Monthly Archives: December 2019

TAKE ACTION! TODAY Is National Call-In Day for MFP Reauthorization

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On December 16, advocates are holding a national call-in day to urge Congress to pass a permanent Money Follows the Person (MFP) reauthorization before funding runs out at the end of the year. On December 6, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced a bipartisan agreement to permanently reauthorize MFP as part of the larger Drug Pricing and Healthcare Extenders Package. MFP has helped more than 90,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities move out of nursing homes and institutions. Independent evaluations have shown that MFP improves the quality of life for individuals and has reduced Medicaid and Medicare expenditures by approximately 23%. Learn more about MFP here.

Take action here! To learn more about the call-in day, please visit the Facebook event page or the Center for Public Representation’s website. 

Budget & Appropriations: Action on FY 2020 Appropriations Expected This Week

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Congressional appropriators have signaled progress in a plan to fund the government through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2020, which began on October 1. Last week, Appropriations leaders announced an agreement in principle on all 12 appropriations bills. According to press reports, areas of agreement on the $1.3 trillion package include flat funding for the border wall with Mexico and no back-fill of funding for military construction funding that the Administration has diverted to the wall. However, no information was provided on how the funding increases will be allocated between the appropriations bills nor what other measures might be included. Text for the bills may be released as soon as today. With the current continuing resolution set to expire on Friday, the bills would need to be voted on by both chambers and signed by the President before then to avoid a government shutdown. Alternatively, one or more short-term funding bills could be enacted to avoid a shutdown.

Social Security: Bipartisan Social Security Bill Introduced in House and Senate

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Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Representatives John Larson (D-CT) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced the Know Your Social Security Act (S.2989, H.R.5306). This bill requires the Social Security Administration to provide each beneficiary an annual Social Security Statement by mail unless an individual opts out. The Arc supports this bill.

Employment/Family Support: House Passes Bill Providing Paid Parental Leave for Federal Employees

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On December 11, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.2500) with a provision providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all federal employees. However, the bill does not provide paid leave for personal medical issues or to care for a family member. The bill must next pass the Senate. President Trump has indicated he will sign the bill.

Medicaid/LTSS: Senators Announce Bipartisan Agreement to Permanently Reauthorize MFP

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On December 6, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced a bipartisan agreement to permanently reauthorize the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) spousal impoverishment protections as part of the larger Drug Pricing and Healthcare Extenders Package. MFP has helped more than 90,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities move out of nursing homes and institutions. Independent evaluations have shown that MFP improves the quality of life for individuals and has reduced Medicaid and Medicare expenditures by approximately 23%. The spousal impoverishment protection allows the spouse of a person receiving Medicaid HCBS to maintain a modest amount of income and resources for food, rent, and medication. Read The Arc’s statement here.

Education: Advocates Encouraged to Take Pledge for Public Schools

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Public Schools Week will take place February 24-28, 2020. In preparation for this week, advocates are encouraged to take the Pledge for Public Schools. Public schools educate 9 in 10 students across the country, including millions of students with disabilities. Public schools are required to provide for evaluation, free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, individualized education plans, parent participation, and procedural safeguards to challenge school decisions and ensure student rights (known as “due process”) for all eligible students with disabilities.

Education: GAO Report Finds Race, Income Disparities in Pursuing IDEA Remedies

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On December 3, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the use of mediation, due process complaints, and state complaints in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Within those states, very high-income school districts were more likely than very low-income school districts to have dispute resolution activity. Additionally, districts that had very low black and Hispanic student populations (less than 10%) were more likely to have dispute resolution activity than districts that had very high black and Hispanic student populations (greater than 90%). However, districts with very high black and Hispanic populations had higher rates of dispute resolution. Stakeholders interviewed for the report cited high cost for attorneys and expert witnesses, among other challenges, as barriers to access to dispute resolution.