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Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!
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NYSACRA Calendar
Executive Positions
Action Center
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Greetings NYSACRA Members!
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· U.S. SENATE APPROVES DSP RECOGNITION WEEK:
SEPT 8TH
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| Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)-joined by 10 original cosponsors-introduced and the entire U.S. Senate passed a Senate Resolution by unanimous consent that formally recognizes the week of September 8, 2008 as DSP Recognition Week (S. Res. 613). Please extend your appreciation to our Senators, but special thanks should be expressed to the original cosponsors that joined with Senator Nelson in introducing the resolution. See more info and sample letter in our Action Alert online using the NYSACRA Action Center at www.nysacra.org. Ask your DSPs to send their appreciation to your Senators by using the Tell-a-Friend feature or forwarding the alert once you send your letters. |
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· PRESIDENTIAL FORUM ON DISABILITIES - JULY 26TH (ADA ANNIVERSARY)
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The National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates (invited) is an historic, nonpartisan forum on national disability policy to be held on July 26, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio. The venue will host well over a thousand Americans with disabilities and their friends and family (registration required to attend the event), and to commemorate the 18th anniversary of our civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act. The forum will feature time slots for the presidential candidates to individually present their visions for the future of disability policy in America followed by questions by Judy Woodruff, news anchor and journalist ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer"), who will act as the Moderator. This event will be webcast on www.aapd.com. Visit http://www.govoter.org/presidential_forum for more info.
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· BUSH VETOES MEDICARE BILL - CONGRESS OVERRIDES IT IMMEDIATELY
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On Tuesday, the President vetoed Medicare legislation, (HR 6331), and Congress overrode him quickly. In his veto message to the House, Bush said that he supported the legislation's goal of stopping a 10.6% cut to Medicare's physician payment rates, but that cuts to private Medicare plans, known as Medicare Advantage, prompted the veto. The House voted 383-41 to override the veto, which comfortably surpassed the two-thirds majority required, and the override produced almost 30 votes more than the 355-59 tally by which the House passed the bill June 24th. The Senate later voted 70-26 to override Bush; they had passed the bill by voice vote July 9th after voting 69-30 to overcome a procedural hurdle. The bill now becomes law.
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· NEW YORK TIMES LAUNCHES BLOG ON CAREGIVING
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New York Times health writer Jane Gross launched a new blog, the New Old Age, and enthusiastically invites direct care workers, supervisors or anyone else to contribute to her blog for family caregivers. While the blog leans toward elder care, this is a great opportunity to share some ideas, raise some consciousness about direct-care work, and maybe recruit some new allies. Direct Link to Blog: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com
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· PENNSYLVANIA PASSES AUTISM INSURANCE LAW
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Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed into law the most comprehensive autism insurance bill in the nation. The new law (HB 1150) provides $36,000 a year for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other necessary treatments, and goes beyond many state insurance reform measures by mandating coverage up to age 21 with no lifetime cap. It also creates, for the first time under Pennsylvania law, an expedited appeals procedure for denied claims as a safeguard to ensure compliance by insurance providers. Private insurers will be required to provide coverage beginning in July 2009. In addition, the legislation turns the existing state welfare program for autism into a statutory requirement, ensuring that those who receive government-provided services can continue to do so. It also allows for the development of a private sector delivery system with insurance reimbursement, offering families an alternative to coverage through Medicaid.
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· DIRECT EXPRESS SSDI/SSI DEBIT CARD
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The Social Security Administration (SSA) is rolling out a new product this summer as an alternative for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries who receive monthly paper checks. The product is called "Direct Express" and is similar to a debit card with the federal government paying most of the charges for use of the card, and is good for those without bank accounts. Direct deposit remains as an alternative to either the paper checks or Direct Express. The card is actually issued by the U.S. Treasury Department; access more info at their website, http://www.fms.treas.gov/directexpresscard/index.html. You can also view a FAQ Here or on the NYSACRA website.
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· DME UPDATE ON BATH CHAIRS
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As of August 1, 2008, positioning bath chairs and associated tub and shower stand additions will not be subject to medical review. Please Click Here to read a PDF of the full notice or online at NYSACRA's website, www.nysacra.org; but if still have questions after reading it, contact the Medical Prior Approval Bureau at 1-800- 342-3005, option 1.
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· DQM UPDATES FIRE EVACUATION RULE TO 3 MINS
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OMR DQM plans to update the building/fire safety codes. In short, DQM recommends that the required evacuation time in certain residential facilities be revised from 2.5 minutes to 3 minutes. Also in the same rule it makes changes incorporating the NYC Code. This proposal would raise the evacuation time from 2.5 to 3 minutes in the private schools and supervised community residences where the Life Safety Code is not utilized. The number of persons affected by the proposed change currently living in such settings is very small. See text of new Regs and Memo on www.nysacra.org or via link to the PDF docs here, Regs and Memo.
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· RIGHTS NOTIFICATION
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OMR is seeking information from providers about what they are giving to individuals and families regarding rights. Pursuant to paragraph 633.4(a)(8) individuals receiving services and their parent, guardian or correspondent must receive a notification of rights. Are there standardized materials that are used, such as brochures, pamphlets, or packets of information? Please send copies and/or responses to Joe Macbeth by Friday, July 25, 2008.
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