Friends -

As we close 2010, I wanted to take a few moments to look back at the last 12 months of what we have accomplished – we began a robust implementation of health insurance reform; we ended combat operations in Iraq; we passed a landmark Wall Street Reform bill that will hold Wall Street accoundtable and protect consumers; we repealed the discriminatory policy of  Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; and we passed a critical tax cuts bill that will have a siginifcant impact on Latino families.  That is only naming a few.

We are disappointed that after two attempts, Congress did not pass the DREAM Act.  We will keep fighting for this next year.

Yesterday, before leaving for the holiday, President Obama held a news conference to discuss the highlights of the lame duck session.  He also discussed in depth his disappointment at Congress’ inability to pass the DREAM Act and spoke with great heart about why it is important to address this important issue, in addition to broader immigration reform, in the coming Congress.   Please take a look at the President’s full answer to the question by clicking the link below.  It’s well worth the watch.

In closing, we hope that you have found these updates useful and have and will continue to share this information with your communities.  We look forward to our work with you in the New Year on the many issues we still need to address that affect our community.

I want to wish you a happy holiday season with you and yours.

Stephanie Valencia
Associate Director
White House Office of Public Engagement
svalencia@who.eop.gov

President Obama on Obstruction of the DREAM Act: “Maybe My Biggest Disappointment” of Last Weeks

Posted by Stephanie Valencia on December 23, 2010 at 10:53 AM EST

Today, before leaving for the holiday, President Obama held a news conference to discuss the highlights of the lame duck session.  He also discussed in depth his disappointment at Congress’ inability to pass the DREAM Act and spoke with great heart about why it is important to address this important issue, in addition to broader immigration reform, in the coming Congress.   Please take a look at the President’s full answer to the question by clicking the link below.  It’s well worth the watch.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/23/president-obama-obstruction-dream-act-maybe-my-biggest-disappointment-last-weeks

Transcript:

But I will tell you, maybe my biggest disappointment was this DREAM Act vote.  You know, I get letters from kids all across the country — came here when they were five, came here when they were eight; their parents were undocumented.  The kids didn’t know — kids are going to school like any other American kid, they’re growing up, they’re playing football, they’re going to class, they’re dreaming about college.  And suddenly they come to 18, 19 years old and they realize even though I feel American, I am an American, the law doesn’t recognize me as an American.  I’m willing to serve my country, I’m willing to fight for this country, I want to go to college and better myself — and I’m at risk of deportation.

And it is heartbreaking.  That can’t be who we are, to have kids — our kids, classmates of our children — who are suddenly under this shadow of fear through no fault of their own.  They didn’t break a law — they were kids.

So my hope and expectation is that, first of all, everybody understands I am determined and this administration is determined to get immigration reform done.  It is the right thing to do.  I think it involves securing our borders, and my administration has done more on border security than any administration in recent years.  We have more of everything — ICE, Border Patrol, surveillance, you name it.

So we take border security seriously.  And we take going after employers who are exploiting and using undocumented workers, we take that seriously.  But we need to reform this immigration system so we are a nation of laws and we are a nation of immigrants.  And at minimum, we should be able to get the DREAM Act done.

And so I’m going to go back at it and I’m going to engage in Republicans who, I think, some of them, in their heart of hearts, know it’s the right thing to do, but they think the politics is tough for them.

Well, that may mean that we’ve got to change the politics.  And I’ve got to spend some time talking to the American people, and others have to spend time talking to the American people, because I think that if the American people knew any of these kids — they probably do, they just may not know their status — they’d say, of course we want you.  That’s who we are.  That’s the better angels of our nature.

And so one thing I hope people have seen during this lame duck — I am persistent.  I am persistent.  If I believe in something strongly, I stay on it.  And I believe strongly in this.

And I am happy to engage with the Republicans about — if they’ve got ideas about more on border security, I’m happy to have that conversation.  And I think that it is absolutely appropriate for the American people to expect that we don’t have porous borders and anybody can come in here any time.  That is entirely legitimate.

