1) What’s Happening in the Nation’s Capital?
A Message for NCIL Members from Connie Garner (Senate HELP Committee): Congratulations!
2) National News
Ari Ne’eman's Nomination to NCD Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism
Steve Gold Information Bulletin #304 - HUD-HHS Collaboration: Improving the Link between Housing and Services
Review Heightens Concerns Over Medicare Billing at Nursing Homes
3) State News
Mississippi Gives the R-Word the Boot!
Delaware and Tennessee Win First Race to the Top Grants
4) Announcements and Additional Resources
2010 Census: Do Your Part!
A Message for NCIL Members from Connie Garner (Senate HELP Committee): Congratulations!
To the hardest group of believers ever:
I wanted to wait until the health care bill was signed, to congratulate all of you for the most incredible effort I have ever seen to achieve social insurance for those with functional limitations. Remember how this was never going to happen; how this was not the right time; how it wasn’t really health care …. well you overcame all those obstacles by working together and bringing forward the voice of “real people” to their representatives in Congress. We have yet to hear opposition to CLASS from even one consumer, young or old. This is all because of the commitment and resilience you have had to work together and to forge forward across the finish line. We also owe a great deal to Senator Dodd and Senator Reid, who really made this a platform issue when it counted in the HELP Committee and in the Senate discussions.
I want to thank you all on behalf of Senator Kennedy’s wish and real desire to see this program enacted, and I personally want to tell you how honored I have been to be part of working with you on CLASS all these years (2003 seems a long time ago). The best part is all the fun we have had.
Now in keeping with our usual meetings --- there is more to be done. This week is important and we need to keep vigilant on the Senate reconciliation process. Most importantly, it is time to move to the next step -- implementation. The Administration needs to begin collecting premiums in 10 months, so that means the plan structure needs to be defined and lots of marketing needs to get off the ground.
It will take all of your continued commitment and working with HHS (they have been awesome on CLASS) to make this program a success, but I have no doubt you will be there till the end. You guys are the best!
With great respect and appreciation, Connie
Ari Ne’eman's Nomination to NCD Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism
Source: The New York Times, by Amy Harmon
When President Obama nominated Ari Ne’eman to the National Council on Disability, many families touched by autism took it as a positive sign. Mr. Ne’eman would be the first person with the disorder to serve on the council. But he has since become the focus of criticism from other advocates who disagree with his view that society ought to concentrate on accepting autistic people, not curing them. A hold has been placed on Mr. Ne’eman’s nomination, which requires Senate confirmation. Whether the hold is related to the criticism of Mr. Ne’eman (pronounced NAY-men) and what it might take to lift it is unclear.
But Mr. Ne’eman, the 22-year-old founder of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, seems to be a lightning rod for a struggle over how autism will be perceived at a time when an estimated 1 in 100 American children and teenagers are given such a diagnosis. Mr. Ne’eman is at the forefront of a growing movement that describes autism as a form of “neurodiversity” that should be embraced and accommodated, just as physical disabilities have led to the construction of ramps and stalls in public restrooms for people with disabilities. Autism, he and others say, is a part of their identity.
But that viewpoint, critics say, represents only those on the autism spectrum who at least have basic communication skills and are able to care of themselves. “Why people have gotten upset is, he doesn’t seem to represent, understand or have great sympathy for all the people who are truly, deeply affected in a way that he isn’t,” said Jonathan Shestack, a co-founder of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, whose mission is to help finance research to find a cure.
Mr. Obama’s seven other nominees to the council were confirmed this month. But parliamentary procedure in the Senate allows one or more members to prevent a motion from reaching the floor for a vote by placing an anonymous hold on the action, which an official with knowledge of the proceedings said had been done in Mr. Ne’eman’s case. Read More.
Steve Gold Information Bulletin #304 - HUD-HHS Collaboration: Improving the Link between Housing and Services
As many of you know, historically the federal departments of HUD and HHS each operated as if the other did not exist and as if each had no impact on the other.
We in the trenches knew that there were many people in institutions solely because they could not afford housing. We knew how each department impacted on each other, and how their noncooperation adversely impacted on peoples' ADA right to live in an integrated community.
What follows is "as of" March 2010. It is not final, not yet funded, and obviously not yet implemented. However, we thought you should be aware of the direction the collaboration between HUD and HHS is taking. We do not know the timing or details of the following proposals, nor can we predict if any of the proposals will become reality, but nevertheless think you should be aware of what's going on.
