NRCA Disability Legislative Update

From the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association:
Major Events Last Week
Obama Administration: President-elect Barack Obama announced that he will nominate Peter Orszag, Congressional Budget Office Director, to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House which oversees the federal budget. Orszag has significant expertise in health policy. If confirmed, he is expected to play a major role in the development of health care reform policies, focusing on health care costs . President-Elect Obama also announced the nomination of Rob Nabors, Staff Director of the House Appropriations Committee to be OMB Deputy Director.
Medicaid : The Department of Health and Human Services has published a list of the federal matching rates for the Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for Fiscal Year 2010. This list shows the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) that the federal government will pay for approved services under the state Medicaid plan from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010. The list also includes Enhanced FMAP percentages which are to be used for the SCHIP program and for certain children in the Medicaid program. The state list can be found at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28233.pdf
Major Events Ahead
U.S. Congress: The Congress is not in session this week. It will convene next week for a lame duck session.
Economic Stimulus/Medicaid: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will meet with the leadership of the National Governors Association (NGA) to discuss elements of the economic stimulus package that Congress is expected to consider in early January. A temporary increase in the federal share of Medicaid spending (known as the FMAP) is high on the NGA's wish list.
Education: The U. S. Department of Education published final rules this morning for certain provisions of the IDEA Part B State Grant Program. The rules deal with parental consent for special education services, fees for non-attorneys in due process hearings, and efforts to employ and promote individuals with disabilities. See the regulation at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28175.pdf
Announcements
Access Board Leadership: The Access Board, an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities, named David Capozzi as its new Executive Director on November 24th. Prior to this announcement, Mr. Capozzi served as Director of the Board’s Office of Technical and Information Services and as Acting Interim Director. Capozzi states that he has “a vision of a higher performing agency that will grow to meet the demands of our complex society.”
Policy Recomendations for Obama Administration: The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a coalition of more than 100 national disability organizations, submitted its policy recommendations to the Obama transition team. View the document at http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/trans/CCD-Transition-Recommendations-11-17-08.pdf
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Annie Acosta
Director of Communications and Grassroots Advocacy
Disability Policy Collaboration

National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA)
PO Box 4480
Manassas, VA 20108
703-361-2077 (voice)
703-361-2489 (fax)
(Office hours: Monday through Thursday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT)
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