Policy Corner: October 28, 2022
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
White House Invites Public to Briefing on Economic Impact on People with Disabilities
White House Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms and senior White House officials invite the public for a “Disability Community Economic Impact Briefing” on Monday, October 31 at 12:30 pm (ET). This special event will bring together community leaders from across the nation to discuss the Administration’s economic investments and impacts, with a particular focus on how these landmark achievements are creating lasting change for the disability community. Please note, this briefing will take place over zoom. This invitation is open to all. ASL and captioning will be provided. To confirm your participation, RSVP here.
As time permits, there will be a brief Q&A period. If you have any questions that you would like considered, you may submit them as a part of your RSVP.
MedPAC Meets to Discuss Timeline for Unified Post-Acute Care Model Report to Congress
The the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met recently to discuss its work related to a unified post-acute care (UPAC) model report to Congress. The meeting provided an overview of MedPAC’s timeline to issuing the report and the development of formal recommendations. This is keeping with the Improving Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014 that requires a report to Congress on unified payment for Medicare post-acute care (PAC). Medicare PAC services are provided to beneficiaries by PAC providers defined as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), and home health agencies (HHAs). Each PAC provider setting has a separate Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) prospective payment system (PPS). A goal of unified PAC payment is to base the payment on patient characteristics instead of the PAC setting.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) contracted with Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to provide analysis for this study and report. Next month, MedPAC plans to review the CMS/RTI report issued in July 2022. In March 2023, the commission intends to review implementation issues and discuss draft recommendations, followed by a formal vote on recommendations in April 2023.
MedPAC is an independent congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. In addition to advising the Congress on payments to private health plans participating in Medicare and providers in Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service program, MedPAC provides information on access to care, quality of care, and other issues affecting Medicare.
Plan to Vote November 8: Make Your Voice Count!
As we approach the November elections, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission reminds individuals with disabilities that you have the right to:
- Vote privately and independently
- Have an accessible polling place with voting machines for voters with disabilities.
You may either:
- Seek assistance from workers at the polling place who have been trained to use the accessible voting machine, or
- Bring someone to help you vote.
You may request your local election officials to tell you about any voting aids, voting assistance, and absentee ballot procedures that are available. For more information, contact the U.S. Election Assistance Commission by phone at (866) 747-1471 or by email at listen@eac.gov.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 was passed by the Congress to address improvements to voting systems and voter access. HAVA requires jurisdictions responsible for conducting federal elections to provide at least one accessible voting system for persons with disabilities at each polling place in federal elections. The accessible voting system must provide the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, that other voters receive.