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April 22, 2024 | Vol. MMXXIII | Issue 89
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Department of Health and Human Services Issues New Rule on Home and Community Based Services
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On April 22th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services final rule.
The rule will help improve access to home and community-based services (HCBS) as well as improve the quality of jobs for caregivers. The rule will require at least 80 percent of Medicaid payments to go to caregiver wages. States will also have to be more transparent in how much they pay for services and how rates are set. States will also have to create an advisory group made up of people receiving services, providers and other stakeholders to provide input on rates and compensation for direct care workers. The White House is hosting a call tomorrow, April 23rd at 3:00pm to discuss the final rule.
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Plain Language
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On April 22th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a new rule that will help people with
disabilities to access Medicaid and make sure providers are paid a fair wage. The White House is hosting a call tomorrow, April 23rd at 3:00pm to discuss the final rule.
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Action Steps
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Read more about the final rule. Register for the White House call.
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U.S. Department of Justice Publishes Final Rule on Web and Mobile App Accessibility
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On April 8th, the U.S. Department of Justice published a final rule “under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile applications
(apps) for people with disabilities.” The rule “clarifies the obligations of state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible.” The rule provides state and local governments with technical standards for addressing a wide variety of barriers that people with different disabilities may face while accessing government services.
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Plain Language
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On April 8th, the U.S. Department of Justice released a new rule that will help make the websites and phone apps of state and local governments more accessible to people with disabilities.
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Action Steps
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Read more about the final rule.
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House of Representatives Introduces the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act
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On April 16th, Representative Cammack (R-FL-3), Representative Magaziner (D-RI-2), Representative Malliotakis (R-NY-11), and Representative Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act (H.R. 8018). The bill will “require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Social Security Administration (SSA), and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to review their eligibility, processes, procedures, forms, and communications to reduce the administrative burden on family caregivers.” The bill was introduced by Senator Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senator Markey (D-MA) earlier this year (S. 3109).
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Plain Language
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On April 16th, Representative Cammack (R-FL-3), Representative Magaziner (D-RI-2), Representative Malliotakis (R-NY-11), and Representative Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act (H.R. 8018). The bill will make it easier for family caregivers to continue providing care. The bill was introduced in the Senate earlier this year by Senator Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senator Markey (D-MA) (S. 3109).
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Action Steps
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Read the bill text. Read the announcement from Representative Cammack. Call and educate your Members of Congress on the importance of supporting family caregivers. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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White House Seeks Comments on Advancing Public Participation and Community Engagement
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The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in partnership with federal agencies and the public has released a Request for Information seeking public
comments to help develop a federal framework for public participation and community engagement (PPCE). The goal of the framework is to help federal agencies more broadly and meaningfully engage with various communities. OMB seeks comments, feedback, and suggestions on people’s experiences with PPCE activities with the federal government, content to incorporate in a federal PPCE framework, and process for OMB to consider while developing this framework. OMB is accepting comments until May 17th.
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Plain Language
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The White House is asking for comments from the public to help develop new ways to share information and resources with different populations, including people
with disabilities. They are asking for people to comment on their experiences getting information from the federal government and to give suggestions on how to include as many people as possible. You can submit comments until May 17th.
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Action Steps
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Read more about the Request for Information. Submit comments by May 17th.
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Interagency Committee on Disability Research Release Toolkit on Disability Data
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The Interagency Committee on Disability Research has released a toolkit titled “Surveying the Landscape of Disability Data and Statistics: A Toolkit for Interagency
Collaboration”. The toolkit provides an overview of the current federal landscape of disability data collection to help people with disabilities. providers, disability researchers, and federal agency staff, to better understand the current research, resources on disability data and statistics and where improvements and additional collaboration are needed. The toolkit offers a wide range of current research conducted by or funded by federal agencies and examples of best practices. The toolkit also discusses the current gaps in disability data and statistics and highlights areas to guide future research and federal collaboration.
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Plain Language
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The Interagency Committee on Disability Research has released a toolkit that will help people learn more about disability data. This toolkit goes over what data we have and where we
need to collect more data so we can have more information on people with disabilities.
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Action Steps
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Read the toolkit from ICDR.
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Seeks Comments on Preventative Services for People with Disabilities
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The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has posted the draft report for the systematic review on Healthcare Delivery of Clinical Preventive Services for People with
Disabilities. EPC is asking members of the public to review the findings, and to submit comments on the draft report. You can submit comments until May 17th.
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Plain Language
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The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has done a study on preventative services for people with disabilities. Preventative services are ways a person gets healthcare that
can help them not develop a health condition in the future. EPC is asking for comments until May 17th.
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Action Steps
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Submit comments to EPC by May 17th.
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Register for the White House Office of Public Engagement Aging and Disability Communities Call
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The White House Office of Public Engagement regularly hosts calls to discuss any federal updates that will affect the older adults and people with disabilities. The next call is May 2nd, at 2:00 pm EST. Register.
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Check out the latest episode of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All
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"Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All" is a YouTube video series highlighting current issues and hot topics in disability policy. Past guests of Tuesdays with Liz include U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, agency officials, AUCD leadership, and key members of the disability community.
Liz Weintraub is AUCD's Senior Advocacy Specialist and the host of "Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All."
Liz has extensive experience practicing leadership in self advocacy and has held many board and advisory positions at state and national organizations, including the Council on Quality & Leadership (CQL) and the Maryland Development Disabilities Council.
Find the full playlist on YouTube or check out the latest episode featuring U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.
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