Policy Corner: July 2, 2021

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Remove Work Disincentives for People with Disabilities

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La) introduced the “Work Without Worry Act,” S. 2108, to remove Social Security work disincentives for Americans with disabilities. The legislation would allow Americans with disabilities to work to their full potential without causing them to lose out on higher Social Security benefits. The same legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) who introduced H.R. 4003 on the same day. The House bill has 14 co-sponsors.

House and Senate Leaders Promote Expanded HCBS Services

As reported last week, lawmakers introduced the “Better Jobs Act” in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The legislations now have bill numbers: S.2210 and H.R. 4131. After introducing the legislation, a press release was issued by Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging; Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with Chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) regarding the need to increase the investment that will allow millions of Americans with disabilities and who are elderly to access home- and community-based care, while giving a raise to the direct care workers who provide such care. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.); Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) as co-sponsors of the House bill, joined the Senators in issuing the press release.

The Better Jobs Act would provide states with enhanced Medicaid funding to:

• Facilitate statewide planning to develop HCBS infrastructure improvement plans;
• Enhance Medicaid funding for HCBS by providing states a permanent increase in federal Medicaid match if they expand access to HCBS and strengthen the HCBS workforce;
• Incentivize workforce growth through innovative models that benefit direct care workers and care recipients, as well as help workers organize;
• Support quality and accountability by funding programs through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and conducting oversight and offering technical assistance to program coordinators; and
• Permanently authorize protection against impoverishment for individuals whose spouses received Medicaid HCBS, as well as the Money Follows the Person program to support individuals transitioning from institutions to home- or community-based settings.

Congress Recesses for July 4^th Holiday

Members of Congress will be in their home districts for the July Fourth holiday and members are expected to return to Washington, D.C., Monday, July 9. It is expected they will begin the work on both the bipartisan infrastructure and American Jobs Act bills in order for them to pass before the end of the federal fiscal year Sept. 30. Have a safe and happy July 4.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action. Click here to read past issues of Policy Corner.