UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION for UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

Testified at DOJ hearing on ADA proposed rulemaking re: doctor-patient communications, online communications, equipment and furnishings in clinical settings relative to the care of people with disabilities.

Contacted: Social Security Administration (SSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); State, Dept of (DOS); SENATE; White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Defense DEF

Urged Congress to eliminate the offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities.

Contacted: State, Dept of (DOS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; White House Office; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Social Security Administration (SSA)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

See next page Supporting reintroduction in the 112th Congress of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 (ABLE Act). This legislation will allow individuals with disabilities to have access to the same type of savings instruments that other Americans use through the use of 401K, IRA and College Savings Account Families could establish savings accounts for specified education, medical and community-based services, including housing, transportation, employment training, and supports without jeopardizing other benefits vital to beneficiaries.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Social Security Administration (SSA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; State, Dept of (DOS); Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Health Issues HCR

See following page. Have continued to advocate against the repeal of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Have met with Congressional staff and signed letters of support for the ACA and full enactment of provisions included in it. Participated in HHS discussion of data development on health disparities. Recommended to the DHHS Secretary and the Quality Measures Workgroup of the Health Information Technology Policy Committee ways to address the health care needs of people with disabilities within the new clinical quality measures to be developed to leverage the evolving health IT infrastructure and decrease disability health disparities.

Contacted: SENATE; White House Office; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); State, Dept of (DOS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Social Security Administration (SSA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Veterans VET

See next page. Testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational and Rehabilitation and Employment program, including proposed programmatic changes. Supported the Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act (VETS Dogs Act) (H.R. 1154/S. 769). The VETS Dogs Act states that the VA Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities or on VA property. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services. Discussed the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Discussed the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198). This legislation directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Submitted testimony to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Health regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs implementation of the caregivers program included in the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health services Act (P.L. 111-163). Submitted a letter to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in support of their efforts to ensure proper implementation of the caregivers program included in the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health services Act (P.L. 111-163) and to urge expansion of the program to include veterans of all eras. Urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept the authority granted to them by states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency. Submitted a formal request for a regulation change to the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding 38 C.F.R. 1.218(a)(11) to ensure access for service dogs to VA facilities. Urged Congress to provide appropriate oversight for and resources to address the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits claims processing backlog. Urged Congress to increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits and to eliminate the offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities.

Contacted: SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; State, Dept of (DOS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Social Security Administration (SSA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Bills named: S. 769 (112th), H.R. 115 (112th), H.R. 1154 (112th), S. 411 (112th), H.R. 198 (112th)

Foreign Relations FOR

Supported ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Contacted: SENATE; Social Security Administration (SSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; State, Dept of (DOS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

See next page Medicare/Medicaid Participated in meetings with CMS concerning round one and the upcoming round two of the Medicare DME Competitive Bidding program. Joined with CCD Colleagues to urge both the Senate and House about the drastic Medicaid cuts and restructuring proposals within the then-proposed House Budget for FY 2012 introduced by Representative Ryan, noting it would cause a public health crisis on a national scale. Such deep cuts would undermine the integrity of the Medicaid program and would likely result in an increased number of Americans unable to access the care they need. We urged lawmakers to protect Medicaid from such drastic cuts and from other harmful changes to the program, such as block grants or caps on federal funding. Met with Congressional members to advocate against upcoming legislation in the House that would block grant Medicaid to the states and territories. Worked on draft legislation that would create a separate category for complex rehabilitative technology under Medicare. Supported a House bill sponsored by Representatives Glenn Thompson and Jason Altmire to end the Medicare competitive bidding program for home medical equipment and services (HME) in view of its serious flaws and its impact on patients access to medically required home medical equipment and services. Supported Senate bill introduced by Senators Cardin and Collins to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. Supported a House bill introduced by Representatives Thornberry and Carnahan to in the House and amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit coverage of certain covered part D drugs for uses that are determined to be for medically accepted indications based upon clinical evidence in peer reviewed medical literature Urged Congress to ensure stable Medicaid and CHIP coverage, per provisions in the Affordable Care Act, by requiring states to hold steady on Medicaid and CHIP eligibility until 2014 for adults and 2019 for children. To date, these stability protections have worked exactly as intended, preventing states from reducing Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and adding red-tape barriers to enrollment just when people need help the most.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); State, Dept of (DOS); Social Security Administration (SSA); White House Office; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Housing HOU

Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Social Security Administration (SSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; White House Office; State, Dept of (DOS)

Bills named: S. 411 (112th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

FY 2012 (see next page) Supported CCD testimony before Senate Appropriation on the FY 2012 budget request for the Social Security Administration and the impacts of possible cuts to the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. Joined with CCD Colleagues to urge both the Senate and House about the drastic Medicaid cuts and restructuring proposals within the House Budget Resolution for FY 2012 introduced by Representative Ryan, noting it would cause a public health crisis on a national scale. Such deep cuts would undermine the integrity of the Medicaid program and would likely result in an increased number of Americans unable to access the care they need. We urged lawmakers to protect Medicaid from such drastic cuts and from other harmful changes to the program, such as block grants or caps on federal funding. Met with Congressional members in the House and Senate to discuss alternatives to Medicaid block granting as methods to save on federal spending (see also Medicaid) Supported the proposal of the Coalition for Health Funding for Function 550 program funding within the FY 2012 federal budget. Supported The Independent Budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget recommendations for VA and related agencies serving veterans for FY 2012. Testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational and Rehabilitation and Employment program, including fiscal requirements. Urged members of Congress to support full funding for Social Security Administration to ensure continuing progress at reducing the growing backlog of disability determination hearings around the country.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; Social Security Administration (SSA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); State, Dept of (DOS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)

Insurance INS

See next page Met with senior HHS officials to talk about the future of the CLASS Act as well as health reform implementation. Discussed the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Urged members of Congress to support full funding for Social Security Administration to ensure continuing progress at reducing the growing backlog of disability determination hearings around the country. Signed on to testimony given before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Social Security Task Force regarding the FY2011 and 2012 budgets for the Social Security Administration. Continued support of the Community Living Assistance and Supports Act (CLASS Act) to create a national insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide services to assist people with activities of daily living in order to stay in their homes and communities if they become disabled. People would not be required to qualify for Medicaid or go into a nursing home or other institution in order to receive benefits.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); State, Dept of (DOS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Social Security Administration (SSA); SENATE; White House Office

Bills named: H.R. 115 (112th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

Participated at DOL discussion of proposal to refine FECA program and enhance re-employment in the public or private sector of government employees disabled in the job

Contacted: State, Dept of (DOS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Social Security Administration (SSA)