But I also think about those kids.  And I want to do right by them, and I think the country is going to want to do right by them, as well.

Stephanie Valencia is an Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement

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Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2010

Statement by the President on the House Voting to Approve the DREAM Act

I congratulate the House of Representatives, Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Berman, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other congressional leaders for taking the historic step of passing the DREAM Act today with a bipartisan vote. This vote is not only the right thing to do for a group of talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own by continuing their education or serving in the military, but it is the right thing for the United States of America. We are enriched by their talents and the success of their efforts will contribute to our nation’s success and security. And as the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found, the DREAM Act would cut the deficit by $2.2 billion over the next 10 years. I strongly urge the U.S. Senate to also pass the DREAM Act so that I can sign it into law as soon as possible.

This vote is a vitally important step to doing what the American people expect their policymakers to do: work together to address the nation’s most pressing problems.  The DREAM Act corrects one of the most egregious flaws of a badly broken immigration system. A flaw that forces children who have grown up in America, who speak English, who have excelled in our communities as academics, athletes, or volunteers to put their lives and talent on hold at a great cost to themselves and our nation.

I also congratulate the House for moving past the tired sound bites and false debates that have pushed immigration rhetoric into the extremes for far too long. The DREAM Act is not amnesty; it’s about accountability, and about tapping into a pool of talent we’ve already invested in. The DREAM Act is a piece of a larger debate that is needed to restore responsibility and accountability to our broken immigration system broadly.  My administration will continue to do everything we can to move forward
on immigration reform; today’s House vote is an important step in this vital effort.
###
THE WHITE HOUSE
Oficina del Secretario de Prensa

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA

8 de diciembre, 2010

Declaraciones del Presidente sobre la votación por la Cámara de Representantes para aprobar la Ley DREAM

Felicito a la Cámara de Representantes, su presidenta Pelosi, el congresista Berman, el Grupo Hispano del Congreso (Congressional Hispanic Caucus) y otros líderes del Congreso por dar el histórico paso de aprobar hoy la Ley DREAM en una votación bipartidista. Esta votación no sólo es lo correcto para los jóvenes de talento que quieren ponerse al servicio del país al que conocen como propio, ya sea continuando su educación o prestando servicio militar, sino que es lo correcto para Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Su talento nos enriquece, y el éxito de sus esfuerzos contribuirá al éxito y seguridad de nuestra nación. Y como concluyó la Oficina de Presupuesto del Congreso (Congressional Budget Office), entidad no partidista, la Ley DREAM puede recortar en $2,200 millones el déficit en los próximos 10 años. Insto enérgicamente al Senado de Estados Unidos a que también apruebe la Ley DREAM para que pueda yo promulgarla lo antes posible.

Esta votación es un paso de vital importancia para hacer lo que el pueblo estadounidense espera de quienes dictan la política: que trabajemos juntos para hacerles frente a los problemas más urgentes del país. La Ley DREAM corrige una de las peores fallas de un sistema de inmigración aquejado de problemas, una falla que fuerza a muchachos que han crecido en Estados Unidos, hablan inglés, han sobresalido en sus comunidades en sus studios, como atletas o voluntarios, a poner en suspenso su vida y talento, lo que tiene un precio muy alto para ellos y nuestra nación.

También felicito a la Cámara de Representantes por ir más allá de los trillados debates falsos y frases hechas que durante demasiado tiempo llevaron a los extremos las discusiones sobre inmigración. La Ley DREAM no es una amnistía; se trata de rendimiento de cuentas y de aprovechar la fuente de talento en la que ya hemos invertido. La Ley DREAM es parte de un debate más extenso que se requiere para restaurar la responsabilidad y el rendimiento de cuentas generalizados en nuestro fallido sistema de inmigración. Mi gobierno continuará haciendo todo lo posible para avanzar con la reforma de inmigración; la votación de hoy en la Cámara de Representantes es un paso importante en este vital esfuerzo.

