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.
Your Input Sought/Of Possible Interest (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
YOUR INPUT SOUGHT NEW CMS Tribal LTSS Program Survey This survey is being conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help them develop a list of tribally operated long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs across Indian Country. The...
Upcoming Webinars from the Field (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
NEW Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Strategies for Success Wednesday, July 25, 12:30 pm-1:30 pm ET National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) Ticket to Work...
The Administration: Reunification of Immigrant Families (Updated) (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
As reported in last week’s Update a federal court ordered that children under age five be reunited with their families by July 10, and that all other children be reunited with their families by July 26. The administration did not meet the first deadline; only about...
Congress: Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Legislation Ready for President’s Signature (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
On July 17, the Senate approved a House-passed bill to delay 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 an individual’s home. The...
Congress: House Passes Several Health Bills (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
As reported by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House passed several bipartisan health-related bills this week: The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (R. 1676), which would direct HHS to award grants to improve the training of...
Congress: “Medicare-for-All” Caucus Launched in House (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
On July 20, House Democrats launched a "Medicare-for-All" congressional caucus with the intention of educating other lawmakers and staff on the basics of a government-run, single-payer health care system, and of examining how other such systems operate in other...
Guidance on Medicaid Provider Directories (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
On July 17, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services issued a State Medicaid Directors letter (SMD # 18-007) setting forth detailed directions to states for implementing the requirements of Section 5006 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act). Section 5006 of the...
Medicaid Waiver News (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
Kentucky Waiver As reported in the July 3 Washington Update (under “Courts”), a federal court vacated the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approval of a Kentucky Medicaid waiver proposal to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries. The ruling...
Affordable Care Act (ACA) News (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
Trump Administration Preparing Fix for Obamacare Risk Payments (Bloomberg, 7/19/18) As reported earlier, the administration announced that it would no longer pay insurance companies the risk-adjustment payments established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These...
FEDVIP is Coming: Get to Know Dental and Vision Plans Today (Washington Update July 25, 2018)
FEDVIP is Coming: Get to Know Dental and Vision Plans Today (TRICARE Benefit Update, 7/17/18)
Encourage confidence to act