| Medicaid Moratoria Bills |
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The Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act (H.R. 5613) now has 57 cosponsors and a markup in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is slated for April 9. The bill would temporarily stop the implementation of seven Medicaid regulations until April 1, 2009.
More cosponsors are needed! NACHSA is joining the National Association of Counties in urging members of Congress to cosponsor the legislation. You may send an e-mail to your member of Congress requesting support for the bill by clicking here. A summary of the bill (HR 5613) may be found by clicking here. To view the status of each regulation, click here.
Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced a similar bill in the Senate last week, the Economic Recovery in Health Care Act (S. 2819). The Senate measure is more expansive than the House bill. In addition to stopping the implementation of seven Medicaid regulations, It also would establish a moratorium on CMS's August 17, 2007 State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) directive that effectively stops any state from expanding its program. The bill also would provide $6 billion in relief to states in the form of a temporary increase in the federal Medicaid match and a $6 billion targeted revenue sharing fund. It is unlikely that the Senate will move on its measure until the House completes action on its version. Click here for more information on the bill.
Earlier moratoria placed on two regulations expire at the end of May, including one directly affecting county public hospitals, so there is urgency in attempting to adopt a measure before the Memorial Day recess. |
| GrandRally |
| NACHSA has joined Generations United, the Children's Defense Fund, Child Welfare League of America, AARP and other national groups to sponsor the Third National GrandRally for grandparents and other relatives raising children. The Washington, DC fly-in is slated for May 7, 2008. Members of Congress will address the rally and participants will meet with their congressional offices to urge their support for legislation such as the Kinship Caregiver Support Act (H.R. 2188; S. 661) which would assist grandparents and others raising relative children. For additional information on the Rally, go to www.grandrally.org. |
| Kinship Caregiver Support Act |
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On April 10, over 100 grandparents and other kinship advocates from 45 states will be on Capitol Hill to urge that their member of Congress cosponsor the Kinship Caregiver Support Act. The Pew Trusts Kids Are Waiting Campaign has prepared an excellent side-by-side comparing the Kinship bill with similar provisions in Chairman McDermott's Invest in Kids Act (H.R. 5466).
As mentioned last week, the Kids Are Waiting Campaign has also provided a toll free number NACHSA members and others may use to call Congressional offices to urge support for the Kinship Caregiver Support Act. The call-in line is open until April 15. Call 1-866-873-3025, follow the prompts, enter your ZIP code, and you will be connected directly to your members' office. |
| Adoption Equality Act |
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NACHSA is assisting the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) in circulating a sign on letter supporting the bipartisan Adoption Equality Act (S. 1462; H.R. 4901). The Act would ensure that more children adopted from foster care would be eligible for federal (Title IV-E) adoption assistance by eliminating the eligibility link that is based on the birth family`s income. The legislation would also require states to reinvest any money saved as a result of the bill into child abuse and neglect programs. You can view the full letter here.
Over 150 organizations have signed on to date. If your county would like to sign on, please e-mail or fax the sign on form to Mary Boo at maryboo@nacac.org or 651-644-9848 (fax). If you have any questions, please contact Mary at maryboo@nacac.org or 651-644-3036. |
