Author: Ryan Paiva | Posted: 21. May 2013 03:56
On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, the Senate approved President Obama’s nominee to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Acting Chief Marilyn B. Tavenner. The 91-to-7 vote for confirmation showed broad support for Ms. Tavenner, a former state health official in Virginia. She is the first confirmed chief of CMS in six and a half years. Ms. Tavenner, a professional nurse, worked for more than two decades at the Hospital Corporation of America. Ms. Tavenner has been Acting Chief since December 2011. During that time, she has been reputed to have developed a close working relationship with Congress. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 20. May 2013 10:31
Many state legislatures are wrapping up the 2013 agenda, with bills going to governors for signature and others remaining stagnant in the committee process. This year, as in many previous ones, there have been a lot of child welfare issues brought before state bodies for clarification, instituting, or developing opportunities for children involved in the child welfare system. Some of the legislation was brought forward in response to Fostering Connections for Success and Increase Adoption Act of 2008, [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 10. May 2013 04:24
On May 9, 2013, the Human Resources Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing to hear how federal rules and regulations often keep children in the foster care system from enjoying their youthful life. The opening comments by Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) highlighted the recent legislative changes that have attempted to improve the education success of foster youth, while ensuring that their health and education needs are met. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 10. May 2013 04:20
In an effort to reform the juvenile justice system and to end the practice of sentencing and incarcerating youth under 18 in the adult criminal justice system, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFJI) have partnered. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 3. May 2013 06:39
The Office of Family Assistance has recently published the following guidance:
New Question/Answer on Use of Funds for TANF or MOE. A new question and answer (Q41) has been posted under the “Use of Funds” category. It responds to a question about the amount of a refundable tax credit that can be counted as a federal TANF or MOE expenditure when a portion of the refund has been intercepted to recover a debt owed to the state. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 3. May 2013 06:37
On the Senate floor on April 16, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), backed with bi-partisan support, introduced Senate Bill 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act to provide widespread immigration reform. While the legislation contains major proposals affecting border security, employment verification and obtaining citizenship, the bill also proposes to amend the Social Security Act as it relates to foster care and adoption assistance. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:55
The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings Institution has released an April 2013 report entitled, “Person-Centered Health Care Reform: A Framework for Improving Care and Slowing Health Care Cost Growth.” The report notes that a “state-by-state, waiver-by-waiver approach” has become a hallmark of the Medicaid program over the last 20 years. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:53
On April 23, 2013, Governor Mike Beebe signed into law Senate Bill 1020, which authorizes the Arkansas Department of Human Services to explore design options that would reform the Medicaid program using private plans certified by the Department of Insurance that will offer coverage through the Exchange. Most persons aged 19-65 qualifying as newly eligible Medicaid recipients under the Affordable Care Act would have an opportunity to obtain coverage through such private plans, while persons with exceptional medical needs could still obtain coverage through programs addressing those needs under Arkansas Medicaid. S.B. 1020 authorizes the Department of Human Services to submit state Medicaid plan amendments, to seek federal waivers, and to pay premiums and supplemental cost-sharing directly to qualified health plans (a payment approach allowed under section 1906 of the federal Medicaid law on a case-by-case basis if such payments are cost-effective for each enrollee, and for children obtaining benchmark coverage under section 2103 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program law). [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:52
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed rules on April 26, 2013 that would update Medicare payment methods and rates for federal fiscal year 2014 under the inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) for acute care hospitals and the long-term care hospital PPS. The proposed rules also expand quality of care and patient safety reporting requirements for acute care hospitals, PPS-exempt cancer hospitals, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. [More]
Author: Sam Fish | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:45
On April 25, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a guidance document, in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs), that provides information about what state costs qualify for the 75% FFP for maintenance and operations of improved Medicaid eligibility determination systems under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). [More]
