Budget & Appropriations – Short Term Funding Bill Expected
Congress is likely to pass a three day short term funding bill before January 15th, the last
day of temporary funding for the government under the current continuing resolution. This
is necessary in order to buy more time for Congress to move the expected bipartisan funding
plan for the remainder of the fiscal year.
It is expected that top appropriators will unveil a massive $1.012 trillion omnibus spending
package late tonight that would fund nearly every corner of the federal government for the
rest of the 2014 fiscal year. House Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers (R-KY), said that
the measure would incorporate spending directives for all 12 of the annual appropriations
bills.
Recent Major Events
Medicaid – Home and Community-Based Setting
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its long-awaited final rule
that defines home and community-based setting. The definition pertains to home and
community-based settings across all Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS)
authorities: section 1915(k) Community First Choice, section 1915(i) State plan HCBS, and
section 1915(c) HCBS Waivers. Until the final rule is published in the Federal Register on
January 16, a pre-publication version is available. The rule will become effective March
17, 2014. CMS has developed a website to provide information about the new rule,
including an informational bulletin, a summary of key provisions in the new HCBS definition,
fact sheets, questions and answers, and other related resources. CMS will be holding a series
of informational webinars over the next several weeks. The dates for these webinars can be
found on the website.
For currently approved 1915(c) waivers and 1915(i) state plans, states will need to evaluate
the settings currently in their 1915(c) waivers and 1915(i) state plan programs and, if there are
settings that do not meet the final regulation’s home and community-based settings requirements,
work with CMS to develop a plan to bring their program into compliance. The public will have
an opportunity to provide input on states’ transition plans. States will have up to one year to
bring their HCBS settings into compliance.
Announcements
Disability Policy Seminar – Early Registration Now Open
Make your plans to attend the 2014 Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC April 7-9. This
event is the biggest and best opportunity for advocates to advance the grassroots movement
for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Register now and book your room at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Washington D.C. for a special
early registration rate at www.disabilitypolicyseminar.org and find out more details about the
stimulating program on tap for this year’s event. But act soon – special rates on rooms ends
March 4.
Hosted by: The Arc, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Association of University Centers on
Disabilities (AUCD), American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
(AAIDD), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), and
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
Promotional Support Provided by: Sibling Leadership Network
Walmart Latest Supporter of the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities
In late December, Walmart added its voice to supporters of the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. In a letter to U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
Bob Menendez, Walmart wrote “Ratification of this treaty would underscore the role of the
United States as a leader for the roughly one billion people in the world with disabilities –
including approximately 58 million Americans.”
Walmart’s letter expanded on its commitment to a diverse and multicultural workforce, including
people with disabilities. The company urged the Senate to ratify the treaty.
Capitol Insider Schedule
Next week Capitol Insider will be sent out on Tuesday, January 21 because of the Martin Luther
King Jr. Holiday on Monday.
Health Care – New Affordable Care Act Resource Released
The National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative has released a “Guide to Disability
for Healthcare Insurance Marketplace Navigators” designed to inform navigators and other
enrollment specialists about special considerations people with disabilities may face as they
shop for healthcare coverage. The Collaboration is a project of the American Association on
Health and Disability and is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Arc is one
of the seven national organizations participating in the collaboration. The Arc encourages
chapters and members to share the availability of the guide and other resources with Affordable
Care Act navigators in their community.
Education – The Departments of Justice and Education Jointly Release School Discipline
Guidance Package
The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Education (ED) jointly released a school discipline
guidance package for schools to ensure that discipline policies do not discriminate against racial
or ethnic groups or students with disabilities and help school leaders find alternatives to
excluding students from classrooms or schools. The guidance materials cite data from the Civil
Rights Data Collection that shows students with disabilities are disproportionately impacted
by suspensions and expulsions.
Some of the major findings included data showing that students served by IDEA [the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act] represent 12% of students in the country, they make up 19% of
students suspended in school, 20% of students receiving out-of-school suspension once, 25%
of students receiving multiple out-of-school suspensions, 19% of students expelled, 23% of
students referred to law enforcement, and 23% of students receiving a school-related arrest.
Additionally, students with disabilities (under the IDEA and Section 504 statutes) represent
14% of students, but nearly 76% of the students who are physically restrained by adults in
their schools.
The guidance emphasizes positive environments, prevention efforts, clear, appropriate, and
consistent expectations and consequences, and continuous efforts to ensure equity. It
highlights schools’ obligations under civil rights laws and provides numerous resources for their
use.
Health Care – US Access Board’s Medical Diagnostic Equipment
Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee Released Its Report
The US Access Board’s Medical Diagnostic Equipment (MDE) Accessibility Standards
Advisory Committee released its report, Advancing Equal Access to Diagnostic Services:
Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults
with Disabilities. The report includes detailed accessibility standards covering examination
tables, x-ray machines, weight scales, mammography equipment, and other diagnostic
equipment. The standards were required by the Affordable Care Act. The 24-member
Advisory Committee was formed in July 2012 to make recommendations to the Access Board
on the final standards.
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