WEST WING UPDATE

Dear Friends,

It’s been an incredibly busy week as we continue to work with our allies in Congress and across the country to try to get the DREAM Act across the finish line.

Here is a quick update. It looks like the House and Senate could take up the DREAM Act as early as this week. From the White House and Obama Administration we continue to do all we can, with everyone from the President to Cabinet and Senior officials working to highlight how important the DREAM Act is to our economy, our security, and our nation.

As you know, the DREAM Act is common-sense legislation drafted by both Republicans and Democrats that would give students who grew up in the United States a chance to contribute to our country’s well-being by serving in the U.S. armed forces or pursuing a higher education. Because it just makes sense, the DREAM Act has long enjoyed bipartisan support. It is limited, targeted legislation that will allow only the best and brightest young people to earn their legal status after a rigorous and lengthy process, and applies to those brought to the United States as minors through no fault of their own by their parents. These are young people who know no other home. Here is some of the work we have been doing:

• Secretary Duncan participated in a call with Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform about the DREAM Act and posted an oped in The Hill saying “Passing the DREAM Act will unleash the full potential of young people who live out values that all Americans cherish — a strong work ethic; service to others; and a deep loyalty to our country. It will also strengthen our military, bolster our global economic competitiveness and increase our educational standing in the world.” Later that day he hosted a call with over 100 University Presidents on the importance of the DREAM Act.
• Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Cecilia Munoz and I participated in a DREAM Act web chat on WhiteHouse.gov taking great questions like whether the legislation would encourage people to come to the United States illegally (it would not) and whether the DREAM Act can be implemented by the President via Executive Order (it cannot, which is why he is strongly urging Congress to do the right thing by passing it). Secretary Solis, Valerie Jarrett, Cecilia Munoz and I participated in a conference call with hundreds of people across the country as well to give them an update.
• On Wednesday, Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and over 100 faith leaders from across the country participated in a conference call about why the DREAM Act is the right thing to do.
• Under Secretary of Defense Dr. Clifford Stanley spoke out in support of the DREAM Act saying “Throughout past and current conflicts, those who are not yet citizens have answered the call to defend their adopted nation…Allowing DREAM Act-eligible youth the opportunity to serve this nation would continue this tradition of service, while expanding the market of high-quality patriotic youth, to the advantage of military recruitment and readiness.”
• On Thursday, Secretary Napolitano held a conference call with reporters in which she made it clear that the DREAM Act is important for our law enforcement, and will help us better focus our resources so we can enforce immigration laws in a “way that makes sense,” targeting criminals.
• On Friday, Secretary Locke hosted a call with University Presidents Dr. Carlos Campo, President of Regent University, Dr. Gene Block, Chancellor, UCLA and Dr. Eduardo Padron, Miami-Dade College to talk about the importance of the DREAM Act to our country’s competitiveness. Secretary Locke said, “These are kids that can be our future scientists, our doctors, our military leaders and our educators. Some of them are our future entrepreneurs who will build the next Google or Intel that will generate hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs for our country.”
• The White House also released a fact sheet and a top ten list on why we need to pass the DREAM Act, highlighting myths and facts about the legislation as well as highlighting real stories, key supporters of the bill and over 50 editorial boards that have come out in support of the DREAM Act .

So it’s the end of a busy week, but we will keep gearing up for more action next week as Congress heads toward votes. Keep up with what we’re doing on WhiteHouse.gov.

Stephanie Valencia
Associate Director
White House Office of Public Engagement

Read the full Executive Order here

Sacramento- Assembly member Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) announced today that his measure,, was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“Today is a new day for California social workers who will now qualify for federal financial assistance, similar to social workers in other states,” said Nava. “Social workers play a vital role in our communities and are on the front lines when peoples’ lives are in crisis. We owe it to them to make sure that have access to all possible resources so that they can continue to serve all of us in California.”

