Health Action 2012, the conference for consumer health advocates, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC from January 19-21, 2012. Health Action 2012 is sponsored by Families USA and NASW has been a regular cosponsor and attendee at the conference. Health Action 2012 will provide advocates from across the country with the knowledge and tools they need to protect, implement, and... 

In late December, Congress passed the payroll tax extension which included a provision to extend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) through February. Under the measure, TANF is extended at fiscal 2011 levels of $16.5 billion per year. NASW is supporting the RISE Out of Poverty Act (H.R. 3573) which aims to reduce child poverty by permanently authorizing the TANF program as a funding stream for subsidized employment,... 

The House passed legislation (H.R. 3659) that would extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through fiscal 2012. The bill, which passed by voice vote, would place restrictions on how benefits can be used and modifies certain requirements states have to meet when reporting data and administering benefits. The so-called strip club loophole allowed recipients to use benefits at liquor stores, casinos... 

Now you can apply online in Spanish for Social Security Retirement benefits, Medicare, and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. Not ready to retire? You can get an estimate of your future retirement benefits in Spanish, too. Check out the new services at Social Security Spanish website, www.segurosocial.gov. It’s so easy.  Read More →

Please join Mayra Alvarez, Director of Public Health Policy, Office of Health Reform and Mara Vanderslice Kelly, Acting Director of the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, for a conference call tour in Spanish of CuidadoDeSalud.gov, the first website in Spanish to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use... 

On November 9, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional. The ruling stated that the individual insurance mandate in the law is valid and within Congress’ Constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. It is the fifth time the law was upheld. To read more, go to:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/health/policy/appeals-court-upholds-health-care-law.html While... 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting regional listening sessions regarding essential health benefits. You are invited to attend the sessions. HHS is committed to receiving broad public input on essential health benefits from all stakeholders. Senior HHS officials will be in attendance to listen to stakeholder feedback. Please see below for the table for further details. Region City Date Time Location RSVP... 

NASW attended a briefing in which the newly released report by the Half in Ten Campaign was discussed. The Campaign has a goal of reducing poverty by half over ten years. They are using 2010 as the baseline for this effort. The report connects information on the number of people struggling to move out of poverty with the levers to increase opportunity such as more good jobs, access to financial institutions to save for... 

On Friday, October 15, the Obama administration decided to halt plans to implement the long-term care program created by the 2010 health care law after determining that financing plans were not sufficient.  For more information, please click here.  Read More →

On October 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the number of participants in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has nearly tripled to more than 10,000 National Corps members nationwide. Established in 1972, the National Health Service Corps, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has provided health care to communities...