On Thursday, March 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, CMS will host a web meeting on the National Medicare Education Program (NMEP). The meeting aims to engage national and local organizations in support of outreach and education around the Medicare program. CMS has expanded the focus of these meetings to reflect addition CMS programs, including the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, and CHIP.

Click here to view additional details and register.  

This 12-week internship is designed for current students with an unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The purpose of the Summer Intern Program is to enhance students' knowledge about CMS programs, mission, vision, and goals. The program seeks to familiarize participants with Federal, State, and local health care programs.

Click here for more information on the program.  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a Consumer Advisory on three pension advance traps to which retirees may be susceptible. Cash advances on pensions appear to be "quick fixes" to financially-strapped retirees; however, they can quickly drain retirement income when it's time to pay back the advance plus interest and fees. The Advisory blog also offers a pdf printout to share with friends, family, and clients.

Click here to access the full blog.  

Individuals and families who owe fees when they file their 2014 taxes will have a final opportunity to get health insurance coverage for 2015. The Special Enrollment Period opened on March 15 and will end on April 30. The fee for those who lack coverage in 2015 is $325 per person or 2% of your household income, whichever is higher.

Click here to get 2015 coverage.  

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a funding opportunity for cooperative agreements for Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects. WIPA projects are community-based organizations that provide counseling and support to disabled beneficiaries of the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. A key purpose of these projects is to disseminate accurate information to beneficiaries with disabilities, including transition-to-work aged youth, about work incentives programs and issues related to such programs, to enable them to make informed choices about working and whether or when to assign their Ticket to Work, as well as how available work incentives can facilitate their transition into the workforce. WIPA cooperative agreement awardees will provide services across the country through July 31, 2020, pending availability of funds over a five-year period of performance. The deadline for applications is March 30, 2015.

Click here to view funding details.  

This week, Leadership in both the House and the Senate released their respective budget outlines for FY2016. The budget blueprint released by House Leadership on Tuesday largely mirrors proposals from the past several years and includes a number of significant changes to programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. Proposed changes include:

• Combining CHIP and Medicaid into a single program and modifying Medicaid from an entitlement to a block grant that increases state flexibility while decreasing Federal expenditures on the program;
• Establishing vouchers in Medicaid for private insurance;
• Completely repealing the ACA; and
• Reducing domestic discretionary spending (the line-item that includes Older Americans Act funding) below the levels currently authorized.

On Thursday, the House Budget Committee passed the proposal, sending it to the full chamber for review. The budget passed on a party-line vote, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting in opposition.   

 

The Senate proposal also projects significant savings, largely from reductions to health programs. The Senate proposal contains language to repeal the ACA as well as create a new program for certain children and adults based on the CHIP program. The proposed budget outlines the financial priorities of Congressional leadership, but actual program funding will ultimately be determined through the Appropriations process.  

 

Click here to view the House budget.

Click here to access the Senate proposal. 

On March 19th, legislators introduced a bill that would eliminate Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and establish new policies regarding Medicare physician payments. The SGR policy, if not altered, would lead to significant reductions in Medicaid doctor reimbursement.  Over the past decade, Congress has passed over a dozen bills that established short-term fixes to the formula. The bill under consideration would permanently eliminate the SGR formula, and is very similar to a piece of legislation that was introduced during last session. Congress is expected to introduce additional components of the bill in the coming days, including a package of spending cuts to offset the fiscal impact of the bill, as well as a package of related health care policies. Legislators have indicated that the health package may include policies such as Medicare Savings Plan extenders, an extension of CHIP funding, and funding for community health centers.

Click here to view the initial SGR bill.

The ABLE National Resource Center, in collaboration with National Disability Institute, The Arc, Autism Speaks, National Down Syndrome Society, and the College Plan Savings Network, will host "Understanding ABLE" on Thursday, March 26 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. A panel of experts will explain ABLE Act core components and its status of implementation at the federal and state level, followed by Q&A time.

Click here to register and access details on the webinar's speakers.

Designed to empower individuals with disabilities, this interactive web event will explain how translating emotional events into words can positively impact physical and mental health, relationships, and even financial well-being. Experts from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), WomenHeath, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and the United Spinal Association will discuss the significance of personal stories and the role they serve in healing, advocating, and connecting individuals with disabilities. The webinar will take place on Thursday, March 26 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET.

Click here to register. 

Click here to view the 2015 Nominations Process and submit a nomination.

This year's Mattie J.T. Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship will provide financial assistance to those caring for service members or veterans. To be eligible for the 2015 Stepanek Scholarship, applicants should have completed at least three-quarters of their program sessions in Operation Family Caregiver. Operation Family Caregiver is a program of the Rosalynn Carter Institute (RCI) that coaches the families of newly returning service members and veterans to manage the difficulties they face when they come home. Five $2,000 scholarships will be awarded through a competitive application process. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is August 31, 2015.

For the first time, many issuers will have a full year of claims experience upon which to base their ACA rates for 2016. Though some unknowns remain, the availability of 2014 claims data will change the way rates are developed and reviewed for 2016. State Coverage Initiatives, in coordination with the State Health Reform Assistance Network, is hosting a webinar to explore the considerations for 2016 premium rate development, filing, and review based on a compilation of CMS regulations and guidance as well as insights from actuaries with Wakely Consulting Group. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, April 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to learn more about the FUN*RUN.
Click here to sponsor Tom Harkin.