Recently, we were doing some research in the archived editions of the NASW News.  We came across a copy of this telegram sent from NASW to President Kennedy on May 25, 1962:

“The National Association of Social Workers through its Board of Directors meeting today commends the president for your personal leadership in taking the case for health care for the elderly through social security directly to the voters.  We believe the American people will accept your word that the program embodied in the King-Anderson bill is not a sinister effort to bring about socialized medicine but a natural step forward in the physical and social development of this country.  We believe it actually represents the minimal program which should be offered to meet the needs of the ill and aging and support its adoption without further amendment or change.  In many cities social workers have actively participated in the meetings and rallies to encourage its adoption. ” 

Unfortunately, President Kennedy did not live to see the measure enacted.  Over three years later, President Johnson signed the Medicare legislation into law on July 30, 1965. 

Today is the 45th anniversary of this momentous and popular government program.  NASW was there at the beginning and continues today to advocate for a strong and quality Medicare system.

Input on Standards Needed

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced two new steps to begin establishing state health insurance Exchanges.  HHS announced the availability of up to $1 million in grants per state to help states begin to establish Exchanges and published a request for comment calling for public input as HHS develops standards for the Exchanges.

Starting in 2014, health insurance Exchanges – new, competitive, consumer-centered health insurance marketplaces – will put greater control and greater choice in the hands of individuals and small businesses.  The Exchanges will make purchasing health insurance easier by providing eligible consumers and businesses with “one-stop-shopping” where they can compare and purchase health insurance coverage.  The first round of grants will give states resources to conduct research and planning needed to build a the health insurance marketplace and determine how their Exchanges will be operated and governed.

Keeping with President Obama’s commitment to transparency and open government, HHS issued a request for comment asking states, consumer advocates, employers, insurers, and other interested stakeholders to provide input as HHS develops the rules and standards Exchanges should be required to meet. Comments are due by October 4, 2010.  Read the complete request for comment at http://www.healthcare.gov/center/regulations.

Each state has the option to establish and operate its own Exchange or partner with another state or states to operate a regional Exchange. If a state decides not to create an Exchange for its residents, HHS will help establish one on their behalf.  State grant applications are available at http://www.healthcare.gov/center/grants and are due by September 1, 2010. 

For more information on NASW’s efforts and services regarding Health, go to:  Advocacy, Practice Standards and Information, Credentials and Continuing Education , Sections, Books and Journals, Careers 

Consumer Information, Legal Issues and Law Notes

At 16, I finally entered the “real working world” with a part-time job at McDonald’s making minimum wage. In addition to earning money for a school trip to Germany, I also started contributing to the Social Security System. Every year, close to my birthday, I am reminded of those earnings and my lifelong work history when I receive my statement from Social Security. Like most of us, I have a long relationship with Social Security.

August 14 marks the 75^th anniversary of Social Security. An old-age insurance program was on the list of things social worker Frances Perkins asked President Roosevelt to support before she would agree to be the Secretary of Labor. In a 1962 presentation, Ms. Perkins details the political history and enactment of this program. She says,

“I suppose the roots–the idea that we ought to have a systematic method of taking care of the material needs of the aged–really springs from … the efforts and the struggles of charity workers and social workers to handle the problems of people who were growing old and had no adequate means of support.”

In honor of the anniversary, The Frances Perkins’ Center has developed the “Social Security Stories Project” to document how social security has made a difference in peoples’ lives. They are accepting written submissions of 400 words or less, or about three minutes of video.

There are certainly important discussions and questions about the future of Social Security that need to be addressed; however, I think as social workers we can hope like Frances Perkins did in 1962 that, “It is safe forever, and for the everlasting benefit of the people of the United States.”

 Every couple of days, the Obama administration highlights provisions of the new health care laws.  The latest information concerned the requirements for plans to include preventive services.  Chronic disease accounts for 75% of health care spending and many chronic diseases can be prevented.  So it makes sense to provide preventive services to not only help people lead healthier lives, but also to lower overall healthcare spending. 

The Affordable Care Act will require health plans to cover preventive services and to eliminate cost-sharing. According to a new regulation released by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Treasury and the Department of Labor, people who enroll in a new health plan on or after September 23, 2010, will have insurance coverage for recommended preventive services without  a copay, co-insurance or deductible.

The current list of services was recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).  For more information on services that will be provided, go to:  http://www.healthcare.gov/law/about/provisions/services/index.html

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is generally considered the signature wound of the last several years of warfare.  However, PTSD has only been an official diagnosis since the 1980’s, and even today many veterans suffering from PTSD have a difficult time proving that they’re coping with this disorder.

That’s why NASW is so pleased to see the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) refine their definition of Stressor Determinations for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  (The full entry in the Federal Register is available here, and the VA’s FAQ sheet on this change can be found here.)  This change should help veterans, as well as the social workers and other care providers working with them, establish when PTSD is present.

