Washington DC Update News
Below are recent articles from the Washington DC Update newsletter, a weekly Family Voices newsletter that provides the latest on national policy affecting children/youth with special health care needs and their families, and also shares relevant resources and happenings in the field.
Washington Update March 18, 2021
The major issues covered in this Update are: The new COVID-relief law – The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 CDC Updated Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19 CDC Updated Guidance for Nursing Home Visitation “Public charge” rule permanently...
Washington Update March 3, 2021
The major issues covered in this Update are: The COVID-relief bill Information about the availability (or lack of availability) for non-elderly individuals with disabilities and their caretakers (including the Issue Brief: COVID-19 Vaccine Access for [Non-Elderly]...
Washington Update February 22, 2021
The major issues covered in this Update are: The COVID-relief bill New CDC guidelines on school reopening New CDC guidance on masks Withdrawal of public charge rule Rescission of Medicaid work-requirement waivers and guidance Vaccination and mask updates (end section)...
Washington Update February 2, 2021
The major issues covered in this Update are: New ACA Special Enrollment Period on healthcare.gov, February 13 through May 15 Presidential order to identify and address policies hindering access to health care coverage Efforts to pass another COVID-relief bill Report...
Washington Update January 14, 2021
The major issues covered in this Update are: Enactment of the COVID-relief and FY 2021 appropriations bill Medicaid news, including: Extension of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and consequent extension of the enhanced federal match, maintenance-of-effort...
Washington Update December 15 2020
The big issues in DC right now are: FDA authorization for emergency use of coronavirus vaccines – On Thursday, an FDA advisory committee recommended that the FDA grant “emergency use authorization” (EUA) of the vaccine developed by Pfizer for individuals age 16 and...
Washington Update, October 30, 2020
Greetings from Washington, DC In this Update: The administration has issued an interim final rule weakening the “Maintenance of Effort” requirement that states must meet to receive an enhanced Medicaid match during the COVID Public Health Emergency. States may now...
Washington Update, October 21, 2020
Greetings from Washington, DC In this Update: The prospects for legislation to address the pandemic’s financial impact are very dim. The Senate is expected to vote on Monday to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau...
Washington Update, October 9, 2020
The prospects for legislation to address the pandemic’s financial impact are very unclear at the moment, but it is still within the realm of possibility that an agreement will be reached before the election. Hearings begin next week on the nomination of Judge Amy...
Washington Update, September 22, 2020
Both houses of Congress are back in session after their August break, but have made no progress on another pandemic-relief bill. As of this writing, it seems unlikely, but not impossible, that a bill will be passed before the election. In other news… Medicaid...