NASBHC Update
NASBHC Federal Policy Update: Friday 8/1/11
Federal Policy Update
August 1, 2011
Debt Ceiling Agreement
- Leaders have agreed – President, Senate and House leaders. Not rank-and-file.
- Senate passage seems likely. House is the question. House is voting Monday night, first.
- Trillions cut from federal spending, including a freeze on defense spending for next year
- Ten-year discretionary spending cap – defense and nondefense
- No revenue increases
- Two parts, so debates will continue about cutting the debt (which could include tax increases).
- $900B increase in this calendar year ($400B now, $500B in the fall unless two-thirds of both Houses reject it); $1.2T increase next calendar year
- Could be rejected, but only by a two-thirds vote in both Houses.
- These figures — $900B and $1.2T – will be matched by spending cuts and by a combination of spending plus taxes, respectively
- Programs for the poor, including Medicaid and Social Security, would be exempted. Medicare payments to providers (not beneficiaries) could be hit.
- Next battle: Fiscal year ends on September 30 – government shutdown looms?
- White House fact sheet: http://1.usa.gov/r2WRFA
- More details: http://independentsector.org/word_on_washington
- Affordable Care Act: Preventative Services for Women
- Institute of Medicine made recommendations for preventative services that should be available without co-pay.
- Most prominent: birth control
- These are regulations on private insurance. New health plans will need to include these services without cost sharing for insurance policies with plan years beginning on or after August 1, 2012.
- well-woman visits;
- screening for gestational diabetes;
- human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 years and older;
- sexually-transmitted infection counseling;
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling;
- FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling;
- breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling; and
- domestic violence screening and counseling.
- 60-day comment period
- Religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees can exclude coverage of contraceptive services
- News release: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110801b.html
- Technical assistance call from last week for grant winners
- 67 new/expanded school-based health center sites (construction projects)
- 156 improved/upgraded school-based health center sites (alteration/renovation projects)
- 189 equipment-only projects
- August 4 webinar: National Health Equity Coalition: The Impact of the Debt Ceiling Vote on Health Equity
- https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/187555451
- 3:00-4:30 Eastern time on August 4
- August 18-19 webinars: “Whole School Climate Improvement: A Framework for Stopping Bullying and Creating Safer Schools” by Community Matters’ Executive Director Rick Phillips
- Best practices/strategies for improving school climate
- Increased understanding of the scope and nature of bullying
- How to access a tool to save and recover the costs associated with bullying and mistreatment on campus
- REGISTER HERE:
| Thu, Aug 18, 2011 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PDT |
| Fri, Aug 19, 2011 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT |
- APHA Public Health ACTion (PHACT) Campaign
- http://www.apha.org/advocacy/tips/PHACT+Campaign.htm
- Find a Town Hall meeting
- Fact sheets on Prevention and Public Health Fund (APHA and HHS), public health funding, etc.
Josh Rovner, MPP
Director of Policy and Advocacy
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
1010 Vermont Avenue, NW; Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 638-5872 x213