Dear Policy People:
Let’s get right to it – thanks to the work of NACDD and the State Councils to educate members of Congress, the DD Councils received a $2M increase in the omnibus appropriations bills passed in the House this week!
The two “omnibus” spending packages (HR 1865, HR 1158) totaling $1.4 trillion nearly three months the fiscal year easily passed the House and the Senate. NACDD was very successful with the FY2020 funding request for the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act programs. In addition to the $2M increase for DD Councils, NACDD lead coalition efforts resulting in increases for other DD Act programs including Protection and Advocacy ($600k increase), UCEDDs ($1M increase), Projects of National Significance ($250k increase) in the final FY2020 appropriations negotiated bill. There is every indication that the President will sign the bill before the expiration of the second continuing resolution set to expire tonight, December 20.
Other items included in the spending bill that NACDD weighed in on:
Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. The bill includes a short term extension of MFP until May 22, 2020. There is speculation that the deadline was selected to put pressure on Congress to pass additional legislation on other health care measures (for example reducing prescription drug prices and surprise out-of-network medical billing). NACDD will continue our advocacy to expand MFP and make the program permanent.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). The bill provides $300,000 for Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission to study the benefits of NEMT from State Medicaid programs on Medicaid beneficiaries, including beneficiaries with chronic diseases including end stage renal disease (ESRD ), substance abuse disorders, pregnant mothers, and patients living in remote, rural areas, and to examine the benefits of improving assisted transportation services. The agreement directs HHS to take no regulatory action on availability of NEMT service until the study is completed.
Medicaid Enhanced Funding for US territories extended for 2 years. Medicaid recipients in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands can breathe a sigh of relief because their current Medicaid funding levels will continue for the next 2 years because the spending bill continues current enhanced federal funding allotments and matching rates for the territories for the next two years -- despite the President's efforts to eliminate funding. The ACA gave the territories 10 years of additional money for Medicaid, but that ran out in September — causing a potential $1 billion shortfall in 2020. Guam and the Virgin Islands warned they would need to start cutting their Medicaid rolls, and Puerto Rico would have had to cut benefits to account for the funding cliff. NACDD will continue to support legislation that makes increases for the territories permanent.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The bill provides $13.6 billion, an increase of $410 million, to support the educational needs of students with disabilities. NACDD continues to advocate to
Extension of Medical Expense Deduction Eligibility Threshold. The bill includes a 2-year extension of the 7.5% threshold for the medical expense deduction. NACDD will continue efforts to make the 7.5% floor permanent, so people with high health care costs will not see tax increases in the future.
Disabled Veteran Program
(DVP). The
Committee recommendation includes $300,000 within the Federal
Administration to establish a Disabled Veteran Program
(DVP) to address the high unemployment and low labor force participation rate of veterans
with service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities. The DVP will help increase employment and advancement opportunities for veterans
with disabilities by working with federal, state, and private partners to promote the hiring of veterans
with disabilities, improve coordination of available employment services and supports, and to identify and share employment best practices for hiring, retaining, and advancing veterans
with disabilities in the workforce.
Other news
Lower Drug Costs Now Act passes House. The House passed the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), which is estimated to generate over $450 billion in savings to the federal government by authorizing the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices and other reforms. The bill reinvests those savings in a groundbreaking expansion of Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits, and protections for low-income older adults and people with disabilities. While the outlook for H.R. 3 becoming law is uncertain, its passage in the House is an important milestone in the effort to add a comprehensive dental benefit to Medicare and represents real progress towards ensuring low-income seniors can afford to use their Medicare benefits, including medications.
Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) passes House, The House passed legislation to restore and strengthen the protection of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was last reauthorized by Congress in 2006, but significantly weakened by the Supreme Court in 2013. Following the Supreme Court’s Shelby decision, states and localities throughout the country have passed laws that disproportionately suppress the voting rights of people with disabilities and minority groups. The VRAA targets certain voting practices known to suppress the voting rights of people with disabilities.
This is the last update of the decade! I hope you all get plenty of rest this holiday season. Next year, the 2020 presidential election year, promises to be a very busy legislative year. Additionally, we’ll continue to watch the candidates as they outline their proposals to work for people with disabilities. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 2020 Presidential Forum on Disability Issues, January 13, 10am-2pm CST, in Austin, Texas. For more information on how to get tickets or to watch from home, go to the event website at https://www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/2020-presidential-forum-on-disability-issues/.
Best wishes for the holidays and happy New Year!