Information related to managed care, behavioral health, Medicare, sustainability, and other administrative issues

States’ Changes Reshape Medicaid

Under the new Deficit Reduction Act, states have flexibility to change Medicaid benefits and patient costs. Under the new structure, Medicaid more closely resembles private insurance. Before the Act, every Medicaid patient within a state had qualified for the same benefits; but now, states have freedom to change these rules. For example, Kentucky is dividing its Medicaid patients into four categories, depending on their health and their age, with different benefits for each group. Florida is among several states that plan to privatize part of their Medicaid system. Arkansas plans to use Medicaid money to subsidize small companies with low-wage workers if they begin to offer employee health benefits. The changes to the Medicaid program were introduced in an attempt to cut federal Medicaid spending by $43 billion in the next decade.

To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/11/AR2006061100815.html

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New Ad Campaign Promotes Youth Adoptions

The Ad Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, the Adoption Exchange Association, and the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids, has launched a new advertisement campaign. The campaign focuses on promoting the adoption of teenagers. The theme of the campaign is “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teenagers who would love to put up with you!” More than 20,000 media outlets nationwide have received television, radio, and print ads which will air in advertising time and space that is donated by the media.

To read more visit http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/articles.cfm?issue_id=2006-06&article_id=1165 or http://www.adcouncil.org/newsDetail.aspx?id=88

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The Child Welfare Information Gateway

The Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched the Child Welfare Information Gateway, a new Web site providing information and resources for child welfare professionals and families. The site covers a range of topics including child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care, family-centered practice, supporting and preserving families, and adoption. Visitors can also gain access to publications, Web sites, statistics, and an extensive online database.

Access the Child Welfare Information Gateway at: http://www.childwelfare.gov

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Bush Administration Releases Interim Final Regulation Implementing the Next Phase of Welfare Reform

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued new regulations related to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The government is “rebooting the system to help more individuals transition from welfare dependency to work and self-sufficiency,” according to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. The new regulations are intended to strengthen work participation by: defining work activities and work-eligible individuals; placing requirements on states to establish and maintain work verification procedures; and holding states accountable for compliance with these requirements.

To read more, visit http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060628.html

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Promoting Safe and Stable Families Legislation Introduced

Both the House and the Senate have introduced legislation to reauthorize the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program, a federal program that funds services to prevent child abuse and neglect. The PSSF program was created in 1993 (originally named the Family Preservation and Support program) and was last reauthorized in 2001. As a result of the Deficit Reduction Act, funding to PPSF was recently increased funding by $40 million. If passed, the bills would reauthorize the PSSF program for another 5 years to continue helping state child welfare agencies pay for family support, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption support. In addition, both bills would designate the added funds for specific purposes not traditionally funded by PSSF.

To read more, visit http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/monitoronline-issueHL.asp?ISSUEID=90#HL_360