Miami-Dade: CHAIN Reaction 01/04/06

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Address: Human

Services Coalition 260 N.E. 17th Terrace,

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33132

Editor:

Co-Editor:

Priya Sampath and Merrell

Produced by: Human Services Coalition of Dade

County,

the CHAIN LINC for Miami-Dade.

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January 4, 2006

Click on the links below to see meetings, events and job listings:

National Events, Notices and Opportunities

Statewide Meeting and Events

Statewide Notices and Opportunities

New Jobs

Articles

Resources and information for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Related Information:

Hurricane

Resources and Information

Hurricane Related Articles

Community Actions Related to the Hurricane

Disaster Relief

Dear Subscribers,

Starting the week of Jan. 15

CHAIN Reaction will focus its content entirely on comprehensive health issues. In addition to providing the

most updated health policy information

at both national and state levels, CHAIN Reaction

will also include health updates at a local level through input from Florida CHAIN's Local Initiative Networking Communities (LINC's).

The

Human Services Coalition is the LINC for Florida CHAIN in Miami-Dade County, and currently produces CHAIN Reaction in conjunction with Florida CHAIN. HSC will launch its own statewide e-publication,

HSC's Call to Action

when Florida CHAIN takes over production of

CHAIN Reaction. The HSC weekly e-newsletter will cover a broad range of issues such as housing, immigration and economic self-sufficiency.

Call to Action will also feature updates on health issues in conjunction with Florida CHAIN.

This change will help Florida CHAIN better reach its potential as the leading health-policy organization mobilizer in the state. HSC is proud to have helped launch Florida CHAIN,

which is now ready to be more independent.

We hope you will like these changes because they were made with you in mind. You will be able to get more health news in one place through

CHAIN Reaction and get a broader scope of issues affecting our communities and state from Call to Action .

Both Florida CHAIN and HSC will continue to work together to bring you the news that matters most.

Sincerely,

Margulis la Levine

Executive Director Executive Director

Florida CHAIN Human Services Coalition

JUST DO IT!

We need your help in our " FIND FIVE " campaign

Florida CHAIN has launched a major outreach effort to identify consumers impacted by the proposed Medicaid reforms. It is important to remember that there are no voices stronger than those of consumers themselves. Help us in our campaign to FIND FIVE

Medicaid beneficiaries willing to tell their stories to the media and legislators.

Click here for a flyer to get the word out. If you have anyone in mind specifically and can get their consent to be interviewed, send their contact information to

lisam@....

STATE MATTERS

Citizens' Health Care Working Group

A nonpartisan group authorized by the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 charged with “listening” to the views of the American people and developing recommendations for the President and Congress to provide citizens with “health Care that Works for All Americans.

This is a great opportunity to participate in a historic conversation with policymakers from Washington on what you like and don’t like about our nations’ health care system. The public forum includes a citizens’ polling for participants that will be counted along with the 15 other cities that the meetings are taking place. Great timing for advocates to speak out about Medicare, Florida’s Medicaid program and more!

Click here

for more information about this event.

Medicaid Reform:

Continue Comments and Recommendations

The Florida Legislature will hold interim committee, council, and sub-committee meetings from Jan. 9-13 in Tallahassee. Healthcare advocates should continue to meet with and send messages to members of the House and Senate Healthcare Committees and members of their delegation.

There were a few post session recommendations that appeared in the 12/12/05 Florida CHAIN Reaction:

Continue discussions to exempt certain beneficiaries who will not be best served through the HMO model; children in the foster care system who require immediate treatment and access, disabled populations and those with mental illness.

The Long term care integrated waiver should be available for public comment and Legislative review and approval prior to being submitted to CMS.

It is important to have a neutral third party objective evaluation of the pilot programs beyond the proposed government or University based evaluations for a policy change of this magnitude.

Support improvements to the Medicaid fee-for-service programs that include new methodologies to reduce fraud and abuse and improve access to primary care.

Click here to search for members of the Florida House of Representatives.

Click here to search for members of the Florida Senate.

NATIONAL MATTERS

One More Chance to Stop the Budget Reconciliation Act

Highlights from the U.S. Senate budget reconciliation vote and more: Last week the Senate passed the Conference version of the budget by a vote of 51-50 that included procedural changes that amended the bill. Now the amended bill must go back to the House to be voted on again. Good news for millions of the nations’ low-income families and individuals. Now the tens of thousands of advocates across the country will have another chance to win over just a handful of members in the House and Senate to stop the bill from passing.