AB 2167 will replace California’s current state-administered licensing exam with a national exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards.  By making this change, California social workers will be eligible for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program which provides up to $50,000 for educational costs for eligible participants. This federal program encourages social workers to work in un-served and underserved areas throughout the country.

Said Rebecca Gonzales, Director of Government Relations for the National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter, “We are very pleased the Governor signed this bill. California Social workers will now be able to qualify for this vital federal program. We commend Assembly member Nava for his work hard work on this bill.”

Six Months of the Affordable Care Act: Real rights, real protections, real benefits for real people.

By HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

In the six months since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, we have been hard at work implementing the law and focusing on putting consumers ahead of insurance companies.

Already, millions of Americans are seeing the benefits:

• Nearly 4 million employees working for small businesses can benefit from small business tax credits to help employers cover their employees.
• Thousands of uninsured Americans who had been locked out of the market due to pre-existing conditions have signed up for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
• More than 2,000 businesses have been accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, which provides them much needed financial support to continue coverage for retired Americans not yet eligible for Medicare.
• More than one million Medicare beneficiaries have received a $250 check to help them afford the cost of prescription drugs in the Part D “donut hole” coverage gap.

We’ve also kept a close eye on insurance companies, calling out unjustified premium increases and encouraging them to put in place common-sense policies.

This week, a number of other benefits begin to take effect, charting out new rules of the road for health insurance companies:

• Putting an End to Insurance Company Abuses. If you pay your premium every month, insurance companies won’t be allowed to take away your health insurance just because of a mistake in your paperwork.
• Ensuring Benefits for Patients. Patients will be able to get the care they need without lifetime limits capping their insurance benefits.  And eventually, they won’t face annual benefit limits either.  In many plans, you’ll have access to preventive services without cost sharing, and new rights to appeal decisions by your insurance company that deny you benefits.
• Coverage for Kids and Young Adults. Nearly all insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage to children due to pre-existing conditions.  And if an insurance plan covers dependents, they’ll have to cover most young adults up to age 26.

We still have a long way to go until 2014, when the new health insurance Exchanges are in place and additional provisions get us closer to all Americans having access to affordable, quality health insurance.  But we are making big steps in the right direction, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

To learn more, visit HealthCare.gov today.

The primary season began in earnest on Tuesday, May 18 and we learned several important lessons that night.  For one, voter turnout was not particularly high, defying the expectations of many observers who believed voter anger would voice itself loudly at the first opportunity.  Second, the night clearly went better for Democrats than it did for Republicans.  The hard fought special election in PA-12 was decisively won by Democrat Mark Critz over Republican Tim Burns.  Rep. Joe Sestak, who polling has shown to be the stronger candidate in a November general election matchup, toppled longtime Sen. Arlen Specter.  In Kentucky, we saw progressive state Attorney General Jack Conway advance to take on staunch conservative Rand Paul in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R).  Moderate Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) will have to confront progressive challenger Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in a runoff, since Lincoln was unable to cross the 50% threshold necessary to win the primary outright.

Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of these primaries, we saw general election foes confronting one another with negative attacks.  Republicans are trying to contain any impression that Tuesday’s results don’t bode well for their long term prospects this year, while Democrats are basing their narrative on the idea that voters evidently still support them.

While we certainly can’t speculate on what this all means for the remaining 5+ months of this year’s election cycle, we can say one thing for sure: this year’s midterm elections will continue to be spirited, intense, and hard fought, right through to November 2.

