Transcript NRC Federal Policy Update and Advocacy refresher

NRC Federal Policy Update
And Advocacy Refresher
November 3, 2011, Glendale, AZ
What’s New in the
th
112
Congress
2
November 3, 2011
Headlines from the
th
112
Congress
3



Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Bill
Introduced
National Family Caregiver and OAA
Programs Expire
Implementation of Health Care
Reform

CLASS Program Suspended by HHS

Funding Debacle
November 3, 2011
What is Lifespan Respite?
4
Coordinated systems
of accessible,
community-based
respite services for
all family caregivers
regardless of age or
special need.
November 3, 2011
Perspective from the Outside
Inside
5
Respite Providers
Links to
Prevention
Services
Crisis Care
Child
Health
Welfare
Lifespan
Disability
Human
Respite
Services
Services
System
HealthMental
Health
Consumer
Direction
Community
based
Orgs.
Respite
Coalition
Training
Medicaid
Aging
ADRC
Public
Awareness
Quality
Assurance
November 3, 2011
House Lifespan Respite
Reauthorization
6



Introduced by Reps.
Langevin (D-RI) and
McMorris Rodgers (RWA) on October 26 (HR
3266)
No changes to current
law. Reflect comments
received from AoA.
Extends program for five
years and Authorizes
$50 million from FY 12-
FY16
November 3, 2011
Senate Lifespan Respite
Reauthorization
7


No Senate Champion
NRC Submitted Statement Signed
by 35 National Organizations to
Senate HELP Committee in
support of expedited action
http://www.archrespite.org/images/HELP_Staff_State
ment_Sept_9_2011.pdf
November 3, 2011
National Family Caregiver
Support Program (NFCSP)
8


Primarily helps persons any age who serve as
unpaid caregivers for persons sixty or older
Other eligible family caregivers include:
• Those providing care for individuals with Alzheimer’s
and related disorders, regardless of age;
• Grandparents and relative caregivers(not parents) 55
and older providing care to children under age 18 or to
adults age 18-59, with disabilities.
• Tribal Organizations can set a lower age than 60 for
members to be considered as elders eligible for
services.
November 3, 2011
NFCSP Reauthorization
9


Title III E of the Older Americans Act. All OAA
programs expired Sept. 30, 2011
Senate HELP Committee held Listening
Sessions on Caregiver Provisions. NRC
Comments:
• http://www.archrespite.org/images/docs/OAA_HE
LP_Statement.pdf


Expand eligibility to older parents who have
adult children with disabilities living at home
Senate’s goal is to approve a bill by the end
of this session. House future less certain.
November 3, 2011
Caregiver Assessments
10



Strengthening Services for America’s
Seniors Act drafted by Senator Kohl, chair of
Senate Special Committee on Aging;
Senator Mikulski, Chair of Subcommittee on
Children and Families in HELP
Would establish voluntary state program to
assess family caregiver’s need for services
(e.g., counseling, respite care).
Requires states to provide referrals that
may be available from local, state and
private-sector programs.
November 3, 2011
Funding Debacle
11
• FY 12 Budget??
• Senate Committee approves bill that
level funds lifespan respite and
NFCSP
• House bill draft released but no
committee action – same levels as
Senate
• CR Probable Outcome
November 3, 2011
Super Committee
12



Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction,
a bipartisan group tasked with finding at
least $1.2 trillion in budget cuts, is nearing
its deadline of November 23.
If they don’t reach agreement, automatic
cuts occur in FY 13
FCA and NRC draft joint letter urging Super
Committee to preserve programs important
to family caregivers
• http://www.archrespite.org/images/Letter_to_Super_Com
mittee_10.14.11.pdf
November 3, 2011
NRC joins hundreds of groups in news ad calling on
Congress to save Medicaid from Super Committee cuts.
13
November 3, 2011
14
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Implementation
ACA mentions “caregiver” 46 times and “family
caregiver” 11 times. Law includes:

