|
|
|
FYI NCCDD Policy Issue
President Obama's Economic and Deficit Reduction Plan |
|
Dear (Contact First Name),
I would like to introduce a new format to communicate policy information to members. I welcome your feedback- let me know what you think!
Last week, the President sent to the Joint Committee his plan for economic growth and job creation. The following is a brief summary and link to documents released from the White House on the proposed "American Jobs Act."
Below, you will see a brief summary of sections related to Medicare, and Medicaid and employment that may impact individuals with disabilities.
What you can do: Learn About the Issues...Develop an Opinion...Speak up!
Stay informed and track the development of this and other federal proposals related to program changes and budget cuts. Continue to make your voice heard and let legislators and decision makers know what services and supports are important in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities.
Best regards,
Beth Stalvey, MPH, PhD, Policy Analyst
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities |
|
If you need help with any of this information, please contact me directly! - Beth |
|
Summary of American Jobs Act
Overall, the President's Proposal produces a total savings of more than $4 trillion by  2017. Many cost-saving components are related to tax rates and incentives. The following are parts of the plan related to health savings, individuals with low-income, and employment that may be most important to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Health Savings
The plan includes $320 billion in health savings that build on the Affordable Care Act. It does not shift risks onto individuals; slash benefits; or undermine the compact to seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. The plan includes $248 billion in savings from Medicare.
- 90 percent of the savings, or $224 billion, comes from reducing overpayments in Medicare (e.g., provider and service rates)
- Any savings that affect beneficiaries do not begin until 2017.
- The plan does not propose to change the eligibility age for Medicare benefits
*The President has promised "a veto of any bill that takes one dime from Medicare benefits without asking the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share."
The President's plan also includes:
- Payment incentives for skilled nursing facilities to improve their care to prevent avoidable hospital readmissions.
- Incentives for people with Medicare to choose high-value health services.
- Reform Medicare payments to better align with patient care costs.
- Accelerate the availability of lower-cost generic drugs.
- Take steps to make Medicaid more efficient, accountable, and flexible.
Low-Income
- Better target Medicaid resources by updating income definition. Starting in 2014, eligibility for Exchange premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions, Medicaid, and CHIP will be determined based on an individual's or family's modified adjusted gross income which will enable the States to better target those in need. This proposal is projected to save $14.6 billion over 10 years.
- Increase State flexibility and streamline oversight in Medicaid: This proposal would give State the flexibility to use a "benchmark" benefits plan for optional populations with income above 133 percent of the Federal poverty line. It also would consolidate and streamline redundant error rate programs.
Employment
- Support job growth now - especially among lower-income Americans. Initiatives that will put Americans back to work by rebuilding our infrastructure, modernizing our schools, supporting small businesses that hire and invest, and preventing teacher layoffs.
- Provide support for local efforts to implement promising work-based strategies and to provide training opportunities that have good records of placing low-income adults and youths in jobs quickly.
| |
|
|
Additional Resources
 For a detailed Summary and the full text of the American Jobs Act, please go to the link below.
White House Summary: Overview
|
|
|
|
NCCDD, 3125 Poplarwood Court, Suite 200, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
(404) 319-0560 direct (800) 357-6916 council office |
The NCCDD works to advance opportunities and services for the estimated 172,000 persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina. NCCDD is charged with creating systems change through grant awards, public policy, and advocacy guided by the core values of integration, productivity, inclusion, independence and self- determination set out in the Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights and Assistance Act (P.L. 106-402). |
|
|
|
|
|
