Autism – House Committee to Take Up the Combating Autism Reauthorization
Act Today
The Energy and Commerce Committee will begin consideration of the Combating
Autism Reauthorization Act Today. The Committee will consider an amendment in the
nature of a substitute to HR 4631 introduced by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ)
and Michael Doyle (D-PA). This latest version included a few changes, including a
new autism po sition at the Department of Health and Human Services, increasing the
number of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the Interagency Autism
Coordinating Committee (IACC), and studying the needs of children with autism as
they transition to adulthood, as well as the services available to them. See our support letter signed by 33 national disability organizations. The House
reauthorization bill extends the research, surveillance, public awareness, and
professional training activities under the Combating Autism Act for an additional five
years. Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Enzi (R-WY) are expected to introduce a
Senate bill to reauthorize the law as soon as this week.
Education/Civil Rights – Save the Date – June 12 is the National Call-In Day
to Prevent Restraint & Seclusion
The Arc urges all advocates to participate in the June 12 national call in day to
support the Keeping All Students Safe Act, the restraint and seclusion bills (S. 2036 and HR 1893) introduced by Senator Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Miller (D-CA),
respectively. Restraint and seclusion have resulted in numerous serious injuries and
fatalities and are disproportionately used on students with disabilities. The day is
being planned in collaboration with the national Consortium for Citizens with
Disabilities (CCD), the Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions and
Seclusion (APRAIS), and other coalitions. Congress must hear from parents, people
with disabilities, students, advocates, professionals, friends, families, and neighbors
regarding this important legislation! See Action Alert link above.
Announcements
Medicaid – New Resources Regarding the Early and Periodic Screening,
Diagnostic and Treatment Services (EPSDT) Benefit in Medicaid
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has new resources explaining
the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment services (EPSDT)
benefit in Medicaid. The following guides are now available:
EPSDT – A Guide for States: Coverage in the Medicaid Benefit for Children and
Adolescents – This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the children’s
benefit and summarizes CMS policy on screenings, diagnostic services, and
treatment services. It also covers permissible limitations, medical necessity, and
access topics.
Keep Kids Smiling: Promoting Oral Health Through the Medicaid Benefit for
Children & Adolescents – The second guide explains the dental and oral health
dimensions of the EPSDT benefit, and explores a variety of specific ways states
can, and have, improved their delivery of dental and oral health services to
enrolled children.
Paving the Road to Good Health: Strategies for Increasing Medicaid Adolescent
Well-Care Visits – The third guide shares a collection of approaches states can
use to better engage adolescents in staying healthy and getting regular check-
ups.CMS has also developed, in partnership with the National Academy for State
Health Policy (NASHP), an EPSDT Compendium that is located on the NASHP
website. This webpage features information about states’ EPSDT
implementation efforts across dimensions such as care coordination, behavioral
health, data collection and reporting, oral health, medical necessity, and
improving access to care.
Health – Senate Confirms New Health and Human Services Secretary
The Senate confirmed Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the new Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last Thursday. The vote was 78 in
favor and 17 voting against confirmation. Burwell is moving into the position from her
post as the director of the Office of Management and Budget where she was easily
confirmed in a 96-0 vote last April.
Civil Rights/Adoption – Congressional Briefing on Adoption to be Held on
June 11
The Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute,
National Council on Disability, Child Welfare League of America, National Association
of Social Workers, and the American Psychological Association are sponsoring a
Congressional briefing on adoption policy and practice on June 11. The briefing,
titled “Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their
Children,” will highlight the findings of recent report by the National Council on
Disability (NCD). The NCD report showed that the foster care and adoption systems
have discriminatory pra ctices that prevent prospective parents with disabilities the
opportunity to becomefoster parents and adopt children.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