The final deal making action: According to health care analyst, the pharmaceutical and managed care industries were spared from cutbacks by dropping Senate provisions that would have achieved savings in payments to managed care organizations and better prices from pharmaceutical companies for dispensed drugs.

Instead the burden is placed on:

Medicaid recipients who face increased co-payments and premiums and reductions in Medicaid that total $16 billion over ten years.

Poor women who will have cut backs on services including family planning.

Low income former welfare recipients would face more stringent and unfunded new requirements than what the original House bill proposed.

Loss of child care slots for low-income working families.

Reductions in child support collections over 10 years.

Increases the threat for far more children to lose access to medical care.

A few reasons why there is a chance to change the vote and stop the bill:

The Senate vote was split, 51-50 with the tie breaking vote by Vice President Cheney.

The House bill passed on a slim margin, 217-215. There were 14 Republicans who voted " no " and many Democrats who were unable to vote during the early dawn.

Many moderate Republicans were forced to vote without having time to carefully examine the 774 page legislation that shows the conference agreement would cause considerable hardship among low-income families and individuals.

There is a chance to reach more members of Congress and educate them on the realities of what this will mean to their constituents.

Check how your representatives voted by clicking

here.

Call members of Congress toll-free:

Number kindly provided by the American Friends Service Committee.

Message:

Let Congress know this bill harms millions of poor working families, the disabled, children, students, and poor people of all ages.

Restore the more favorable saving provisions in the original Senate proposal.

Ask members of Congress to study this major legislation carefully to better understand the provisions that will harm vulnerable Americans.

There are other ways to generate savings without threatening the security for so many struggling Americans and then give billions in tax cuts for a few.

The five Republican moderates who joined Democrats, Senators Snow, (R-ME). (ME), Chafee (RI) DeWine (OH) and (OH) and Independent Jeffords (VT), deserve to be thanked for their “common sense” no vote on the bill.

New Medicare Advantage Program is Now Official

So many questions and so much uncertainty remain with the newly launched Medicare Advantage the most significant changes since Medicare was adopted in 1965 with the intent of increasing access to managed care for enrollees within specified geographic areas. There are major changes and much confusion for consumers that include everything from trying to navigate the Internet enrollment process and understanding the prescription drug benefits.

The Medicare prescription drug plan is considered one of the most complicated federal benefits ever developed. In addition, the gap in drug coverage is a major concern for poor seniors, the disabled, and people with chronic health problems.

Florida CHAIN will continue to advocate for those individuals, very poor seniors and disabled who are impacted by the major health policy changes that have gone into effect.

As communities and individuals reach out to offer assistance we want to hear from individuals and organizations as you encounter a “hands on” experience with enrollment or access to prescription drugs.

Send your stories and comments to

info@... or call .

New Resources

HIV/AIDS Prevention Grants Program

to reduce risk behaviors associated with HIV/AIDS among Native Americans and African American and Hispanic women. The deadline is Feb. 27. Contact Lillie Brown, , fax: .

The National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education (NASDME) has announced the creation of the

Albert Lee , Jr. Memorial Migrant Scholarship to honor a migrant farm worker student. The scholarship will provide an award of $2,000. Deadline is Jan. 6. The completed application packet should be submitted to: Albert Lee , Jr. Memorial Migrant Scholarship, Branz-Spall, Chair, Office of Public Instruction, PO Box 202501, Helena, MT 59620.

APA Help Center Now Offers Psychology Materials in Spanish If you speak Spanish, you can now access free Spanish language materials on mental health issues at the American Psychological Association's (APA) online help center,

www.APAHelpCenter.org .

NEW RESEARCH

Food Stamps Eligibility Please see the latest income, resource, and allotment figures for food stamp eligibility in Florida. The new figures are effective Oct. 1, 2005. The chart will shortly be available on the FLS web site on the Public Benefits Umbrella Group page at

http://www.floridalegal.org/public1.htm.

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Let us know if CHAIN Reaction is being forwarded to you. We can easily add you to our list of subscribers so you can receive it directly. CHAIN Reaction is produced by Human Services Coalition of Dade County, Florida CHAIN's Miami-Dade LINC. For more information about Florida CHAIN, visit

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www.hscdade.org or call x16.

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