“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.

NASW applauds these efforts, and will continue to advocate for progress on health promotion, risk reduction, and suicide prevention for America’s servicemen and women.

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

Rep. Jim Langevin, (D-R.I.) who is quadriplegic, took ceremonial responsibility to preside over the House floor. In luncheon comments to NASW and other ADA supporters, Speaker Pelosi lauded many changes over the last 20 years that have made public spaces and work more accessible to the disabled. NASW and other guests of the Speaker were invited to the House gallery to watch as a new mechanical lift in the speaker’s rostrum allowed the wheelchair-bound Langevin to preside over speeches and votes.

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.”

We’re approaching a crucial time in any election cycle: the deadline for federal candidates to report their second quarter fundraising figures.  By July 15, everyone running for Congress must tell the Federal Elections Commission how much they’ve raised through June 30.

This is important for a few reasons.  For one, we’ll know how much money individuals have raised on their own, but also in the context of their opponent’s cash on hand figures.  A figure of $700,000 might seem like a lot; it matters whether one’s opponent has $200,000 or $2,000,000 at the same point in time.  Second quarter numbers tend to kick-start the season in which more polling is released.  Whether a candidate has outraised their opponent or not, they all want to prove that either their financial edge is showing in the polls as well, or that in spite of mediocre fundraising they’re still doing well in the eyes of voters.  In addition, more money means more ads on television, radio, and the internet.  This is how issues emerge and races begin to take shape, rather than earlier timeframes when voters are just getting to know candidates. Once the second quarter numbers are available, our ability to analyze the general political landscape as well as specific races will markedly improve.

Obama Appoints Dr. Donald Berwick as CMS Administrator

On Wednesday, July 7, 2010, President Obama bypassed the Senate and appointed Dr. Donald Berwick Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The President’s action, known as a recess appointment, allowed Berwick to immediately lead CMS and avoids what was expected to become a partisan fight in the Senate over the nominee. NASW had joined with many other national health organizations in endorsing Dr. Berwick’s strong qualifications for the position and in urging the Senate to quickly approve his nomination.

The White House justified the action because of clear signs that Republican senators intended to stall the confirmation process. The White House also argued that Berwick’s rapid installation is necessary to keep on track with implementing the new health reform law. The recess appointment enables Berwick, a well regarded international health care quality expert, to serve through December 2011 without Senate confirmation. He will also be eligible for re-nomination to the position at the end of next year.

In other recent reform news, the Kaiser Family Foundation announced that public support for the new law has begun to climb from 41 percent to 48 percent in the past month, see report here.

New Online Health Care Tool Now Available to Consumers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a new online tool to help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. Known as HealthCare.gov, the web site provides consumers with information on both public and private health coverage options tailored to their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool. The site has a central database of health coverage options, combining information about programs ranging from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, including information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans.

HealthCare.gov will expand as components of the new law become effective. In October 2010, price estimates for health insurance plans will be available online and information on preventing disease and illness and improving the quality of health care. Eventually the site will include pricing and plan performance information so that consumers can see, understand and make meaningful choices about their health coverage.

NASW Joins Groups on GINA Letter to EEOC

On June 29, NASW joined several health organizations on a letter to Jacqueline A. Berrien, Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), urging the EEOC to remain consistent with Title I regulations regarding genetic information and use the same approach other cabinet departments did when they issued their interim final rule about GINA and employment title.

The letter asks the EEOC to ensure that in “addressing the collection of genetic information through ‘health risk assessment’-style questionnaires, the EEOC takes the same approach as the Depts. of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury when they issued their interim final rule - namely that answering questions on family history or genetics is entirely optional.

In 2008, the Genetics Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was signed into law.  One of GINA’s most important tenets is that individuals have the right to keep their genetic information private without penalty. The provision of genetic information must be truly voluntary.  The letter states, “if the EEOC regulations were to allow employers to penalize employees who do not divulge genetic information, it would greatly undermine the protections Congress deliberately included in GINA and create an untenable inconsistency with the regulations implementing Title I.

NASW Supports the Seniors’ Bill of Rights

Recently, NASW sent a letter to fellow social worker, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) thanking her for introducing a resolution supporting the Seniors’ Bill of Rights. The Seniors’ Bill of Rights, S. Res. 553, is an important resolution that urges Congress to uphold the dignity and independence of older Americans by supporting efforts that guarantee financial security; quality and affordable health and long-term care; protection from abuse, scams, and exploitation; a strong economy now and for future generations; and safe and livable communities with adequate housing and transportation options. As stated in the letter, “NASW strongly supports these rights”.  S. Res. 553 is the companion resolution to H. Res. 1342 introduced by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

Advocacy Blog Roundup

NASW supports Recommendations on Achieving the

Millennium Development Goals

Care of Veterans Being Addressed

Alert Roundup

Support Legislation to Ban Corporal Punishment in Schools

Ask President Obama to Push Ratification of CEDAW

Advocacy Listserv Activity

In the month of June, 255 activists sent 378 advocacy messages to Congress through Capwiz. The most active alerts were about the Tax Extenders Bill and the Social Work Reinvestment Act.  Thanks to all of you who took the time to take action!  To see all alerts, go here.

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

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.

This week, InterAction[1] published a Millennium Development Goals (MDG) policy paper as a lead up to the MDG Summit at the United Nations being held from September 20-22, 2010.   Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Road Forward for the U.S. contains the recommendations and positions of the US NGO community as developed by InterAction working groups and the InterAction MDG Taskforce over the past several months. 

With only five years left to achieve the MDGs, world leaders will gather at the UN for the MDG Summit  to review progress and successes, discuss obstacles and gaps, and recommit to achieving the goals by the intended deadline of 2015.

Ten years ago, 189 States Members of the United Nations adopted the Millennium Declaration, which put on paper previously agreed to goals regarding international development.  From this, a set of specific and measurable development objectives was created and is now known as the Millennium Development Goals.

Learn more about NASW’s work on international issues and how they related to individual MDGs by visiting the NASW Division for Human Rights and International Affairs .

To this end, we have pushed for increased construction of VA hospitals.  For many years, resources were not provided for the maintenance and construction of VA medical facilities.  With more and more veterans returning from overseas, the need to alleviate this problem became more pressing.  This message has been heard loud and clear by Congress, which has provided funding for a new state of the art facility under construction in Southern Nevada.

It is important to note the separate Mental Health Building in this complex.  We have long sought to educate public officials about the importance of holistic care for veterans that meets their physical, emotional, and psychological needs.  With this new and advanced facility, Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs have taken a decisive step in the right direction.