Policy Update September 2009

Peter Notarstefano

Medicare Adult Day Services Bill Introduced

The Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2009 would add adult day services as a provider of post-acute care under Medicare. This bill, introduced by Representative Linda Sánchez (CA-39), has 13 co-sponsors. Please continue to write your representatives to co-sponsor the bill. NADSA and the members of the Medicare Adult Day Services task force are meeting with members of Congress to obtain support for this important legislation. The legislation has been referred to the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees. We continue to meet with Senate staff to have the bill introduced in the Senate. Over 95 national and state organizations, including 34 state adult day services associations, are supporting the bill.

Appropriations for Adult Day Services Need to be Increased

The House and the Senate have released their numbers for FY 2010 Labor/HHS Appropriations. Overall, the Senate figures keep most of the Older American Act (OAA) funds at their FY 2009 numbers. The House funding figures that relate to adult day services include:

• $10,000,000 more for supportive services Title III(b)
• $30,589,000 for the nursing home diversion program 
• Same funding as in 2009 for the Family Caregiver Support Program 
• Same funding as in 2009 for the Social Service Block Grants (SSBGs).

Senate funding figures include:

• Same funding as in 2009 for supportive services
• Same funding as in 2009 for the Family Caregiver Support Program
• $2,500,000 for the Lifespan Respite program.

Please advocate with your representatives for a needed 6% increase in funding for Older American's Act programs.
 
CLASS Act is in Health Care Reform

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to include provisions of the CLASS Act in its health care reform measure. The House Energy and Commerce Committee also voted to incorporate long-term services and supports provisions in its bill. The CLASS Act will add another payment source for older adults and persons with disabilities to use to pay for adult day services. Please urge your representatives to support the CLASS Act provisions.

HR 3200 Introduced

NADSA is pleased that Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-5) introduced an amendment (HR 3200) to the healthcare reform bill that if passed would allow the existing states that include adult day health services in the state plan to remain under the Medicaid state plan. The inclusion of this amendment was due to the hard work of the Adult Day Associations in California, New York, Massachusetts and Texas.