President Obama Unveils the 2010 National Drug Control Strategy

On May 11, President Obama unveiled the 2010 National Drug Control Strategy.  The strategy was developed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) with input from Federal, State and local partners.  Highlights of the strategy include:

• Strengthen efforts to prevent drug use in communities including a focus on inhalants, pain killers, “study drugs” and steroids and curtailing drugged driving.
• Seek early intervention opportunities in health care especially by increasing the knowledge of healthcare providers in screening and brief intervention techniques.
• Integrate treatment for substance use disorders into health care, and expand support for recovery.
• Break the cycle of drug use, crime, delinquency and incarceration, including supporting alternatives to incarceration such as drug- and problem-solving courts.
• Disrupt Domestic Drug Trafficking and production with attention to domestic methamphetamine production and criminal distribution of prescription medications for nonmedicinal purposes
• Strengthen international partnerships.
• Improve information systems for analysis, assessment and local management.

For more information on the Strategy, go to http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/strategy/

DC Voting Rights Act Stalled

The D.C. Voting Rights Act attempts to enfranchise over 550,000 District of Columbia residents through the addition of one House seat for our Nation’s Capitol and another for the Republican-leaning state of Utah, which is the next state scheduled to pick up a seat according to the census count.  However, despite the efforts of NASW as well as its coalition partners, H.R.175 was stalled due to significant alterations to the controversial gun amendment orchestrated by Reps. Childers (D-Miss.) and Souder (R-Ind.).  NASW will continue to pursue enactment of the D.C. Voting Rights Act since social workers seek equality for all.

Congress Struggles over Medicare Rate Legislation

This legislation is active and we will post a blog about any developments later today, May 28, 2010.

The top priority legislative item Congress plans to complete this week is passage of a conference reported bill, “The American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act” (H.R. 4213). The catch-all legislation includes Medicare, Medicaid and COBRA provisions supported by NASW, and a variety of tax provisions. The multifaceted bill would spur job growth and help Americans hurt by unemployment by:

• Averting the scheduled 21 percent cut in payment rates to Medicare practitioners who bill Part B independently, including physicians and clinical social workers. Rates would be allowed to increase in 2012 and 2013, if spending growth on services “is within reasonable limits,” and primary and preventive care services would receive a slightly larger allowance.
• Extending for six-months increased federal Medicaid matching rates to help states meet their current program needs. The extension sustains increased Medicaid matching rates granted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, providing assistance through June 30, 2011.
• Extending COBRA subsidies for unemployed individuals through the end of this year.

Additionally, the bill would extend dozens of expired tax breaks designed to spur economic growth. The Senate plans to act following a House vote and prior to the Memorial Day recess, which begins on Friday, May 31. Passage of the legislation is very uncertain at this time. Congressional Democrats are deeply divided over the amount of revenue to apply toward the costs of the bill, and Republicans are united in opposition to the package, largely because the Medicaid provision isn’t paid for with offsetting federal spending cuts.

The Medicare Part B payments for practitioners have a long history of problems caused by a flawed “SGR” payment formula. Three times this year and seven other times over the last seven years Congress has been forced to delay substantial cuts in payments to practitioners. NASW has joined with other independent Medicare practitioners in calling on Congress to replace the flawed formula with one that better reflects the costs of providing Medicare services. The last short-term extension of the payment formula was adopted in April and delayed a decision on practitioner rates until May 31; see NASW’s last update here.

New Federal MH Parity Rules Generate Controversy

A number of managed care companies are objecting to new federal rules implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act of 2008. Arguing the rules are too rigid, the companies say they limit their ability to manage behavioral health costs. Some plans have begun legal challenges as well as appeals to the White House to relax the rules. At this point, industry litigation and advocacy activities are in an early stage, and it is unclear whether their campaign will be successful. NASW submitted supportive comments on the interim final regulations on May 3. NASW’s comments focused on the interests of consumers and the social work profession. The much-anticipated regulations provided a 90-day public comment period. Additionally, NASW released a Legal Issue of the Month for April 2010, which provides a useful resource for social workers who want to learn more about the law. NASW members may view it here and must login in with their userID and password.

