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Washington Updates

February 25, 2010-Volume 16, 02 <p> <meta content="" name="Title" /> <meta content="" name="Keywords" /> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator" /> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/apabinprusak/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" /> <meta content="" name="Title" /> <meta content="" name="Keywords" /> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator" /> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/apabinprusak/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" />  <style type="text/css"> </style></p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><strong>Administration Releases FY 2011 Budget, Includes FY 2012 Advance Appropriations</strong></h5> <p>The co-authors of The Independent Budget—AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars—praised the Administration for submitting an historic budget for FY 2011. On February 1, 2010, the President released his Budget Request for FY 2011. Not only did it include significant funding increases for health care and benefits, it also includes for the first time advance appropriations recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system for FY 2012.</p> <p>The President’s budget for FY 2011 provides nearly $60.3 billion in discretionary funding for the VA, almost $4.2 billion above the FY 2010 appropriated level. <br /> The Administration’s budget includes approximately $51.5 billion for medical care programs for FY 2011, an increase of $5.0 billion over the FY 2010 appropriated level. The Independent Budget recommended approximately $52.0 billion for medical care programs. More importantly, for the first time in history, the Budget Request includes advance appropriations recommendations for FY 2012. The President’s budget includes $54.3 billion for medical care programs for FY 2012.</p> <p>The budget also contains a significant increase in funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)—the VA agency charged with providing compensation and other benefits to veterans. The President’s budget recommends $2.1 billion for VBA, an increase of $460 million over the FY 2010 appropriated level. This funding increase reflects a real commitment towards bringing down the massive claims backlog and providing timely, accurate education benefits to service members and veterans eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.</p> <p>The Independent Budget does have concerns, however, with the level of funding recommended for construction projects. With the VA facing a massive backlog of important construction requirements and states becoming ever more reliant on the VA to contribute to the funding for construction of long-term care facilities, now is not the time to be reducing this critical funding.</p> <p>Overall, the President’s budget for FY 2011 represents another step forward towards ensuring timely access to high quality health care and the timely delivery of earned benefits. </p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><strong>House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance Holds Hearing on VA Disability Claims Process</strong></h5> <p>On February 3, Representative John Hall (D-NY), Chairman of the House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, held a hearing to discuss and assess the progress of P.L. 110-389, the “Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act.” The law was intended to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims processing system to ensure the accuracy and timely delivery of benefits to veterans and their families.</p> <p>The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has undertaken many of the provisions of P.L. 110-389, including a new information technology strategy to improve business procedures targeted at reducing the overall average time it takes to complete rating claims and improving consistency and quality control measures. VA stated that their new strategy consists of the Veterans Benefits Management Systems (VBMS) requirement to have dynamic and agile technology and software. The VBA hopes to transition to a total electronic paperless claims processing environment, update the mail intake process, and enhance their communication and outreach with veterans.</p> <p>Provisions of Public Law 110-389 include:</p> <p>• Directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the VA to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors;<br /> • Establishing an Office of Survivors Assistance within the VA;<br /> • Allowing temporary disability ratings for certain veterans; <br /> • Addressing employee and manager training for those responsible for processing claims by redeveloping the certification exam and requiring an evaluation of the training and quality assurance program; and, <br /> • An evaluation of the VA’s work credit system.</p> <p>Chairman Hall stated, “The concerns raised by the veteran advocates here today have been repeated time and time again. Although concerns remain about the timeline of the implementation of P.L. 110-389, I am pleased at the strides taken since the bill’s passage. I am hopeful these efforts will result in a system that reflects improved accountability, accuracy, quality assurance, and timeliness of claims processing for our veterans, their families, and survivors.”</p> <p>VBA’s Director of Compensation and Pension Service, Bradley Mayes, reported that they are behind schedule on a number of reports required by P.L. 110-389, particularly the study on the work credit system. Mayes stated that the reports are of great priority and they are currently being reviewed prior to being released. During the hearing, VA updated the Subcommittee on current claims pilot programs that have been expedited, and the status of the newly implemented Office of Survivors Assistance.