Training for direct care workers

Community First Choice Option


Funding for Aging and Disability
Resource Centers
CLASS Program
November 3, 2011
HHS Suspends CLASS
15




National voluntary program to finance
long-term services and supports
HHS establishes CLASS office in AoA under
the jurisdiction of Assistant Sec. Greenlee
Both House and Senate eliminate funding
for CLASS in pending FY 12 funding bills
HHS decides CLASS does not have
potential to be solvent and shuts it down.
November 3, 2011
Important Resources
16


•

•
National Respite Coalition Legislative Alerts,
Talking Points, Funding News
Family Caregiver Alliance Innovations
Clearinghouse tracks federal and state
legislation
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2324&c
hcategory=43&group=Federal+Legislation&subgroup=112th+Congress+%2
82011-2012%29&from=2011&to=2012
Family Caregiving 2010 Year in Review
(March 2011)
http://caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/2010-CaregiverGuide.pdf
November 3, 2011
Health Care Reform Resources
17

AARP’s Health Reform Law Creates New
Opportunities to Better Recognize and
Support Family Caregivers
• http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/ppi/ltc/fs239.pdf

ARCH’S Building Blocks for Lifespan Respite
has good summary of ACA health care
reform provisions important to respite.
• http://www.archrespite.org/images/docs/Lifespan_Sum
mit_Docs/Building_Blocks_for_Lifespan_Respite.pdf
November 3, 2011
How Can We Help Nationally?
18
November 3, 2011
19
Lifespan Respite Care Act
Next Steps



Urge your US House Member to
Cosponsor HR 3266, Lifespan
Respite Reauthorization
Urge Senators to introduce bill
with no changes to current law.
Urge both House and Senate to
act quickly to reauthorize the
program.
November 3, 2011
Super Committee Recommendations
20
 Urge
Congress not to cut important
entitlements such as Medicaid long-term
services and supports, Medicare and
discretionary programs that support family
caregivers. http://www.deficitreduction.gov/public/House
 Ways
and Means Human Resources
Subcommittee held a hearing last week on
the children’s Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) program
November 3, 2011
21
Advocacy Refresher
November 3, 2011
22
Factors That Influence Elected
Officials: Grassroots
Elected officials
pay attention to
the people who
elect them, but
only if those
people know how
to use their
“Power of
Constituency”
November 3, 2011
Overcoming the Fear Factor
23
November 3, 2011
Legislators are People Too
24

First thing to remember: Policy
makers won’t think you are rude for
stating what you want, and may think
it odd if you don’t. Part of their job is
to be asked and part of your job is to
ask.
November 3, 2011
Effectiveness of Contacts
25
Most effective are face-to-face visits
Next -- Visits to sites or programs with
personal stories
Still highly effective, even if only as
many as ten are received:

Phone Calls with appropriate staff

Letters

Emails
November 3, 2011
How Should You Ask?
26

Know Your Facts

Know Why Issue is Relevant

Make it Your Own Message

Be Positive

The Five Minute Rule

Use Personal Stories!!!
November 3, 2011
Ideas for an Ongoing Relationship
27
Ask members to…
You should…

Meet in the district

Attend fundraisers

Visit a site/event

Give recognition awards

Write an article

Thank your lawmakers

Demonstrate ongoing
support through:

Letters

Votes

Legislation


Train and organize your
grassroots
Keep track of important
data about your
community
November 3, 2011
Help is Available
28

For latest legislative news, talking points, and
fact sheets visit National Respite Coalition
• http://www.archrespite.org/national-respite-coalition

See General Guidance on Contacting Congress
• http://www.archrespite.org/national-respitecoalition/legislative-alerts#AdvocacyVisit

Use NRC’s Advocacy Tip Sheet for Face to Face
Meetings
• http://www.archrespite.org/images/ARCH/Advocacy_Tip_Sh
eet_for_Face.pdf
November 3, 2011
For More Information
29
Jill Kagan, MPH
Program Director
Annandale, VA
703-256-2084
[email protected]
November 3, 2011