New Ruling on Red Flag Rules Hoped for Soon

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is expected to announce within days whether it will again delay enforcement of the “Identity Theft Red Flags Rule” now slated to go into effect on June 1. The “Red Flags Rule” would require many businesses and organizations to implement a written identity theft prevention program designed to detect the warning signs of identity theft in their day-to-day operations. As written, the disputed rules would apply to a wide variety of independent professionals, including physicians and clinical social workers, in small private and group practices. The rule’s applicability to health care professionals, particularly small-scale practitioners, is highly controversial.  The rule has been delayed previously on two separate occasions.  More information is available at an FTC website here.  NASW provided information about the identity theft regulations in the June 2009 LDF Legal Issue of the Month. The article may be accessed here, and members must login in with their userID and password.

Representatives of health professionals have found support in Congress for postponing implementation of the regulation, and last year the House quickly passed a bill, H.R. 3763, to exclude licensed health practitioners with fewer than 20 people in a practice from reporting under the rule. The bill then stalled in the Senate, but the Senate chairman with jurisdiction has provided private assurances that he will pass it shortly.

Last week the American Medical Association filed federal suit against the rule, arguing that it places physician practices under the same regulations as banks, credit card companies and mortgage lenders. Their lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, DC would block the FTC from imposing its rule on physicians. The lawsuit states that the rule requires ‘financial institutions’ to implement a written identity-theft prevention and detection plan and notes that the FTC had announced that physicians had until June 1 to comply.

Archived Health Reform Webchats Available

Do you have questions for health experts about how the new health care bill will affect your healthcare?  Since March when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 became law, the White House has held monthly and sometimes weekly webchats to answer questions and discuss different aspects of the new health reform bill so that you, your family and friends can be informed.  The most recent chat focused on how the Affordable Care Act will hold insurance companies accountable so that the health care system works for you rather than against you.

You can find previous webchats on www.healthreform.gov and also browse the site to find all the fact sheets and the latest information available from HHS on the new law.

National AIDS Strategy Outlined

On May 14, the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) hosted a conference call to give stakeholders an update on the National AIDS Strategy (NAS).  Jeff Crowley, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy talked about the President’s goals in achieving the NAS.

Mr. Crowley explained the NAS will be a short concise plan or roadmap for moving our country forward to 1) lower the HIV incidence, 2) increase access to care and address outcomes, 3) reduce HIV related disparities and 4) coordinate a national response. The NAS aims to:

1) Lower incidence by

• Refocusing on community efforts where HIV is most prevalent
• Using effective evidence based prevention methods

2) Expand coverage of and access to care by

• Creating a seamless system for continuous and coordinated care from HIV positive diagnosis to HIV care
• Taking deliberate steps to increase the diversity of the clinical care providers, including social workers
• Supporting people with co-infections and other social determinants such as housing, transportation and poverty

3) Reduce HIV-related health disparities by

• Ending stigma and discrimination against HIV positive individuals
• Redoubling efforts to provide age-appropriate education about HIV
• Creating new community level approaches to reduce HIV

4) Increase coordination

• Among federal government agencies
• Between the federal government and state, tribal, local governmental and community based agencies
• With better mechanisms and communication efforts on HIV status – a measurable refocus on the domestic epidemic

Once released, the NAS will include a timeline and a description of the federal government’s responsibilities in implementation as well as the role of all interested stakeholders.

Advocacy Blog Roundup

NASW and Partners Host Senate Briefing on ESEA

NASW’s New School Social Work Advocacy Webpage

NASW and Coalition Partners Urge Congress to Address Risky Private Student Loans

Advocacy Alert Roundup

Help Achieve Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in House

SWRA: Ask Your Representative to Support H.R. 795

Tell Congress: The need for jobs and state aid is an emergency. (alert expired)

With the health care debate now behind us, Capitol Hill and the Obama Administration have moved on to other things.  Issues of great significance include a pending Supreme Court nomination, fluctuating news on employment, and several Congressional primary races that will give shape to the November general election.  At this point in the year, many Members of Congress are focused on both a wide range of policy issues as well as their reelection prospects.

