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Health Care – House Committee Votes to End Certain Taxes in Health Care Reform Law
The House Ways and Means Committee voted to eliminate a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices, and to end a ban on the use of pretax flexible spending accounts to buy non-prescription medicines. These measures were included in the Affordable Care Act to help pay for the cost of expanding health insurance. The House of Representatives will likely vote on the measures in the near future, though the provisions are not expected to advance in the Senate.
Major Events This Week
Congress – Schedule
The House of Representatives and the Senate are both in session this week.
Announcements
Education – No Child Left Behind Waivers
The Department of Education granted waivers from key provisions of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to 8 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island, bringing the total number of states to receive waivers to 19, with an additional 18 applications still under review. Information about the waivers is available on the Department website.
States that receive flexibility under NCLB agree to develop state-level plans to prepare all students for college and careers, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and leadership. All of these goals include students with disabilities.
Employment – New State Data Report on Employment Services and Outcomes
The Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston has released its annual report, StateData: The National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes 2011. This publication provides detailed national and state-level data on trends in employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Its emphasis is on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). View and download this publication.
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