From DC is Justice in Ageing’s weekly roundup of nationwide information and assets about points impacting older adults. To obtain From DC in your inbox as quickly as its printed, join our mailing checklist.
Right here’s what we’re watching in Washington:
Justice in Ageing Testifies in Congress on Significance of Medicaid and Nursing Dwelling Staffing Requirements
This previous Tuesday, Eric Carlson, Justice in Ageing’s Director of Lengthy-Time period Providers and Helps Advocacy, testified as a witness for the Home Methods & Means Subcommittee on Well being listening to entitled After the Hospital: Guaranteeing Entry to High quality Put up-Acute Care.
As Eric instructed the committee, “two points are absolutely the high precedence in making certain entry to high quality post-acute care: 1) sustaining satisfactory funding for the Medicaid program, and a pair of) implementing the nursing facility staffing requirements that have been introduced by the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Providers (CMS) final 12 months.”
A latest Congressional Funds Workplace report makes clear that the Home’s price range decision, which instructs the Vitality & Commerce Committee to scale back spending by a minimum of $880 billion, would require Congress to chop the overwhelming majority of that funding from Medicaid.
Cuts of this magnitude would eviscerate entry to long-term post-acute care, together with Medicaid home- and community-based providers (HCBS) and high quality nursing dwelling care.
The Senate’s price range decision units a decrease ground for Medicaid cuts. Nevertheless, it nonetheless sends a transparent message that Republican senators are keen to get rid of the nursing facility staffing requirements that researchers estimate will save the lives of 13,000 residents every year, in addition to minimize Medicaid funding to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and mass deportations.
Learn Justice in Ageing’s assertion for the report and watch a recording of the listening to, after which take motion to guard Medicaid and nursing facility residents:
- Name 1-866-426-2631 to inform Congress to not minimize Medicaid or get rid of the nursing dwelling staffing requirements.
- Use Client Voice’s instrument to electronic mail your members of Congress about these points.
Take a look at extra Justice in Ageing assets on defending Medicaid.
Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Providers Rescinds HRSN Steerage
On March 4, CMS rescinded two steerage letters issued by the Biden Administration that outlined when state Medicaid packages may present protection for health-related social wants (HRSNs).
HRSNs embrace providers equivalent to housing and hire assist, caregiver respite, utilities, home-delivered meals, and different interventions aimed toward addressing unmet social wants that influence well being outcomes.
Many states had utilized for, and 18 states already obtained, CMS approval to cowl HRSNs by way of their 1115 waivers and different Medicaid authorities.
Whereas CMS didn’t rescind approvals of current HRSN packages, it’s seemingly any pending purposes or future renewals involving HRSNs might be denied or restricted.
Justice in Ageing will proceed to observe the implications of this coverage change and supply updates to our community.
New Litigation to Restore Truthful Housing Funding
Yesterday, honest housing teams filed a class-action lawsuit in opposition to the U.S. Division of Housing and City Improvement (HUD) to revive funding for honest housing grants supplied to nonprofit businesses.
The Trump Administration lately canceled honest housing grants for practically 70 businesses spanning 33 states.
The grants, supplied by way of HUD’s Truthful Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), fund organizations to analyze housing discrimination; educate communities about honest housing rights; and supply assist with or authorized illustration in honest housing instances.
FHIP businesses play a serious position within the nation’s honest housing enforcement system, and every year greater than 70% of honest housing complaints are dealt with by FHIP organizations.
Learn the authorized criticism and use this useful resource from Simply Safety to trace different authorized challenges to the Trump Administration’s actions. Justice in Ageing can also be monitoring related litigation and can proceed to share important developments.
Replace and New Assets on Language Entry
Earlier this month, President Trump signed Government Order (EO) 14224, declaring English because the official language of america and revoking a earlier govt order issued beneath President Clinton in 2000.
The earlier order, EO 13166, required federal businesses to develop and implement plans for people with restricted English proficiency (LEP) to meaningfully entry federally carried out packages and actions. It additionally required all federal businesses to concern language entry steerage for entities receiving federal funding.
EO 14224 directs the Legal professional Common to withdraw steerage issued beneath the earlier order and supply up to date steerage. Importantly, nonetheless, the EO clarifies that federal businesses and entities receiving federal funding aren’t required to cease offering language entry.
Advocates ought to notice that, whatever the EO, various federal and state authorities proceed to require language entry for people with LEP.
Be taught extra in Justice in Ageing’s assertion on EO 14224 in addition to in a useful resource in regards to the EO from the Asian Regulation Caucus, California Rural Authorized Help, and the Authorized Help Basis of Los Angeles.
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