</p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><br /> <strong>House VA Committee Reviews Project HERO</strong></h5> <p>On February 3, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing to receive an update on a VA pilot project titled, Health care Effectiveness through Resource Optimization (Project HERO). Project HERO is being conducted in four of the VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). The VISNs selected for the project had the highest expenditures for community-based care, otherwise known as fee-based care.</p> <p>The veterans’ service organizations that testified for this hearing were those selected to work with and advise the VA when the project began. They continue to meet with the VA on a quarterly basis to receive updates and express their concerns. The organizations realize that Project HERO is necessary and timely considering the escalating rise in spending for non-VA purchased care and the manner by which such care is managed.</p> <p>According to VA, total expenditure for Veterans Health Administrations (VHA) Fee Basis programs in FY 2008 was $3 billion and $3.8 billion for FY 2009. While the fee based program demonstrates tremendous growth, the program remains and has been subject to criticism by the veteran community and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). For example, VA does not track fee-based care, its related costs, outcomes, access, or veteran satisfaction levels. The VA’s fee-based care program is highly decentralized, lacks sufficient guidance, and suffers from wide variation in reimbursement prices for both facility and professional charges. While Project HERO is providing medical care under the contract’s medical reimbursement prices, one of the concerns from Congress and the veterans’ service organizations is patient satisfaction.</p> <p>Health care in the four selected VISNs is being provided through a contract with Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, a national managed care corporation. Contract services for dental care are being made available through Delta Dental, a nationwide contracted dental care provider. Questions from VHAs Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) are being used to determine patient satisfaction for Project HERO. The service provided by Humana Veterans Healthcare Services received a 79 percent average rating from veterans who indicated the “overall quality of visit” was very good or excellent. The surveys indicate Delta Dental providers received an 85 percent average rating. Unfortunately, the most recent survey of dental patients involved in Project Hero has indicated a decline in the overall satisfaction for Delta Dental care.</p> <p>The VA has demonstrated through Project HERO its ability to deliver timely quality health care to veterans that previously may have been neglected in the VA’s effort to provide care for all qualified veterans. The Independent Budget, co-authored by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, addresses contracted care in the FY 2011 edition. Its contributors and supporters believe it is critical for VA to implement a program of contract care coordination that includes integrated clinical, record, and claims information for the veterans that VA directs to community-based providers.</p> <p>Even though these veterans are not receiving care at a VA facility, VA is paying for that care and is ultimately responsible for the quality and cost of the care provided. VA medical centers (VAMCs) can save funds by allowing veterans to use non-VA medical services under the current “Preferred Pricing Program,” which grants network discounts; however, VA currently has no system in place to direct veteran patients to any participating Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).</p> <p>One of the veterans’ organizations that testified told the Subcommittee that during the quarterly briefings with VA officials, they are given thick reports of charts and graphs and lots of numbers. What they are not given is any real evidence that HERO is enhancing care available at VAMCs. What seems to have evolved is a parallel health sub-system in these VISNs. What was supposed to supplement VA health care seems to be supplanting basic care – and not only in rural and remote areas. They testified that this was not the intent of Congress.</p> <p>Another organization commented on the VA’s claim of cost savings using Project HERO. Their comparison for justifying this savings was using the cost of medical care provided through HERO compared with the cost of the care provided through the current fee-based program. Fee-based care has been costly and should not be used as a comparison standard.</p> <p>Ultimately, the concern of PVA and other veterans’ service organizations is ensuring that this initiative does not undermine the VA’s affiliations, or lead to expanded outsourcing or the replacement of existing VA facilities. It should instead help the VA learn how to improve some of the contracted care it now provides, and the way it is provided.