While Democrats are expected to suffer losses this year, experts widely disagree on the number (House seat estimates have ranged from 25 all the way to 60).  That said, it’s important to remember one thing about any election in which the minority party is trying to overwhelm the majority party: only in the summer and fall are the challengers truly tested, in both fundraising and campaigning.  Those Republican candidates trying to defeat entrenched Democrats will have to maintain a significant fundraising pace and avoid gaffes on the campaign trail.  Any error in either category could cost the GOP potential seats.

These remarks are not meant to be partisan in nature because the Democrats were in a similar position in 2006 as well as 2008.  In each of those years some Democratic challengers were unable to defeat Republican incumbents due to either lackluster fundraising, a disappointing campaign, or both.  At the same time, the Democrats won a significant number of seats in the House and the Senate, eventually taking over the majority.  The GOP is likely to repeat that pattern this year, enjoying a sizeable number of wins, but not necessarily as many as their most optimistic supporters would like.

Remembering Dr. Dorothy I. Height

NASW and the social work community were devastated by the loss of Dr. Dorothy I. Height on April 20, 2010. One of the world’s most important social workers, Dr. Height was a civil rights legend who spent a lifetime advocating for the rights of women and people of color. Dr. Height worked on five continents for four major national organizations during her lifetime. Dr. Height was the only female team member in the United Civil Rights Leadership which included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1997, the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004, and was inducted into the Democracy Hall of Fame International. NASW was honored to award Dr. Height with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The most comprehensive piece of federal legislation ever introduced to address social work workforce challenges was named after Dr. Height and fellow social worker Whitney Young. NASW Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Clark penned a tribute to Dr. Height and discussed her support of the legislation bearing her name. Honor the legacy of Dr. Height today by contacting your Representative and Senators in support of this critical legislation.

NASW Joins Young Invincibles In Support of Early Dependent Coverage

NASW joined 65 state and national groups on a letter asking insurance companies to start dependent coverage early.  The letter was generated by Young Invincibles, a national youth advocacy group focused on health reform. 

An important provision in the health care law allows young adults to stay on their parent’s plan until their 26th birthday.  These early dependent coverage steps would apply to non-college youth (for example, a working 19 year old looking to go back on their parents’ plan) and to students on student plans that might be able to switch back to their parents’ plan post-graduation.  This provision of health care reform starts on September 23, but several insurance companies have decided to start the rule early.  With about 3.2 million students graduating from college in May, and 67% of those on their parents’ plan, early dependent coverage is critical.

The letter states, “The extension of dependent coverage to the age of 26 is one of several provisions that positively impacts young Americans; this provision alone will provide coverage to more than 2 million uninsured young adults. Taken together, the provisions in the health care reform law will guarantee that millions more young adults have access to quality, affordable insurance.”

Secretary Sebelius Speaks to LCAO

On May 5, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services gave a brief presentation to the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) regarding the recent health care law.  LCAO is a coalition of national not-for-profit organizations representing nearly 60 million older Americans.  During her remarks, Secretary Sebelius talked about the timeline for implementation of the law, including early implementation of dependent coverage and the early retiree provision.  She also encouraged LCAO members to continue to partner with the Administration on implementation strategies.  To learn more about the timeline for implementation for key provisions, please go here:

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8060.cfm

In related news, NASW joined LCAO in a letter to congressional members thanking them for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.  The letter outlined important benefits for seniors contained in the law such as:

• strengthening Medicare’s guaranteed benefits,
• eliminating barriers to preventive care, extending the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund,
• shoring up retiree health coverage, and cracking down on insurance company abuses, such as denying affordable coverage because of age or health status.

In addition, the new law will also help Americans remain in their own homes as they age by establishing a new program to help pay for long-term services and supports and enhancing Medicaid’s role in providing this assistance.

