Health Reform Update: Project 2020 provisions in the bill v. amendments

 

 

Dear NASUA Members:

 

The Senate Finance Committee is debating amendments on health reform and will likely be finished by this week’s end.  Senator Cantwell will offer her amendments on Project 2020 either today or tomorrow. Please CALL YOUR SENATORS and URGE them to weigh in with Finance Committee Members TO VOTE YES on Cantwell’s Project 2020 amendments 284, 285, 286, 287, 288 and 289 or use this link to email your Senator and request support for these important amendment.

Suggested Talking Points for Calls/Emails

• I am the Director of the State Unit on Aging in your state, and I am calling to urge Senator ______ to weigh in with the Senate Finance Committee in support of Sen. Cantwell's Amendments #284-289 to the Finance Committee health reform bill.  These amendments promote choice and independence for older Americans by providing a budget-neutral investment in home and community-based services. 
• The amendments reflect provisions in Project 2020 (S. 1257), which is a bill that invests in state and local programs on: (1) improved information and referral systems on long-term care options, (2) evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention for vulnerable seniors, and (3) keeping at-risk seniors off Medicaid and out of nursing homes for as long as possible with nursing home diversion.
• Together, these three components would produce savings to both states and the federal government by reducing growing costs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.  Amendments 285, 287, and 289 with mandatory funding for this important priority are preferred.

Short Description of Amendments

 

284	Cantwell C3	Increase authorized funding to allow for full national implementation of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ARDC)	Authorizes funding and therefore does not require an offset
285	Cantwell C4	Provide mandatory funding to allow for full national implementation of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC)	Necessary offsets will be provided to ensure budget neutrality
286	Cantwell C5	Authorize funding for national implementation of evidence-based wellness and disease prevention programs for older Americans reduce the necessity of institutional care	Amendment authorizes funding and therefore does not require an offset
287	Cantwell C6	Provide for mandatory funding for national implementation of evidence based wellness and disease prevention programs for older Americans to reduce the necessity of institutional care	Necessary offsets will be provided to ensure budget neutrality
288	Cantwell C7	National implementation of current Administration on Aging (AoA) and CMS nursing home diversion projects	Amendment authorizes funding and therefore does not require an offset
289	Cantwell C8	National implementation of current Administration on Aging (AoA) and CMS nursing home diversion projects (with mandatory funding)	Necessary offsets will be provided to ensure budget neutrality