
Family Voices News
THE COURTS: Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
On August 1, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), said that the committee would hold confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September, and that a Senate confirmation vote could take place as early as October 1. See Judiciary...
THE ADMINISTRATION: Reunification of Immigrant Families (Updated) (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
July 26 was the deadline by which all immigrant children separated from their families at the southern US border were supposed to be reunited with their families pursuant to a federal court order. There are over 2500 such children but, as of July 27, only 1500...
THE ADMINISTRATION: President Signs Bill to Delay Deadline for Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
On July 30 the president signed a bill (H.R. 6042; Public Law No: 115-222) that delays for one year (until January 1, 2020) the implementation of a requirement that Medicaid agencies adopt “electronic visit verification” (EVV) for personal care services provided at...
CONGRESS: Senate Oversight Hearing on “Immigration Enforcement and Family Reunification Efforts” (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
On July 31, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), held a hearing on efforts to reunify the immigrant families separated at the southern US border. The witnesses were all administration officials. Notably, one witness -- a social...
CONGRESS: Legislation to Deem People with Developmental Disabilities (DD) a Medically Underserved Population (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
On July 26, Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Gregg Harper (R-MS) introduced the Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population (HEADs UP) Act of 2018 (H.R. 6611). This bill would declare people with developmental...
Medicaid Waiver News: State Comment Periods (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
Resources on Medicaid work requirements The National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC) has compiled a bank of news and resources relating to Medicaid work-requirement waivers: Summary of Posts and Resources on Medicaid Work Requirements. A blog post...
Medicaid Resources (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
Medicaid and CHIP Provide Health Coverage for Many School-Age Children, Yet Gaps Remain--a New Report from the Georgetown Center on Children and Families A new report from the Georgetown Center on Children and Families (CCF) -- Medicaid and CHIP Provide Health...
Affordable Care Act (ACA) News and Resources (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
Administration Issues Final Rule on “Short-Term, Limited-Duration” Plans On August 1, the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule on “short-term, limited-duration”...
TRICARE: Stay Covered After Age 21 with TRICARE Young Adult (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
Stay Covered After Age 21 with TRICARE Young Adult (TRICARE Benefits Update, 7/25/18): “Have you recently graduated from college, but you haven't found your dream job yet? Or did you just turn 21, and you're not enrolled in college? If you're worried about your health...
Evaluation of State/Territorial Compliance with IDEA (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
In its Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA (revised July 24, 2018) the Department of Education provided its annual assessment of state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With respect to Part B of the Act (for ages...