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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Friday, January 29, 2010
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.
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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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Friday, January 22, 2010
First HHS Year of Community Living Initiative Field Forum to Take Place in San Diego
The HHS Office on Disability will hold its first of 5 or 6 forums throughout the country in San Diego on February 18th. The purpose of the forums is to hear directly from state and local representatives (people with disabilities of all ages and their families, service providers, government) on barriers as well as solutions to community integration. Other forums will take place in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast beginning in late March or early April. Details regarding the San Diego and other public forums will be forthcoming as soon as the Office on Disability provides them to ANCOR.
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HHS Office on Disability’s Year of Community Living Initiative Includes Federal Workforce and Housing Work Groups
ANCOR staff were invited to attend a meeting Thursday held by the HHS Office on Disability (OD) Director Henry Claypool and a number of administration officials spanning many federal agencies to discuss the President Obama’s Year of Community Living Initiative. That initiative was announced June 22, 2009 on the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision. The OD has been tapped to take the lead in forming a coordinating council spanning multiple HHS agencies, including CMS, as well as partnering with HUD, DOL, and the Department of Justice. Claypool announced that the purpose of the meeting and future meetings was to help craft an agenda for the initiative and to discuss ways to work with states on solutions. He also announced the formation of five federal working groups: services, housing, workforce, data and quality, and communications strategy. ANCOR was the first to comment on the plans announced, calling attention for the first time ever a real commitment to focus on the biggest barriers to community living—inadequate paid workforce and lack of housing. ANCOR also stressed the importance of including a focus on technology in both areas. Barbara Edwards, the new CMS Director of the Disabled and Elderly Program Group was also in attendance and ANCOR staff spent time talking with her in her new capacity. ANCOR has also spoken with federal chair of workforce group in order to further discuss our National Advocacy Campaign efforts and ideas on recruitment and retention issues.
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Watch for ANCOR Alert Monday on Health Care and Long Term Services and Supports
ANCOR in conjunction with the alliance of some aging and disability national organizations are planning a national call-in day to Congress on Tuesday, January 26th that focuses on completing the work on health care legislation that includes vital expansions to home and community services and supports. We’ve come too far to let the ball drop now and let Congress off the hook. The alert will include a toll-free number; however, many Congressional office phone lines are swamped and we will urge you to contact your Congressional district offices if you can not get through to their offices in Washington. Congressional staff are telling us that, at this point, emails aren’t the way to reach members of Congress—staff aren’t even looking at emails with health care in subject line. We need to flood phone lines and fax machines on Tuesday.
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ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund Assists Individuals in Haiti and Begins Campaign for Disaster Relief
When the earthquake in Haiti hit, the ANCOR Foundation responded. ANCOR Foundation reached out to member Trudy Bekker of International Child Care, Dominican Republic, to see what the ANCOR community could do to assist individuals with disabilities in Haiti.
By leveraging the power of the ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund, the foundation quickly sent a $5,000 charitable contribution to assist the International Child Care, Dominican Republic team assess and address the concrete needs of individuals with disabilities in neighboring Haiti.
Contribute to the bold $100,000 campaign ANCOR Foundation is developing to build the financial wherewithal to assist providers and those they support in this and future emergency relief efforts.
Contribute NOW to the ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund: http://www2.ancor.org/foundation/CaresFundForm.cfm *
*Note: The ANCOR Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible. Any funds collected above and beyond this amount will remain in the fund for future use.
About the ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund:
Contributions to this fund provide emergency assistance to national and international provider organizations affected by acts of terrorism, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters and are utilized to help:
• Resettle individuals with disabilities.
• Organizations provide supports/services that will not be covered by the government and other relief agencies or will be delayed for several months.
• Stabilize an organization's infrastructure to meet the immediate needs of the individuals supported.
By leveraging the power of the ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund, the foundation quickly sent a $5,000 charitable contribution to assist the International Child Care, Dominican Republic team assess and address the concrete needs of individuals with disabilities in neighboring Haiti.
Contribute to the bold $100,000 campaign ANCOR Foundation is developing to build the financial wherewithal to assist providers and those they support in this and future emergency relief efforts.
Contribute NOW to the ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund: http://www2.ancor.org/foundation/CaresFundForm.cfm *
*Note: The ANCOR Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible. Any funds collected above and beyond this amount will remain in the fund for future use.
About the ANCOR Foundation CARES Fund:
Contributions to this fund provide emergency assistance to national and international provider organizations affected by acts of terrorism, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters and are utilized to help:
• Resettle individuals with disabilities.
• Organizations provide supports/services that will not be covered by the government and other relief agencies or will be delayed for several months.
• Stabilize an organization's infrastructure to meet the immediate needs of the individuals supported.
Democrats Struggle to Find a Pathway to Move Health Care Legislation
In the wake of the surprise victory this week of Senate-elect Scott Brown (R-MA) to fill former Senator Ted Kennedy's, House and Senate Democrats continued to struggle Thursday to find a way to salvage health care overhaul. Democrats were faced with two options to health care legislation with the loss of their 60-vote Senate supermajority after the Massachusetts special Senate election on Tuesday: 1) get the House to vote on the Senate bill passed along party-lines Christmas Eve or 2) get the House and Senate to each pass a stripped-down new bipartisan bill. Each option poses challenges to the House and Senate. ANCOR believes that the first option is the better one and will be urging the House to adopt the Senate bill. It is critical to move health care legislation immediately and the Senate bill includes more provisions that expand home and community based services—including The CLASS Act and two Medicaid provisions providing federal incentives to expand HCBS, as well as some important provisions affecting recruitment and retention. Should the House and Senate decide to move a series of stripped-down legislation there is no guarantee that the hard fought gains in the Senate bill will prevail.
