Emily F. Keller: Journalist

Court Holds Hearing About Affordable Care Act

    On June 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia held a hearing to review a recent court decision in favor of revoking the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

    U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson ruled in January in favor of a lawsuit brought by 26 states against the act, saying the mandate on individual responsibility to purchase insurance is unconstitutional. President Obama repealed the ruling, sending the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Medicaid Redesign Team Reports Suggestions

    A state task force of medical and hospital officials charged with identifying potential cuts to the Medicaid system has come up with 79 suggestions to reduce the cost of the program.

    The team has recommended a two percent rate cut to Medicaid providers, the construction of service networks and health homes for people with ongoing medical conditions and a transition to managed care that would include managed behavioral health care coordination for people with serious mental health and substance use conditions. Critics expressed concern that this would apply to home care services but would not include nursing homes.

Republicans Seek to Repeal Health Care Reform

    Republicans in the House of Representatives are seeking a repeal of President Obama’s health care reform package that was passed into law one year ago.

    The Senate’s Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care bill (H.R. 3590) was followed by the House of Representatives’ Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872), which was passed last March.

New York State Candidates Examined for Work on Disability Issues

    On November 2, voters will go to the polls to pick a new governor, attorney general, comptroller and Congress members.

    Senate
    Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is running to keep his seat against Republican Jay Townsend, Colia Clark of the Green Party and social activist Randy Credico.
    Schumer fought for funding for an independent living center and an employment service for people with disabilities. The United Spinal Association gave him a certificate of appreciation last year for helping to secure the Community First Choice (CFC) Option and the Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) Act.
    Townsend opposes the health care reform measures that Schumer supported. He, Clark and Credico have no apparent record on disabilities.

Comparing New Jersey Candidates’ Disability Records

    On November 2, voters will go to the polls to choose their representatives in the House of Representatives and State Senate.

    State Senate
    The State Senate candidates for the fifth district of Camden are Donald Norcross and Harry Trout.
Norcross, a Democrat, co-sponsored a bill enabling the state Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to start a fund for donations and grants to pay for the purchase and maintenance of an accessible community vehicle that would provide outreach services to disabled veterans.

New York State Passes 2010-‘11 Budget

    The New York State Senate voted to finalize a $136 billion budget August 3, following the Assembly’s approval of the plan. The 32-28 vote, which was split along party lines, enacted the plan into law 125 days late.

    The budget reduces funding to the Human Services department by 8 percent, including a 4.8 percent reduction in funding to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) over last year, to $5.1 billion. The OTDA provides support services and financial assistance to seniors and people with disabilities who are unable to work.

Court Says Move Disabled into Community

    Thousands of New York State residents with psychiatric disabilities must be moved out of institutions and into their own homes, a panel of federal judges has ruled.

     The June 23 decision by the Second Circuit Court upholds a lower court ruling that the state must begin moving residents into the community immediately. The announcement is a victory for proponents of home- and community based living over institutional living.

    The decision settles a lawsuit that was filed in 2003 against former Gov. George Pataki, charging that institutionalization violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That section prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including those with mental illness.

New Jersey Budget Has Mixed Results for People with Disabilities

    On June 29, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the state legislature finalized the state budget for fiscal year 2011. The budget contains a range of cuts to close an $11 billion deficit, including reduced funding for some services to people with disabilities, but offers some increases as well.

     Among the budget’s provisions is a reduction in the hourly wage for Medicaid personal care assistants from $16.15 to $15.50. This was a smaller drop than in the original proposed budget, which called for a $13.8 million cut to that program and a new wage of $14.05.

Health Care Reform Will Expand Services

    Advocacy organizations are praising the government's passage of health care reform legislation that will expand care options and financial assistance, when needed, to all Americans.

    The House of Representatives passed the Senate's Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care bill (H.R. 3590_ with a 219-212 vote. The House passed the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) reforming the bill with a vote of 220-211 in late March.

    The law will improve training for physicians, dentists and allied health professionals in trating people with disabilities. It will ensure coverage of rehabilitation and habilitation products and services and the inclusion of people with disabilities as a focus group in prevention programs by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    This story was published in Able News. Click here to read page one and here to read page two.

Brain Scan Shows Activity in Injured Man

    A British research lab has discovered that people with severe brain injuries may be able to provide "yes" and "no" answers to scientists using their thoughts.

    "We were astonished when we saw the results of the patient's scan and that he was able to correctly answer the questions that were asked by simply changing his thoughts," said Adrian Owen, co-author of the research study that generated the findings.

    This article was published in Able News. Click here to read the story.