AUCDigest
December 20, 2006 • Volume 6, Number 68
Current and past editions of AUCD Legislative News In Brief are posted through the AUCD Website. These weekly 1-2 page updates are intended to keep association members informed about federal legislative and regulatory issues affecting people with disabilities, their families and the network of AUCD programs and centers.
Recent Policy Issues and Events
Congress Passes Autism and Respite Bills. AUCD is extremely pleased to announce that both the Lifespan Respite Care Act (S. 1283) and the Combating Autism Act (S. 843) passed in the House and Senate unanimously. The Lifespan Respite Care Act authorizes $30 million for FY07 (increasing to $94.8 million by FY11) in competitive grants to states (including the territories) to develop or coordinate lifespan respite care programs for families providing care for an adult or child with a special need. The final compromise bill authorizes the Aging and Disability Resource Centers recently authorized in every state through the Older Americans Act as the lead agency eligible for these funds. The Combating Autism Act, sponsored by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), provides $945 million over five years for autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities research, screening, treatment and education. The legislation significantly expands research activities at the NIH as well as surveillance programs run by CDC. Most significantly for AUCD, the legislation also provides competitive grants to "expand existing or develop new maternal and child health interdisciplinary leadership education in neurodevelopmental and related disabilities programs" (LEND) in states that do not have such program.
CMS Publishes Final Patients' Rights Rule on Use of Restraints and Seclusion. Healthcare workers who employ physical restraints and seclusion when treating patients must undergo new, more rigorous training to assure the appropriateness of the treatment and to protect patient rights, according to a regulation published in the Federal Register by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The patients' rights regulations set forth, as a condition of participation (CoP) in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the expectation that healthcare facilities will protect the rights of patients. These protections are part of Medicare's revised CoP requirements that hospitals must meet. The requirements apply to all participating hospitals including short-term, psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term, children's and alcohol/drug treatment facilities. The regulation will become effective on February 06, 2007.
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