations to Congress or President Obama’s plan to establish a commission via executive order. A listing is available of the Center’s Deb Reduction Task Force , as well as video and other activities on the Center’s website.
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The task force believes that the U.S. cannot simply rely upon economic growth to solve the federal fiscal imbalance and it plans to examine a broad range of spending and revenue options—with all options on the table. This effort is separate from failed Senate efforts this week to establish through statute a commission to make recommendations to Congress or President Obama’s plan to establish a commission via executive order. A listing is available of the Center’s Deb Reduction Task Force , as well as video and other activities on the Center’s website.
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President’s FY 2011 Budget to Include Freeze on Non-Security Discretionary Funds for Three Years
In conversations with Administration officials on Tuesday, ANCOR learned that the proposed freeze to be included in the President’s proposed FY 2011 budget submitted to Congress on February 1st will not affect mandatory programs (entitlements) such as Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. The proposal would not place a freeze on defense, homeland security, Veteran’s Affairs, or international/global funding. The proposed budget will seek to save $250 billion over 10 years to help address the $8 trillion deficit that this Administration said it inherited.
The freeze or cuts will not be equally borne across federal discretionary programs—some programs may get an increase, while others will be frozen or cut, and some eliminated. Officials stated that questions regarding specific programs would have to await the submission of the budget on Monday. As ANCOR members will recall, discretionary programs equal only 15 percent of the federal budget, with 85 percent spent on entitlement programs, interest on the national debt, and defense-related spending. Read more!
The freeze or cuts will not be equally borne across federal discretionary programs—some programs may get an increase, while others will be frozen or cut, and some eliminated. Officials stated that questions regarding specific programs would have to await the submission of the budget on Monday. As ANCOR members will recall, discretionary programs equal only 15 percent of the federal budget, with 85 percent spent on entitlement programs, interest on the national debt, and defense-related spending. Read more!
Reid Postpones Unveiling of Jobs Plan
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has postponed unveiling his plan for a series of jobs bills until next week in order to include proposals outlined by President Barack Obama during Wednesday’s State of the Union address. Obama’s State of the Union caused a “delay by a few days to incorporate a few of the president’s suggestions,” Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND)said, including the president’s call for new small-business capital gains provision.
Earlier Thursday, Reid acknowledged that he is planning to move a series of smaller, targeted jobs bills this year rather than one large package. Democrats are hoping that by moving several bills throughout the year they can keep the issue on the front burner and lure some GOP support along the way.
The first bill, which could be introduced as early as next week with the intention of passing it before the Febrary 13 recess, could include provisions dealing with small businesses, infrastructure and taxes.
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Earlier Thursday, Reid acknowledged that he is planning to move a series of smaller, targeted jobs bills this year rather than one large package. Democrats are hoping that by moving several bills throughout the year they can keep the issue on the front burner and lure some GOP support along the way.
The first bill, which could be introduced as early as next week with the intention of passing it before the Febrary 13 recess, could include provisions dealing with small businesses, infrastructure and taxes.
Read more!
ANCOR Offers Comments at Invitation-Only HHS/DOJ Summit on Fraud and Abuse
ANCOR participated Thursday in an all-day Summit on Fraud sponsored by HHS Secretary Sebelius and Attorney General Holder that brought together federal agencies, state officials, and some private providers and health care insurers. Both Sebelus and Holder emphasized that this administration has a top priority placed on the detection, prevention and enforcement of Medicare, Medicaid, and health care fraud, waste and abuse. Secretary Sebelius announced that President Obama's proposed budget to be released on February 1st makes an historic federal investment--$1.7 billion or 80% increase--in efforts to address fraud, waste and abuse.
Top federal officials stressed that this first ever fraud summit would not be the last. The summit included comments from the HHS Inspector General (IG) and included CMS Medicaid and Medicare, Administration on Aging, HHS IG, and other federal officials along with federal and state law enforcement officials. One theme of the summit was to bring public and private stakeholders together to discuss solutions to address detection and prevention of fraud and abuse.
ANCOR was one of a few private providers along with private health insurers in attendance. ANCOR had the opportunity to comment in an afternoon breakout session on the duplication of multiple audits and reviews, and urged coordination of federal and state efforts. ANCOR also reminded officials--as they spoke about limited federal, state, and local resources--that providers are also facing an environment of severe cuts, the costs of multiple audits and reviews, and resources diverted from providing supports and services. In addition to better coordinating efforts and refocusing on suspicious trends in provider claims, ANCOR urged federal and state officials to better share information and engage providers in solutions.
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Top federal officials stressed that this first ever fraud summit would not be the last. The summit included comments from the HHS Inspector General (IG) and included CMS Medicaid and Medicare, Administration on Aging, HHS IG, and other federal officials along with federal and state law enforcement officials. One theme of the summit was to bring public and private stakeholders together to discuss solutions to address detection and prevention of fraud and abuse.
