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Legislative
Updates
District
of Columbia
State
Federal
Links
 District
of Columbia
Medicaid Update: DHCF Raises Physician Rates
Effective April 1, 2009, rates for Medicaid reimbursable physician services have been increased for the District’s Medicaid fee-for-service program. For updated physician rates see http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dhcf/section/43/release/16771
The Office of Disability Rights
The mission of the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR) is to ensure that the programs, services, benefits, activities and facilities operated or funded by the District of Columbia are fully accessible to, and useable by people with disabilities. They offer investigation and ADA training services and are responsible for overseeing ADA compliance within DC, community integration planning and making recommendations to make DC more accessible. The ODR staff encourages you to visit their website frequently at http://odr.dc.gov/odr/site/default.asp and contact their office at (202) 724-5055 with any ADA or disability-related questions.
The DC Government Guide on Accessible Meetings & Conferences provides DC government agencies and officials with practical tips and recommendations to ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities in meetings and conferences.
This guide was compiled and developed by the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR). The guide’s purpose is to assist in the planning process and reflects an optimal level of accessibility. Some facilities may not meet all of the criteria outlined in this document. If the agency is in doubt about the level of accessibility at a potential venue, the agency officials should consult the DC Office of Disability Rights.
The ODR staff hopes that this guide is helpful as agencies and organizations plan their future events.
The Council of the District of Columbia
The DC Council is the legislative branch of the DC Government. It creates and approves budgets and oversees DC government programs. There are 13 members elected to the council. If you have questions or concerns about DC government, contact your council member at http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/findmycouncilmember
DC Council website http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/
DC Register
The DC Council publishes the notices, proposals and contents of hearings in the DC Register which is available for viewing at: http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=dcr:free
Revisions to the Medicaid Waiver or Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
For information about this waiver, potential changes to this waiver and information about what families and advocates can do click here.
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty
100 Days and Beyond: 2007 Action Plan for the District of Columbia
This document covers the specific goals of the Fenty Administration for the first 100 days in office.
http://dc.gov/mayor/100dayPlan/index.asp
State
New Directions Medicaid Waiver- A Waiver That Works
Information and a personal story about how the Maryland New Directions Waiver for self directed services works.
http://www.gucchdgeorgetown.net/ucedd/documents/medicaid%20waiver%20with%20RAB%20edits.pdf
Federal
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
The health program for children with families with low income that do not qualify for Medicaid is called CHIP. CHIP, formerly SCHIP or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, has gone through changes recently that increased funding to states. For information on CHIP go to http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/chiphome.htm
President Barack Obama's Agenda
The President's agenda many items related to individuals with disabilities. See the White House for the description of the agenda related to education, employment, independent and community based living, funding for research, and participation of the United States in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/disabilities/
Combating
Autism Act of 2006 P.L. 109-416 (S. 843)
Impact of
Public LawP.L. 109-416, the Combating Autism Act of
2006, requires
the Director
of the National
Institutes of Health
(NIH)
to expand, intensify,
and coordinate autism spectrum
disorders (ASD)-related
research. Specifically, the Act sets
forth a nonexhaustive list
of research
areas
to be included
in NIH’s
ASD initiatives, including
research into possible
environmental causes of
autism. It expands
the scope of autism research
under NIH and the Centers
of Excellence
in such research to address
the entire scope of ASD,
rather than only autism.
The new law
will also allow the Director
to consolidate
program activities to
improve efficiencies and
outcomes. For more information
visit
the Office of Legislative
Policy and Analysis (OLPA)
at http://olpa.od.nih.gov/legislation/109/publiclaws/autism.asp.
Life
Span Respite Care Act
This
bill would authorize
funds and require states grantees
to develop and enhance
lifespan respite programs
for families
caring for children
and adult members with disabilities,
provide
planned and emergency
respite programs for family caregivers,
train and recruit respite
workers
and volunteers, provide
information to caregivers
about available
respite and support
services, and assist caregivers
in accessing respite services.
For more
information on this
bill visit the National Respite
Coalition
at http://www.archrespite.org/nrc.htm
Older
Americans Act:FY2006 Funding, FY2007
Proposals,
and FY2008 Budget
Request
The impartial
Congressional Research Service
(CRS) released
a report
on February 15,
2007 on funding
for the Older
Americans Act,
including the
National Family
Caregiver Support
Program. The
report compares
the FY 2006 Congressional
appropriations
levels to President
Bush's
budget request
for FY
2008, highlighting
Title III - Grants
for State
and Community
Programs on Aging,
Title IV - Activities
for Health,
Independence
and Longevity, Title
V - Community
Services
Senior Opportunities
Act, Title VII
- Vulnerable
Elder Rights Protection
Activities, and
Alzheimer's
Disease Demonstration
Grants. For more
information go
to http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL33880/
Links
For
more information about policy
and legislation
see
the links
below
Find out about current legislation in Congress
A website, named Thomas, after Thomas Jefferson, was created by Congress in 1995 to make federal legislation freely available to the public. This website that allows you to look up current bills before the House of Representatives or the Senate, up-to-date activities in Congress, access to the Congressional Record, Committee information, schedules and calendars for current and upcoming legislation, government resources and more. http://thomas.loc.gov
The
Association of University
Centers
on Disabilities
(AUCD)
This
association promotes
and supports
the
national
network
of university
centers
on disabilities,
which
includes University
Centers
for Excellence
in Developmental
Disabilities
Education,
Research,
and Service
(UCEDD),
Leadership
Education
in Neurodevelopmental
and
Related
Disabilities
(LEND)
Programs
and Developmental
Disabilities
Research
Centers
(DDRC).
They
also
provide updates
on policy
and legislation
that
impact
people
with
developmental disabilities
and
their
families
on their
Public
Policy
page. http://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=27
Family
Voices: Policy
and
Legislation http://www.familyvoices.org/policy.php
This
webpage
gives
information
and
updates
on
pending,
reauthorization
and
proposed
legislation
as
well
as
court
cases
effecting
health
care
policy
and
people
with
special
health
care
needs
and
disabilities
and
their
families.
Office
of
Legislative Policy
and Analysis
(OPLA): http://olpa.od.nih.gov/
This
office serves
as the
principal office
within the
Office of
the Director
(OD), National
Institutes of
Health (NIH),
for providing
legislative analysis,
policy development,
and liaison
with the
Congress. OLPA
facilitates and
enhances the
relationship between
NIH and
the Congress;
advances NIH
legislative priorities;
and ensures
that the
NIH community
receives essential
information, advice,
and guidance
regarding developments
in the
Congress that
affect NIH.
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