Policy Corner: April 5, 2019

Senate Passes Medicaid Bill: Includes ACE Kids Act, MFP Funding

The U.S. Senate passed the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act, H.R. 1839, this week. It will now be sent to the President for his signature. The bill provides an additional $20 million to the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program; extends spousal impoverishment protections for those receiving Medicaid long-term care in a home or community-based setting through Sept. 30, 2019; and authorizes the Medicaid program for children with complex medical needs. The Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2019 (ACE Kids Act) supports better care coordination for children with medically complex conditions who rely on Medicaid.

House Passes Violence Against Women Act

The House of Representatives passed H.R.1585 to reauthorize and expand the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) yesterday. The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). The bill includes a new provision prohibiting dating partners convicted of abuse or stalking from owning a firearm, which is opposed by the National Rifle Association. Thirty-three Republicans joined all but one Democrat in supporting the bill. The VAWA funding expired Sept. 30, but Congress had kept funding in place in the short-term spending bills, with funding ending Feb. 15 as a result of the partial government shutdown. The funding supports an array of grants designed to address domestic abuse, including shelters, crisis centers, and social services.

Lawmakers Introduce Lifespan Respite Care Program Reauthorization Act of 2019

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Reps. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) introduced the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019 April 2. The legislation authorizes $200 million over five years for state grants to implement statewide coordinated systems of respite services, provide planned and emergency respite services, recruit and train respite workers and volunteers, and provide information to family caregivers to help them access respite care.

To date, 37 states and the District of Columbia have received Lifespan Respite grants from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to help improve access, quality, and affordability of respite for family caregivers of children and adults with disabilities. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) joined other national organizations in support of the legislation.

ACL Announces New NIDILRR Director

ACL announced that James R. Whitehead, Ed.D., assumed the positon of the Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) effective April 1. Dr. Whitehead previously served as the Executive Vice President of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is the co-founder of the Inclusive Fitness Coalition (IFC), which promotes equitable access to and safe use of fitness and recreational equipment, facilities, and programs to help reduce debilitating secondary conditions associated with disability and a sedentary lifestyle. NIDILRR funds the TBI Model Systems and other brain injury research projects.

BIAA Opposes Proposed SNAP Rule

BIAA joins other members of the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities in opposing the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rule regarding work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents to receive assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), referred to as food stamps. Current federal law limits SNAP eligibility for adults between the ages of 18 to 49 without dependents to just three months out of every three years – unless they can engage in work or job training activities at least half time, or qualify for an exemption. States can request a waiver of the time limit for areas within the state that have 10% or higher unemployment rates or, based on other economic indicators, have “insufficient jobs.”

The proposed rule would limit state flexibility regarding area waivers and individual exemption and make it harder for areas with elevated unemployment rates to qualify for waivers of the time limit by adding a 7% unemployment rate floor as a condition.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action.