</p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><strong>HHS Hosts Stakeholder Meeting on Community Living Initiative</strong></h5> <p>In late January, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) Office on Disability (OD) held a stakeholder meeting to update interested parties on the administration's Community Living Initiative (CLI). Director of the Office on Disability Henry Claypool described CLI as an effort to better align and coordinate services among various federal agencies in order to promote community based living for people with disabilities. Among the HHS offices participating in a federal agency wide coordinating council are, in addition to OD, the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration on Aging, Office of Civil Rights, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Beyond HHS, agencies involved in the council include the Department of Justice and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Claypool identified transportation and employment as additional partners to be brought in soon to the CLI.</p> <p>CLI involves a number of workgroups tasked with responsibilities for service coordination, housing, workforce issues, data development and communications. The services workgroup will be reviewing federal programs that support community living, identify gaps in services and recommend strategies for quality improvements where needed. With regard to workforce issues, another subcommittee will be exploring ways to expand and support paid and unpaid personal care attendants, improvements in training and how to enhance self-directed care programs. The housing workgroup will examine ways to foster better coordination between housing programs and human service agencies at the state and local level and how to facilitate transition of people with disabilities from institutions to less restrictive environments.</p> <p>HHS is undertaking a series of stakeholder dialogues around the country to obtain input from local advocates and service providers and is particularly interested in learning about programs and partnerships that have resulted in successful delivery of community living services. The first such dialogue took place on February 18 in San Diego, California. Three more events are planning in late March or early April in the south, mid-Atlantic and New England. An email address has been created to receive questions or comments about the CLI at communityliving@hhs.gov.<br /> <br />  </p> Kentucky-Indiana Paralyzed Veterans of America home page news.

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Washington Updates

2010-02-26T12:22:32-05:00

News http://www.kipva.org/ 2010-02-26T12:22:32Z Washington Updates http://www.kipva.org/site/news/news-item-one.html 2010-02-26T12:22:32Z February 25, 2010-Volume 16, 02

<p> <meta content="" name="Title" /> <meta content="" name="Keywords" /> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator" /> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/apabinprusak/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" /> <meta content="" name="Title" /> <meta content="" name="Keywords" /> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator" /> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/apabinprusak/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" />  <style type="text/css"> </style></p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><strong>Administration Releases FY 2011 Budget, Includes FY 2012 Advance Appropriations</strong></h5> <p>The co-authors of The Independent Budget—AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars—praised the Administration for submitting an historic budget for FY 2011. On February 1, 2010, the President released his Budget Request for FY 2011. Not only did it include significant funding increases for health care and benefits, it also includes for the first time advance appropriations recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system for FY 2012.</p> <p>The President’s budget for FY 2011 provides nearly $60.3 billion in discretionary funding for the VA, almost $4.2 billion above the FY 2010 appropriated level. <br /> The Administration’s budget includes approximately $51.5 billion for medical care programs for FY 2011, an increase of $5.0 billion over the FY 2010 appropriated level. The Independent Budget recommended approximately $52.0 billion for medical care programs. More importantly, for the first time in history, the Budget Request includes advance appropriations recommendations for FY 2012. The President’s budget includes $54.3 billion for medical care programs for FY 2012.</p> <p>The budget also contains a significant increase in funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)—the VA agency charged with providing compensation and other benefits to veterans. The President’s budget recommends $2.1 billion for VBA, an increase of $460 million over the FY 2010 appropriated level. This funding increase reflects a real commitment towards bringing down the massive claims backlog and providing timely, accurate education benefits to service members and veterans eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.</p> <p>The Independent Budget does have concerns, however, with the level of funding recommended for construction projects. With the VA facing a massive backlog of important construction requirements and states becoming ever more reliant on the VA to contribute to the funding for construction of long-term care facilities, now is not the time to be reducing this critical funding.</p> <p>Overall, the President’s budget for FY 2011 represents another step forward towards ensuring timely access to high quality health care and the timely delivery of earned benefits. </p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><strong>House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance Holds Hearing on VA Disability Claims Process</strong></h5> <p>On February 3, Representative John Hall (D-NY), Chairman of the House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, held a hearing to discuss and assess the progress of P.L. 110-389, the “Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act.” The law was intended to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims processing system to ensure the accuracy and timely delivery of benefits to veterans and their families.