Social Security / Employment – House to Hold Hearing on SSI / SSDI, Unemployment
Insurance
This week, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources,
will hold a hearing on “Protecting the Safety Net from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.” The hearing
will review multiple bills related to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Unemployment
Insurance (UI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The Arc strongly opposes
many of the bills that will be discussed at the hearing, including H.R. 918, a bill to cut SSDI for
applicants and beneficiaries who also receive UI. The Ways and Means Committee web site
is currently undergoing a redesign; our next edition of Capitol Insider will share links to hearing
testimony and archived video, if available.
Major Event Last Week
Medicaid – Managed Care Regulations Released
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice of
proposed rulemaking toward modernization of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) managed care regulations and to update the programs’ rules and strengthen
beneficiary services. For more information, including summaries of key provisions of the
proposed rule, visit http://medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/delivery-systems/managed-care/managed-care-site.html. Staff from The Arc will be reviewing the
regulations and providing comments. The deadline to submit comments is July 27, 2015.
Technology – The Arc Submits Comments on Cognitive Accessibility
The Arc submitted comments to the Access Board in response to a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM). The Access Board is proposing to revise and update both its standards
for electronic and information technology for federal agencies covered by Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act, and its guidelines for telecommunications equipment and services and
customer premises equipment covered by the Communications Act. The Arc applauds the
Access Board for proposing to replace the current product-based approach with requirements
based on functionality. This approach would help keep pace with fundamental advances in
technology, most notably the proliferation of devices with multifunctional capabilities, such as
smartphones and tablets. However, we recommend the inclusion of specific functional
performance criteria for cognitive limitations.
Read our comments at http://www.thearc.org/document.doc?id=5182
Announcements
Family Support/ LTSS – Date set for 2015 White House Conference on Aging
Last week, Secretary Burwell of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that the 2015
White House Conference on Aging will be held on July 13th, 2015. The conference will bring
together government officials, members of the public, caregivers, older Americans, business
leaders, and community leaders to discuss a vision for aging in the next decade. A number of
disability-related issues are expected to be addressed during this conference, including aging
caregivers, the growing need for family support, and reforms to the long term services and
supports system.
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@thearcofil.org
