The Direct Care News 
For direct care workers and their allies May 1, 2012
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Minnesota Direct Care Workers Launch DCA Chapter
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  Two direct support professionals in Fairmont, Minnesota, Anne Keithahn (left) and Amy Derrera (right), are launching the Southern Minnesota Direct Care Alliance next month.
In an email exchange with the Direct Care Alliance, the two explain what they are doing and what motivates them -- including a determination to see direct care work recognized as not just a job but a profession. Read our interview with Anne and Amy.
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Direct from Washington, DC
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Final rules for Community First Choice program released: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released final regulations for Community First Choice, a program that offers state Medicaid programs an increased federal match for home and community-based services. CMS is still accepting comments on how to define community-based settings. Read more.
Inside health reform: The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 15.8 million people will receive over $1.3 billion in rebates from health insurance companies because of the medical loss ratio provision of the Affordable Care Act. The new health care law's provision requires insurers to spend 80 percent of consumer premium dollars on health care claims and quality improvement initiatives. Learn more and find out how much your state will receive.
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Florida Op-Ed Explains Need for Proposed Home Care Rule
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 | | Terry Bucher |
In an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Professional Association of Care Givers President Emeritus Terry Bucher explains why the proposed rule to grant minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers must be finalized.
Noting that Florida is not one of the 21 states that provide their own minimum wage and/or overtime protections for these workers, she writes: "Florida's home-care workers are dedicated and diligent. But until they are guaranteed a fair wage, Florida will simply not be able to attract enough qualified workers to meet the growing need for home-care services." Read more and link to the editorial.
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