A resolution designating the week beginning September 8, 2008, as "National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week".

The Direct Support Professional Fairness and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 1279)--supported bill Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act of 2007 (S 1758 and H.R. 3001)--supported bill CMS Regulation on State Rehabilitation Option--opposed regulation To provide for a temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, and for other purposes--supported FMAP increase (H.R. 5268) A bill to provide a temporary increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage and fiscal relief to states--supported FMAP increase and state fiscal relief (S. 2586) To temporarily delay application of proposed changes to Medicaid payment rules for case management and targeted case management services.(S. 2578 and H.R. 5173)--supported delaying implementation of CMS rule that would change payment rules for case management and targeted case management To impose a moratorium on Medicaid payment restrictions for rehabilitation services, or school-based administration, transportation, or medical services. (H.R. 4355)--supported bill Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008: To extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on seven Medicaid regulations through April 1, 2009. (H.R. 5613)--supported moratoria on seven CMS regulations addressed: 1) health care provider taxes 2) case management/targeted case management 3) rehabilitation/habilitation payment restrictions 4) public provider taxes 5) transportation costs for school based services 6) graduate medical education Medicaid funding restrictions 7) Department of Appeal Board procedures Economic Recovery in Health Care Act of 2008 (H.R. 2819)--supported moratoria on seven CMS regulations cited above and supported the temporary FMAP increase and assistance to states Community Choice Act of 2007: Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require state Medicaid plan coverage of community-based attendant services and supports for certain Medicaid-eligible individuals. (S. 799 and H.R. 1621)--supported bill Resolution Designating the week beginning September 8, 2008, as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week(S.Res. 613)--supported resolution Empowered at Home Act of 2008: aimed at removing existing barriers to the new Medicaid Section 1915(i) HCBS benefit, strengthening HCBS services in order to prevent or decrease the likelihood of institutionalization, provide state assistance to facilitate HCBS sevices, improve purchase of long term care, and improve CMS collection of state data regarding number of individuals, expenditures, types of services, and waiting lists. S. 3327 would increase income eligibility from current 150% of FPL to 300% of SSI; eliminate option to waive statewideness; expand scope of services to include "other services", and eliminate option to limit number of eligible individuals and extends time period for eligibility (S. 3327)--supported bill

Client expense: $56,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

The Direct Support Professional Fairness and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 1279)--supported bill Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act of 2007 (S 1758 and H.R. 3001)--supported bill CMS Guidance on SCHIP income eligibility for program--opposed guidance CMS Regulation on State Rehabilitation Option--opposed regulation A bill to provide a temporary increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (S. 2620 and H.R. 5268)--supported FMAP increase A bill to provide a temporary increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage and fiscal relief to states--supported FMAP increase and state fiscal relief (S. 2586) To temporarily delay application of proposed changes to Medicaid payment rules for case management and targeted case management services.(S. 2578 and H.R. 5173)--supported delaying implementation of CMS rule that would change payment rules for case management and targeted case management To impose a moratorium on Medicaid payment restrictions for rehabilitation services, or school-based administration, transportation, or medical services. (H.R. 4355)--supported bill Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008: To extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on seven Medicaid regulations through April 1, 2009. (H.R. 5613)--supported moratoria on seven CMS regulations addressed: 1) health care provider taxes 2) case management/targeted case management 3) rehabilitation/habilitation payment restrictions 4) public provider taxes 5) transportation costs for school based services 6) graduate medical education Medicaid funding restrictions 7) Department of Appeal Board procedures Economic Recovery in Health Care Act of 2008 (H.R. 2819)--supported moratoria on seven CMS regulations cited above and supported the temporary FMAP increase and assistance to states Community Choice Act of 2007: Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require state Medicaid plan coverage of community-based attendant services and supports for certain Medicaid-eligible individuals. (S. 799 and H.R. 1621)--supported bill Resolution Designating the week beginning September 8, 2008, as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week(S.Res. 613)--supported resolution