While the treatment of PTSD remains challenging and elusive for many veterans, the VA’s decision to lessen the requirements of proving Post Traumatic Stress will help veterans seeking proper treatment of this disorder.  We urge NASW members to note not only the large-scale implications of this regulatory change, but also the specific mention of social work and social workers throughout the full Federal Register document.

NASW attended the National Partnership for Women and Families (NPW) annual luncheon on June 24.  NASW has been a luncheon sponsor for the past five years.   The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.  She spoke about how the Affordable Care Act will benefit women.

Secretary Sebelius stated that, “when you look at the full range of women’s health needs and the full range of reforms in this new law, the Affordable Care Act is the best women’s health bill since Medicare.”  To read Secretary Sebelius’ full remarks, go to:

http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/speeches/sp20100624.html

Recently, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new Administrator Interpretation on the meaning of “in loco parentis” in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  The interpretation makes clear that a person who steps in to parent a child qualifies for FMLA leave under the provision of the Act that provides leave for those who act in loco parentis. Examples include: grandparents, domestic partners and other relatives.  To read the entire interpretation, go to:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/opinion/adminIntrprtn/FMLA/2010/FMLAAI2010_3.pdf

Action Requested

Email your targeted Senator today and urge they support critical extenders legislation, H.R. 4213. Target Senators: Bayh (IN), Brown (MA), Collins (ME), Menendez (NJ), Nelson (NE), Shaheen (NH), Snowe (ME) and Warner (VA).

Background

Congress has struggled for weeks over a sprawling “extenders bill” caught between conflicting needs to reduce deficit spending and extend several key expiring programs that meet essential human needs including: Medicaid state fiscal relief, extended unemployment insurance benefits, COBRA subsidies for the unemployed, TANF Emergency Fund and Medicare payments for Part B providers. The legislation, known as the “extenders bill” (H.R. 4213) stalled during Senate floor consideration this week, but it will return to floor consideration the week of June 14, 2010.

NASW has called on Congress to pass the key spending measures in the bill that directly impact social workers and the clients they serve. At the root of the delay is a controversy over the appropriate level of deficit spending necessary to finance the legislation. Both the Senate and House have found it extremely difficult to muster even very narrow majorities for passage. In late May, the House resorted to large cuts in the bill to pass its version, eliminating extenders for critical unemployment insurance benefits, COBRA subsidies for unemployed workers and Medicaid state fiscal relief. Currently, Senate passage is uncertain and resistance is coming from a few Democrats and all Republicans. More information about the legislation and the importance of the Medicare and Medicaid provisions for clinical social workers may be found on our website here.

Advocacy targets: Several Democrats have concerns about overall spending and tax provisions in the bill. They need to hear constituent support for the bill, contact: Bayh (IN), Menendez (NJ), Nelson (NE), Shaheen (NH), and Warner (VA). All Republican Senators are currently opposed, but at least one of their votes is necessary to pass the bill. Republican targets include: Brown (MA), Collins (ME), and Snowe (ME). If your Senator appears on this list, please email them with this message. Thanks for taking action!

The White House Office of Public Engagement is asking NASW and other national and community organizations to become involved in the 2010 “United We Serve” initiative - to combat childhood obesity and summer learning loss, by encouraging our nation’s youth to engage in summer reading, become more physically fit, and make healthy food choices. This initiative is an Administration-wide effort led by First Lady Michelle Obama and four federal agencies – the Departments of Education, Interior, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. The “United We Serve” summer service initiative is a nationwide effort, calling on all Americans to make service a part of their daily lives,” said Mrs. Obama. “We are asking individuals and organizations to come together and devote their time and energy to help our kids stay active and healthy – and to keep them learning – all summer long.”

The program website offers ideas and toolkits that social workers can implement in agency or neighborhood settings:

http://www.serve.gov/toolkits.asp

The program suggests 10 easy ways for an individual to become involved in helping kids to exercise, eat healthy, and continue reading this summer:

• Help Build or rehab a playground
• Clear a walking trail
• Sponsor a sports tournament or camp for kids
• Help a child meet the President’s active lifestyle challenge: www.fitness.gov/challenge/index.html
• Conduct summer feeding program outreach
• Create a community garden
• Glean a local farm and donate the fresh produce to local food banks
• Read to kids
• Organize a book drive for children
• Organize a back to school supplies drive

Read more about NASW’s support for the Administration’s Childhood Obesity efforts in the June issue of NASW News:

NASW recently partnered with the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) and the Coalition for Health Funding (CHF) to urge House and Senate Appropriators to substantially increase funding in the FY 2011 budget for several line items to include job training programs, Pell Grants, Head Start, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant. To learn more about the federal government’s budget, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ and to review our coalition’s letter to Congress on this issue click here.