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| Greetings NACHSA Members: |
Congress has adjourned for the year, with a flurry of action during the final days of the session. They will return on January 15, 2008. This update provides you with a snapshot of what occurred and did not occur during that time. You'll also find a notice that NACHSA 2008 dues are due, as well as reminders to register for the upcoming conference and submit applications for the NACHSA Awards. |
| Omnibus Appropriations |
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Acceding to the promise of a veto-threat, the Democrats accepted the president's overall budget number for FY 2008 but made changes within the individual accounts and programs. Most Labor/HHS programs for FY 2008 will be funded at FY 2007 levels or will receive small, single-digit increases. Congress rejected the president's proposed 30 percent cut to the Social Services Block Grant and will fund it at the current $1.7 billion level nationally. There was a totally unexpected cut to the discretionary spending account under the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program (Title IV-B, Subpart 2). While the administration, House and Senate all proposed level funding of $89.1 million nationally, the program was cut to 63.3 million in the final bill. The bill could not and did not cut the mandatory side of PSSF which also funds a number of new competitive grants recently awarded to states and counties for substance abuse and child welfare programs, many focusing on meth.
The bill also contained emergency funding for the Women's Infants and Children nutrition program. The program faced cutting benefits and/or beneficiaries due to recent price spikes in dairy products. The bill also contained a significant increase in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, including $250 million in emergency funding to help low-income families cope with an estimated 28 percent increase in home heating costs this winter. Another $480 million was added to the appropriation above last year's level to an overall funding level of $1.98 billion in FY 2008. | |
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| Child Support |
| The Child Support Protection Act (S. 803; HR 1386) was not attached to any must-pass vehicle, despite the efforts of many county and state officials urging passage this year. Attempts were made to place it on the very lean Medicare bill, but no non-health legislation was accepted. Key House and Senate staff continue to have the issue very high on their 'to-do' list and efforts will be renewed in 2008. The bills to restore the Deficit Reduction Act cuts continue to garner co-sponsors with 29 in the Senate and 70 in the House. Click here for the most recent cosponsor list. |
| State Children's Health Insurance Program |
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Included in the bare bones Medicare bill,SCHIP is funded through March 31, 2009 and will allow for normal program growth, but no new expansions. Many observers thought that the Democrats would only fund the program until the fall of 2008, requiring action on the eve of the November elections, but Senate Republicans objected.
The bill did not void the SCHIP directive issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in August which generated bipartisan opposition from many in Congress and governors alike. The August 17 State Health Official letter will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for states to either continue or expand coverage above 250 percent of the federal poverty level when the directive goes into effect next year. |
| Medicaid Issues |
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Since Congress failed to override the president's veto of the SCHIP reauthorization bill which contained policy changes, there will be no new flexibility for states and counties in determining Medicaid citizenship through verifying Social Security Numbers, so the Deficit Reduction Act requirements remain in force for Medicaid.
The Medicare bill does contain moratoria on federal implementation of the rehabilitative and school-based regulations through June 30, 2008. Both regulations would have the effect of restricting the use of Medicaid to pay for those services. Earlier this year, Congress enacted a moratorium until May 2008 on a rule limiting Medicaid reimbursement to government operated providers (public hospitals). So, Congress will have to act on a number of those Medicaid items by mid-year at the latest or they will go into effect. In fact, even most of the Medicare extensions only go through June 30, 2008, so given the pressure they will get from the Medicare doctors and others, Congress will have to do something by then. Congress took no action on the pending regulations on Targeted Case Management, and none was expected, given that these regulations would implement a statutory provision in the Deficit Reduction Act. |
| Food Stamps |
| The Senate last week adopted its version of the farm bill which reauthorizes food and nutrition programs. While the final legislation is still not available, the bill does include some modest increases in food stamp benefits by modifying slightly the standard deduction, adding a few new income disregards and eliminating the cap on the dependent care deduction. The Senate's administrative provisions are, overall, slightly better than the House proposals. Unlike the House bill, the Senate does not contain a provision giving USDA the authority to collect from states benefit over-issuances in the event of a 'systemic error' in their benefits administration. The Senate is also silent on the merit employee issue proposed by the House and administration which may affect the ability of non-profit groups to assist in benefit applications. A House-Senate conference committee will need to convene early next year to resolve the differences. |
| Child Welfare Issues |
As expected, the Kinship Caregiver Support Act (H.R. 2188, S. 661), which would provide federal funds for subsidized guardianship, will be held over until 2008. The cosponsor list has grown to 33 members in the House and 22 in the Senate. Click here to learn more about the bill and to show your county's support for the legislation.
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| TANF |
| The Senate Finance Committee recently sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting that it release the proposed TANF rules implementing the provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act. The rule has been in the OMB review process since mid-October. OMB typically has 90 days to complete its process. |
| Next Year |
| As the elections approach, some believe that there will be even more gridlock than what took place this year. Congress will have to re-visit Medicare by late spring, which may be the vehicle for any new Medicaid fixes, such as the moratoria on regulations which expire at the end of June. House Ways and Means staff have indicated that they are interested in marking up child welfare legislation next year, but the timing and legislative details have yet to be determined. More will be known on scheduling and timing after the first of the year, but election years always offer unexpected surprises... |
| NACHSA News |
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NACHSA Dues Are Due!: Dues for 2008 are now due. They continue to be frozen at the 2005 level. Over the past year, NACHSA members have received numerous congressional and human services resources updates, as well as the opportunity to post job announcements and interact with colleagues at NACHSA meetings. The popular NACHSA Networker is now distributed electronically only to NACHSA members. NACHSA also upgraded these updates in a more visually appealing and reader friendly format. Click here to access the dues form and tell your county colleagues about NACHSA!
Register Now for NACo's 2008 Legislative Conference: NACHSAwill meet on March 1 during the conference. Click here for a draft of some of the NACHSA-related activities at the conference. Registration is now available for the 2008 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference! Next year's conference will be held March 1-5 at the Hilton Washington and Towers in Washington, D.C. Registration, housing information and updated workshop session information is now available on the NACo Web site. Register on-line and save $25 on your registration fee.
NACHSA Awards Deadline Around the Corner:It's not too late to nominate candidates for innovative human services programs and for distinguished leadership by human services directors and elected county officials. NACHSA award winners will be recognized at the National Association of Counties' Legislative Conference in March. Click here to learn more about the 2008 awards and application process. Applications are due by January 14, 2008.
To view information about past award winners, click here.
Best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and a great New Year!
Tom | |
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Tom Joseph
National Association of County Human Services Administrators
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