ANCOR was one of a few private providers along with private health insurers in attendance. ANCOR had the opportunity to comment in an afternoon breakout session on the duplication of multiple audits and reviews, and urged coordination of federal and state efforts. ANCOR also reminded officials--as they spoke about limited federal, state, and local resources--that providers are also facing an environment of severe cuts, the costs of multiple audits and reviews, and resources diverted from providing supports and services. In addition to better coordinating efforts and refocusing on suspicious trends in provider claims, ANCOR urged federal and state officials to better share information and engage providers in solutions.
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ANCOR Co-sponsors National Call-In Days and Roll Call Ad Urging Congress to Complete Health Care Reform That Includes Long-Term Supports
Working together with a group of aging and disability national organizations, ANCOR joined in sponsoring a Roll Call Ad that calls on Congress to pass legislation now that includes The CLASS Act and other important improvements to expand and increase funding options for home and community supports and services. Other efforts included national call-in days to Congressional offices this week. ANCOR thanks all members who responded to the National Call-In alert this week.
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No Firm Strategy Emerges Yet for Congress to Complete Health Care Reform
House and Senate Democratic leaders January 28th said President Obama's State of the Union speech might help re-energize Congress in its push to pass health care reform legislation. Getting the House to pass the Senate bill, along with approval of a smaller measure making changes to the Senate legislation favored by House lawmakers via the budget reconciliation process, remains under serious consideration.
Under reconciliation, legislation in the Senate can be approved with just 51 votes. That package was expected to include new language on the makeup of health insurance exchanges, changes to the so-called Cadillac tax on high cost health insurance plans in the Senate bill, and more generous federal subsidies for low- and middle-income individuals seeking to purchase insurance than contained in the Senate bill. House Speaker Pelosi (D-IA) said House Democratic leaders would soon lay out the content of the smaller bills, but “right now, we want to see where the Senate will go on its legislation.“
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Under reconciliation, legislation in the Senate can be approved with just 51 votes. That package was expected to include new language on the makeup of health insurance exchanges, changes to the so-called Cadillac tax on high cost health insurance plans in the Senate bill, and more generous federal subsidies for low- and middle-income individuals seeking to purchase insurance than contained in the Senate bill. House Speaker Pelosi (D-IA) said House Democratic leaders would soon lay out the content of the smaller bills, but “right now, we want to see where the Senate will go on its legislation.“
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Grassley Introduces Bill to Fight Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Medicaid, Medicare, and SCHIP
On the same day that the departments of Health and Human Services and Justice held a Summit on Health Care Fraud (see related article) Ranking Senate Finance Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA)Thursday introduced the “Strengthening Program Integrity and Accountability in Health Care Act." Grassley's legislation brings together "bipartisan initiatives to fight fraud, waste and abuse in taxpayer-sponsored health care programs, which all face serious budgetary challenges.” It includes many of the themes for fighting fraud addressed in the HHS/DOJ summit.
The bill would strengthen the Federal False Claims Act, strengthen provider screening requirements, establish provider compliance program requirements and increase disclosure requirements of entity and provider ownership, increase federal funding, strengthen reporting requirements for Medicaid and Medicare Integrity Programs, and improve collection and sharing of data. “As spending on these programs continues to grow, Congress should act quickly to pass these reforms out of respect for taxpayers and on behalf of program beneficiaries.”
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The bill would strengthen the Federal False Claims Act, strengthen provider screening requirements, establish provider compliance program requirements and increase disclosure requirements of entity and provider ownership, increase federal funding, strengthen reporting requirements for Medicaid and Medicare Integrity Programs, and improve collection and sharing of data. “As spending on these programs continues to grow, Congress should act quickly to pass these reforms out of respect for taxpayers and on behalf of program beneficiaries.”
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Senate Rejects Proposed Congressional Commission on Defict Reduction, President Obama Will Create Commission Through Executive Order
In a 53-46 vote Tuesday on Senate Budget Chairman Conrad's (D-ND) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg's (R-NH) bipartisan amendment to a bill to increase the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion (H J Res 45), the Senate rejected creation of a congressional debt commission that would establish a fast-track process for placing the panel's future recommendations on the floor for an up-or-down vote. Some opposed the amendment because they thought it removed authority from Congress to do its job and make individual policy decisions regarding deficit-reduction. Democratic opponents feared it as a pathway to cuting Medicare and Medicaid, while Republican opponents feared it could be a way to enact tax increases. President Obama will issue an executive order to create a commission as the administration pivots its agenda to emphasize deficits and the economy. However, the creation of such a panel through executive ordert will lack the authority for fast-track consideration by Congress and only produce recommendations.
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