</p> <p>The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has undertaken many of the provisions of P.L. 110-389, including a new information technology strategy to improve business procedures targeted at reducing the overall average time it takes to complete rating claims and improving consistency and quality control measures. VA stated that their new strategy consists of the Veterans Benefits Management Systems (VBMS) requirement to have dynamic and agile technology and software. The VBA hopes to transition to a total electronic paperless claims processing environment, update the mail intake process, and enhance their communication and outreach with veterans.</p> <p>Provisions of Public Law 110-389 include:</p> <p>• Directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the VA to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors;<br /> • Establishing an Office of Survivors Assistance within the VA;<br /> • Allowing temporary disability ratings for certain veterans; <br /> • Addressing employee and manager training for those responsible for processing claims by redeveloping the certification exam and requiring an evaluation of the training and quality assurance program; and, <br /> • An evaluation of the VA’s work credit system.</p> <p>Chairman Hall stated, “The concerns raised by the veteran advocates here today have been repeated time and time again. Although concerns remain about the timeline of the implementation of P.L. 110-389, I am pleased at the strides taken since the bill’s passage. I am hopeful these efforts will result in a system that reflects improved accountability, accuracy, quality assurance, and timeliness of claims processing for our veterans, their families, and survivors.”</p> <p>VBA’s Director of Compensation and Pension Service, Bradley Mayes, reported that they are behind schedule on a number of reports required by P.L. 110-389, particularly the study on the work credit system. Mayes stated that the reports are of great priority and they are currently being reviewed prior to being released. During the hearing, VA updated the Subcommittee on current claims pilot programs that have been expedited, and the status of the newly implemented Office of Survivors Assistance.</p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><br /> <strong>House VA Committee Reviews Project HERO</strong></h5> <p>On February 3, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing to receive an update on a VA pilot project titled, Health care Effectiveness through Resource Optimization (Project HERO). Project HERO is being conducted in four of the VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). The VISNs selected for the project had the highest expenditures for community-based care, otherwise known as fee-based care.</p> <p>The veterans’ service organizations that testified for this hearing were those selected to work with and advise the VA when the project began. They continue to meet with the VA on a quarterly basis to receive updates and express their concerns. The organizations realize that Project HERO is necessary and timely considering the escalating rise in spending for non-VA purchased care and the manner by which such care is managed.</p> <p>According to VA, total expenditure for Veterans Health Administrations (VHA) Fee Basis programs in FY 2008 was $3 billion and $3.8 billion for FY 2009. While the fee based program demonstrates tremendous growth, the program remains and has been subject to criticism by the veteran community and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). For example, VA does not track fee-based care, its related costs, outcomes, access, or veteran satisfaction levels. The VA’s fee-based care program is highly decentralized, lacks sufficient guidance, and suffers from wide variation in reimbursement prices for both facility and professional charges. While Project HERO is providing medical care under the contract’s medical reimbursement prices, one of the concerns from Congress and the veterans’ service organizations is patient satisfaction.</p> <p>Health care in the four selected VISNs is being provided through a contract with Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, a national managed care corporation. Contract services for dental care are being made available through Delta Dental, a nationwide contracted dental care provider. Questions from VHAs Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) are being used to determine patient satisfaction for Project HERO. The service provided by Humana Veterans Healthcare Services received a 79 percent average rating from veterans who indicated the “overall quality of visit” was very good or excellent. The surveys indicate Delta Dental providers received an 85 percent average rating. Unfortunately, the most recent survey of dental patients involved in Project Hero has indicated a decline in the overall satisfaction for Delta Dental care.</p> <p>The VA has demonstrated through Project HERO its ability to deliver timely quality health care to veterans that previously may have been neglected in the VA’s effort to provide care for all qualified veterans. The Independent Budget, co-authored by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, addresses contracted care in the FY 2011 edition. Its contributors and supporters believe it is critical for VA to implement a program of contract care coordination that includes integrated clinical, record, and claims information for the veterans that VA directs to community-based providers.