The first option, preferred by the Senate and White House, would avert the problem of the Senate facing another 60-vote cloture to end a filibuster if Democrats proceeded on the path of a compromised House-Senate bill that incorporated changes to the Senate bill negotiated by House, Senate and the Administration. Those changes have been sent to the Congressional Budget Office to score costs. However, some House members were more than reluctant to merely vote on the Senate-passed bill. Some were suggesting the House pass the Senate bill with the guarantee that critical House changes be included through a second bill--a "budget reconciliation bill"--that requires only 51 votes to clear the Senate. However, by the end of the week, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) declared Thursday that she did not have the votes to pass the Senate's health care bill without changes.
While leaders in both chambers continue to leave open the idea of somehow amending the Senate package with a budget reconciliation bill, the idea that seems to be gaining traction among Democrats in the House is to move forward with several smaller health care bills that break the package into smaller, easier-to-digest and easier-to-sell chunks that could attract Republican votes. Following a Senate meeting Thursday evening, Senate Democrats conceded that they might have to change the subject away from health care for a period of time while they negotiate some sort of compromise agreement with the House that could include passing a separate budget reconciliation bill. Some are suggesting that Congress wait until the President's State of the Union Address next week to make a decision on which path to take.
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The first option, preferred by the Senate and White House, would avert the problem of the Senate facing another 60-vote cloture to end a filibuster if Democrats proceeded on the path of a compromised House-Senate bill that incorporated changes to the Senate bill negotiated by House, Senate and the Administration. Those changes have been sent to the Congressional Budget Office to score costs. However, some House members were more than reluctant to merely vote on the Senate-passed bill. Some were suggesting the House pass the Senate bill with the guarantee that critical House changes be included through a second bill--a "budget reconciliation bill"--that requires only 51 votes to clear the Senate. However, by the end of the week, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) declared Thursday that she did not have the votes to pass the Senate's health care bill without changes.
While leaders in both chambers continue to leave open the idea of somehow amending the Senate package with a budget reconciliation bill, the idea that seems to be gaining traction among Democrats in the House is to move forward with several smaller health care bills that break the package into smaller, easier-to-digest and easier-to-sell chunks that could attract Republican votes. Following a Senate meeting Thursday evening, Senate Democrats conceded that they might have to change the subject away from health care for a period of time while they negotiate some sort of compromise agreement with the House that could include passing a separate budget reconciliation bill. Some are suggesting that Congress wait until the President's State of the Union Address next week to make a decision on which path to take.
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Current HHS Poverty Guidelines Remain in Effect
Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines will remain in effect until updated 2010 poverty guidelines are published, which shall not take place before March 1, 2010.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010
NCD Released Report on Housing Opportunities for People with Disabilities
The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a report entitled The State of Housing in America in the 21st Century: A Disability Perspective. The report provides recommendations to improve housing opportunities for people with disabilities. The research contained in this report presents a comprehensive overview of the state of housing in the twenty-first century, and answers important questions about the current housing needs and options for people with disabilities living in the United States.
For more information click here: http://www.disability.gov/housing/news_%26_events
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For more information click here: http://www.disability.gov/housing/news_%26_events
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New York Governor Proposes Budget With Reduced Medicaid Spending Growth
Governor David A. Paterson (D) January 19 proposed a fiscal year 2010-2011 state budget that would reduce the growth in New York's Medicaid program and impose some $240 million in new health care assessments and surcharges. The $134 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts April 1 would reduce Medicaid reimbursement for hospitals, nursing homes, and home care providers by $459 million in FY 2010-2011.
The state's Medicaid caseload is expected to increase by 400,000 in FY 2010-2011.
Under the budget, the state expects to recover $1.2 billion from fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program, a $300 million increase from the current fiscal year.
The budget also would reinstitute a requirement that health insurers obtain prior approval from the state before imposing rate increases.
Further information on the health care portion of the budget is available at http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1011/fy1011artVIIbills/HMH_ArticleVII_MS.pdf
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The state's Medicaid caseload is expected to increase by 400,000 in FY 2010-2011.
Under the budget, the state expects to recover $1.2 billion from fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program, a $300 million increase from the current fiscal year.
The budget also would reinstitute a requirement that health insurers obtain prior approval from the state before imposing rate increases.
Further information on the health care portion of the budget is available at http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1011/fy1011artVIIbills/HMH_ArticleVII_MS.pdf
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National Council of Disability Publishes Study on Workforce Infrastructure
The National Council of Disability released a study entitled Workforce Infrastructure in Support of People with Disabilities: Matching Human Resources to Service Needs.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thompson Reuters Releases 2008 Medicaid LTC Expenditures
ThompsonReuters has released the 2008 Medicaid long-term care expenditures and HCBS waiver expenditures. To access them please visit our Data & Statistics website.
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White House Announces Date for State of the Union
President Barack Obama will deliver his 2010 State of the Union address on January 27 at 9 p.m., White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced Monday. Obama will then unveil his budget blueprint on February 1, according to a White House official.
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Friday, January 15, 2010
New H.R. 868 Co-Sponsors
Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Representative (D-CA) signed on as Co-Sponsors for H.R. 868, The Direct Support Professional Fairness and Security Act. Thank you to everyone who contacted their members encouraging them to sign on.
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