Congress Reconsiders Medicare Rates

For the third time this year, Congress confronts a scheduled 21 percent cut in payment rates to Medicare practitioners who bill Part B independently, including physicians and clinical social workers. The political obstacle to congressional action remains the large cost of a long-term correction of the law governing rates, leading to correction bills that address the formula problem with only stopgap delays. The last short-term extension of the payment formula was adopted in April and delayed a decision on practitioner rates until May 31; see NASW’s last update here.

The payment formula was initially enacted in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act, which capped the maximum growth in total Medicare Part B expenditures.  The formula treats all independent practitioners as a group, and if Medicare payment growth exceeds a target set in statute, rates are cut the following year to make up the difference. According to survey data from the AMA (here), physicians’ frustration with payment rates has reached a level that many are now reluctant to take on new Medicare patients.

This year, because Congress has adopted more stringent budget process rules, they have been unable to muster the votes necessary for a year-long extension. Instead they have fallen back on extension bills that endure for only a month or two that show a lower impact on spending. A recent Congressional Budget Office estimate placed the cost of a Medicare payment rate delay at $276 billion for the next decade.

Complicating matters for clinical social workers, changes in other components of the SGR have also affected their payments rates for 2010, including several regulatory actions taken by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). A briefing on these separate payment changes is available on NASW’s website here, check under the subtitle, “Reimbursement.”  Please have your membership information ready to log onto the page.

Congress Begins Annual Appropriations Process

Each year Congress makes funding decisions for a wide variety of domestic and international programs and activities that require an annual appropriations amount. Entitlement programs, such as Medicaid, SSI, Medicare and Social Security are not part of this process, but programs such as drug and alcohol prevention and treatments,HIV/AIDS and workforce development are key priorities under consideration. NASW is currently making visits to appropriations committee members, urging funding increases in areas such as social work workforce training and services for vulnerable populations.

President Obama Nominates Elena Kagan for Supreme Court Justice

Elena Kagan is currently the Solicitor General, the first woman in this post. As Solicitor General she represents the Administration before the Supreme Court. If she is confirmed by the Senate as a Supreme Court Justice, one-third of the court will be women, another first. Ms. Kagan would replace John Paul Stevens following his retirement. Ms. Kagan is widely regarded as one of the best legal minds of her generation. She was the first female dean of the Harvard Law School where she developed an atmosphere of openness to other viewpoints and consensus building.

Advocacy Blog Roundup

NASW Recognizes National Minority Cancer Awareness Week

Equal Pay

Support Incentive Payments for Clinical Social Workers in Medicare/Medicaid

Congress Remembers Dr. Dorothy I. Height

Advocacy Listserv Activity

In the month of April, 1,061 activists sent 1,419 advocacy messages to Congress through Capwiz. The most active alerts were about Incentive Payments for Clinical Social Workers in Medicare/Medicaid and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.  Thanks to all of you who took the time to take action!  For more information, go to https://ssl.capwiz.com/socialworkers/issues/?style=D.

This goal was expressed by Subcommittee Chairman Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI) in his opening statement: “While the No Child Left Behind Act shed light on the inequalities in our education system, it unfortunately did not do enough to close the achievement gap for diverse students…This must be a top priority for future steps in education reform.”

To this end, the Subcommittee considered recommendations from a panel of educators, advocates, and a researcher working to close the achievement gap for diverse students. They included Dr. Daniel Curry, Superintendent for the Lake Forest School District in Felton, Delaware, Dr. Jack Dale, Superintendent for Fairfax County Public Schools in Falls Church, Virginia, Arelis Diaz, Assistant Superintendent for Godwin Heights Public Schools in Wyoming, Michigan, Dr. David Gipp, President of United Tribes Technical College (UTTC), Jacqui Farmer Kearns, Principal Investigator for the National Alternate Assessment Center, and Michael Wotorson, Executive Director of Campaign for High School Equity.

To read the transcript go tohttp://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/ecese/

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NASW Standards for Social Work in Schools 
NASW Specialty Practice Section for School Social Work 
NASW School Social Specialist Credential