The two federal departments are proposing the following with regards to "Community Living (aging & disability):
- "Transitioning to the Community: Reducing Barriers to Accessible and Affordable Housing ($180 million from HHS for 2-year bridge housing to assist persons leave institutions for the community)
- "Creating Housing and Services Resource Coordinators and Community Living Specialists ($4.5 million from HHS/CMS to provide PHA level service coordinators, and city/state level housing-service coordinators for elderly persons and persons with disabilities)
- "Increasing Capacity building to Improve Services and Access to Affordable Housing. ($2.5 million from HHS for TA to assist PHAs link with Long Term Care supports- NOFA about to be released)
- "Improving the Delivery of Community Living Services by Establishing a "No Wrong Door" system ($20 million from HHS to devise consumer friendly intake linking housing and human service programs)
- "Encouraging Workforce Development ($4 million from HHS/HRSA to train HUD residents/recipients to be direct care workers)
- "Improving coordination between HHS Civil Rights Office and HUD's Fair Housing Office as it relates to Olmsted oversight."
Review Heightens Concerns Over Medicare Billing at Nursing Homes
Source: Washington Post, by Scott Higham and Dan Keating
More than a decade ago, Congress set out to squeeze the fraud out of Medicare billing at nursing homes, requiring more precise justifications for costs. It created new "ultra-high" billing categories intended to be used for only 5 percent of the patients needing highly specialized care and rehabilitation.
But within a few years, nursing homes flooded the ultra-high categories with patients, contributing to $542 million a year in potential overpayments, federal analysts found.
Since then, the numbers in the ultra-high categories have quadrupled, and the amount of waste and abuse could reach billions of dollars a year, according to nursing home experts and a Washington Post examination of the program. The billing program is specifically targeted in President Obama's health-care legislation passed last week by Congress, changing two rules that experts said have been exploited by nursing homes to inflate bills.
"Facilities have been able to bill the way they want, and they are billing for more services than they are providing to people," said Toby S. Edelman, a senior attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a watchdog group in Washington. "There's been a lot of abuse." Read More.
Mississippi Gives the R-Word the Boot!
Member submission by Mandy Rogers
The term ‘mentally retarded’ is being replaced with ‘a person with an intellectual disability’ and the term ‘mental retardation’ is being replaced with ‘intellectual disability’ in Mississippi Code sections. Yesterday, the Mississippi House and Senate passed this bill and requested immediate release for the Governor to sign.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously. The bill passed the House with 115 yes votes and 6 no votes. We are waiting on the House votes to be posted on the MS legislative website.
This has been a long journey through the 20102 session. We started out with our language in HB 738, which died in the Senate, then we had House Concurrent Resolution HC 84 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 672. During conference committee meetings, the language from HB 738 was placed in Senate Bill 3004 and this is the bill that passed yesterday.
We had several committed legislators, parents, individuals, family members, friends and advocates working on this legislation and their hard work paid off. They never gave up and we appreciate them so much. We want to thank each one of them, and everyone who supports using respectful language for people with Intellectual Disabilities.
Senate Bill 3004 Conference Report (PDF)
Delaware and Tennessee Win First Race to the Top Grants
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that Delaware and Tennessee have won grants in the first phase of the Race to the Top competition.
“We received many strong proposals from states all across America, but two applications stood out above all others: Delaware and Tennessee,” Duncan said in announcing the winners. “Both states have statewide buy-in for comprehensive plans to reform their schools. They have written new laws to support their policies. And they have demonstrated the courage, capacity, and commitment to turn their ideas into practices that can improve outcomes for students.”
Delaware will receive approximately $100 million and Tennessee $500 million to implement their comprehensive school reform plans over the next four years. As with any federal grant program, budgets will be finalized after discussions between the grantees and the Department, and the money will be distributed over time as the grantees meet established benchmarks.
The U.S. Department of Education will have about $3.4 billion available for the second phase of the Race to the Top competition. “We set a very high bar for the first phase,” Duncan said. “With $3.4 billion still available, we’re providing plenty of opportunity for all other states to develop plans and aggressively pursue reform.” Read More.
2010 Census: Do Your Part!
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, a requirement by the Constitution. This census helps determine funding for hospitals, job training centers, schools, bridges, tunnels, emergency services, and other public works projects, and determines the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. Every residence in the U.S. and Puerto Rico receives one and it takes a few minutes to fill out the 10 short questions. Then, you just have to mail the form back. If you have any more questions, please visit U.S. Census 2010.
NCIL encourages every American to complete and return their Census form, and Centers for Independent Living to provide assistance and encouragement for their consumers to do the same.
|
March 29, 2010