</p> <p>Even though these veterans are not receiving care at a VA facility, VA is paying for that care and is ultimately responsible for the quality and cost of the care provided. VA medical centers (VAMCs) can save funds by allowing veterans to use non-VA medical services under the current “Preferred Pricing Program,” which grants network discounts; however, VA currently has no system in place to direct veteran patients to any participating Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).</p> <p>One of the veterans’ organizations that testified told the Subcommittee that during the quarterly briefings with VA officials, they are given thick reports of charts and graphs and lots of numbers. What they are not given is any real evidence that HERO is enhancing care available at VAMCs. What seems to have evolved is a parallel health sub-system in these VISNs. What was supposed to supplement VA health care seems to be supplanting basic care – and not only in rural and remote areas. They testified that this was not the intent of Congress.</p> <p>Another organization commented on the VA’s claim of cost savings using Project HERO. Their comparison for justifying this savings was using the cost of medical care provided through HERO compared with the cost of the care provided through the current fee-based program. Fee-based care has been costly and should not be used as a comparison standard.</p> <p>Ultimately, the concern of PVA and other veterans’ service organizations is ensuring that this initiative does not undermine the VA’s affiliations, or lead to expanded outsourcing or the replacement of existing VA facilities. It should instead help the VA learn how to improve some of the contracted care it now provides, and the way it is provided.</p> <h5 style="text-align: center"><strong>HHS Hosts Stakeholder Meeting on Community Living Initiative</strong></h5> <p>In late January, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) Office on Disability (OD) held a stakeholder meeting to update interested parties on the administration's Community Living Initiative (CLI). Director of the Office on Disability Henry Claypool described CLI as an effort to better align and coordinate services among various federal agencies in order to promote community based living for people with disabilities. Among the HHS offices participating in a federal agency wide coordinating council are, in addition to OD, the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration on Aging, Office of Civil Rights, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Beyond HHS, agencies involved in the council include the Department of Justice and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Claypool identified transportation and employment as additional partners to be brought in soon to the CLI.</p> <p>CLI involves a number of workgroups tasked with responsibilities for service coordination, housing, workforce issues, data development and communications. The services workgroup will be reviewing federal programs that support community living, identify gaps in services and recommend strategies for quality improvements where needed. With regard to workforce issues, another subcommittee will be exploring ways to expand and support paid and unpaid personal care attendants, improvements in training and how to enhance self-directed care programs. The housing workgroup will examine ways to foster better coordination between housing programs and human service agencies at the state and local level and how to facilitate transition of people with disabilities from institutions to less restrictive environments.</p> <p>HHS is undertaking a series of stakeholder dialogues around the country to obtain input from local advocates and service providers and is particularly interested in learning about programs and partnerships that have resulted in successful delivery of community living services. The first such dialogue took place on February 18 in San Diego, California. Three more events are planning in late March or early April in the south, mid-Atlantic and New England. An email address has been created to receive questions or comments about the CLI at communityliving@hhs.gov.<br /> <br />  </p> KIPVA Hosts ADA-Indiana Sponsored Audio Conferences http://www.kipva.org/site/news/news-item-three.html 2010-03-05T16:25:31Z

<p>Are you interested in learning more about the Americans with Disabilities Act? The Kentucky-Indiana Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (KIPVA) will host monthly ADA-Indiana-sponsored audio conferences that will review current issues under the ADA.</p> <div><b>When</b>: Third Tuesday of each month from  2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Where</b>: KIPVA, <span>1030 Goss Avenue</span>,<span> </span><span>Louisville</span><span>, </span><span>Kentucky</span><span>. </span></div> <div> </div> <div><span>Professionals, employers, businesses<b>, </b>local government officials, advocates, people with disabilities, and other interested community members </span><span>are encouraged to attend. </span></div> <div> </div> <div><a href="/uploads/9/File/AudioSchedule.pdf">Click here for a full schedule.</a> If you would like additional information, or would like to request an accommodation, please contact Alina Pabin-Prusak by phone at (502) 635-6539, or email aprusak@kipva.org.</div> <div> </div> <div>The audio conference series is co-sponsored by ADA-Indiana, the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, and the DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center. For more information about this or any other ADA training event, please visit the ADA-Indiana website at www.adaindiana.org.</div> <p> </p>

Paralyzed Veterans of America Kentucky Indiana Chapter