Rules Improve Understanding of Health Insurance

The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor and the Treasury proposed new rules under the Affordable Care Act that will enable consumers to easily understand their health coverage and determine the best health insurance options for themselves and their families. Under the proposed rules, health insurers, employers, and group health plans will have clear, consistent and comparable information about health plan benefits and coverage. The new forms, available in 2012, will be a critical resource for more than 180 million health insurance consumers with private health insurance.
More information about the proposed regulation is available here. 
To view the proposed template for the Summary of Benefits and Coverage, click here.

New Rules for Determining Income Under Medicaid

The way income is determined for the purposes of establishing Medicaid eligibility will change in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. The Kaiser Commission explains how the changes will affect families and uninsured individuals in this article:

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8194.pdf

Legal Challenges to Health Care Reform

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11^th Circuit in Atlanta issued its ruling in the 26-state case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The 3-judge panel ruled (2-1) that the individual mandate to purchase insurance violates the constitution, but it held that the rest of the law can remain in place. (A district court in another case had invalidated the whole law on the basis of the individual mandate.) The 11^th Circuit decision was the first one in which an appellate court invalidated the provision. Another circuit court found it to be constitutional. It is expected that the Supreme Court will ultimately rule on the case. For an article about the 11^th Circuit decision, see http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/us/13health.html.  

AHCCCS Respite Implementation

Regarding the AHCCCS Respite Benefit Change Effective October 1, 2011:

If respite services were prior authorized before October 1, 2011, and the authorized respite services will be provided on or after October 1, 2011,

the authorization and the amount of  services may need to be adjusted to ensure that the annual limit is not exceeded. For additional

information, providers are encouraged to contact the appropriate Contractor or, for questions concerning FFS members, the AHCCCS Administration.

The proposed AHCCCS Rule may be found at: http://www.azahcccs.gov/reporting/state/proposedrules.aspx#Respite  .

Beginning October 1, 2011, the annual limit of covered respite hours will be 600 hours during each October 1 through September 30 time period. (Prior to October 1, 2011, the annual limit is 720 hours per benefit year.) The respite benefit change will impact adults and children who are:

• Enrolled in the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS). ALTCS members include individuals who are elderly and/or physically disabled as well as individuals with developmental disabilities, or
• Receiving respite services through the behavioral health system.

Families should call their respite provider for details.

Conference - Arizona Health Insurance Exchange

Keys to Success is a conference on issues involved in creating a health insurance exchange in Arizona. It moves from the big picture to details through informative speakers and interactive discussion throughout the morning.

Agenda Overview:

• Health Exchanges and State Choices - Alan Weil, National Academy of State Health Policy 
• Analysis of Recent Arizona Proposals - Donna Struger Fritsch, Health Management Associates with Don Hughes, Health Policy Advisor to Governor Jan Brewer
• Making the Exchange Consumer- Family- and Small-Business Friendly - Patrick Tigue, Community Catalyst
• Open Q&A and Closing Remarks

Register Today. 

Access to Arizona Data on Child Health

The Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DRC) has a redesigned website.  Access to data findings from the National Survey of Children's Health and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs can be found in one integrated search tool. All surveys and survey years are accessible from www.childhealthdata.org.

Nonprofit leaders: Reclaiming Our Community's Power

National keynote speaker Lindsay Hodel, Nonprofit Vote Director of Training and Partnerships

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Disability Empowerment Center 5025 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

The goals of the conference are to inspire 501 (c) 3 non-profits and other community groups, agencies and related businesses to effectively influence nonpartisan community engagement, in election activities. On-line registration at www.pafcoalition.org/conferences .

$12 per person includes box lunch and resource book.

Parenting Children with Chronic Illness

Saturday, October 1, 2011

8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Melvin L. Cohen Conference Center, Rosenberg Building

1920 E. Cambridge Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85016

You'll discover how to:

· Motivate children to make wise choices about food and medication.

· Promote responsibility without lecturing, or bribing.

· Put an end to power struggles, arguing, and whining.

· Recognize and avoid common parenting traps.

· Handle resistance to medication and medical treatments.

· Prevent behavior problems before they start.

· Talk about difficult issues such as life expectancy

Please RSVP To: June Lundy, (602) 933-0739 no later than September 27

Miracle League of Arizona Opening Day

Invitation to the Opening Day to the 2011-2012 Miracle League Baseball Season

Saturday, September 10, 2011

1130 East Cholla St., Scottsdale, AZ 85259, 480-619-8810

Festivities begin at 10:00 am

Free Bar B Que lunch at 12:45 pm

http://mlaz.org

Ticket to Work Webinar

If you are interested in learning about the Ticket to Work Program or Work Incentives, you can attend a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE).

You can attend a national online webinar (next WISE Webinar is on Aug 31, 2011).

Register here

"I just want to say thank you for thinking about us with your call today - you would be amazed to know what it meant to me. Thank you for your support and direction."