Disability Policy News In Brief

Voting

We are 15 days from the election. Use the following information from our friends at REV UP to lean which races will be on your ballot:

• All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election this year.
• 35 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for election this year. See if your state has a U.S. Senate election.
• 36 state governors and 3 U.S. territory governors are up for election this year. See if your state or territory has a gubernatorial election.
• 306 mayors are up for election this year. See if your city has a mayoral election.

• Plan and prepare to vote and support others in voting on November 6!

Congressional Recess

Both houses of Congress are on recess through the midterm elections. This means all members of the House and Senate will be in their districts until November 13. Connecting while they are home campaigning is a great way to show that you are interested in partnering for good policy.
This issue of In Brief includes several topics you are encouraged to connect with your members about. You can use the campaign period as a way to raise issues you care about not only with the incumbent, but also with those running to represent you.

Action Steps:

• Call your lawmakers' district offices and ask for appointments with your Representatives while they are home.
• Attend a town hall.
• Connect with them at a public event (parade, festival, etc.)
• Submit an op-ed to your local paper.
• Use Facebook or Twitter to engage your members of Congress.

Health Care

The Department of Health and Human Services released a proposed regulation on Monday October 15, that, if finalized, would require companies that sell drugs covered by Medicare or Medicaid to put a standard price in their ads, if the price is higher than $35 per month. It's unclear if requiring companies to include price information in advertisements will impact how much patients pay for drugs.

Action Step:

• Make comments on the proposal and share your comments with your congressional delegation. Educate them as they consider options to address pharmaceutical costs.

Regulations

Public Charge Rule

The proposed changes to the public charge rule have been published in the Federal Register. The comment period will last until December 10, 2018. Our friends at Rooted in Rights have created a great video that illustrates how the change would impact families that include people with disabilities.

Action Steps:

• Use AUCD's background information fact sheet to learn more.
• Make comments to impact policy when the rule is published.
• Use AUCD's online tool to make comments that include the impact on people with disabilities.

Fall Regulatory Agenda

Federal Agencies publish forecasts around regulations that they are likely to open for amendment in the coming months. Two of the recent notices fall under topics AUCD is monitoring.

• The Department of Education notices that it may amend regulatory definitions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). AUCD's concern is that the change would weaken the definition of competitive integrated employment, 
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services noticed their intent to promulgate a rule about non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). AUCD's concern is that the change would make Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation optional. Under current regulations, states are required to provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation to all Medicaid beneficiaries.

Action Steps:

• Learn about WIOA and educate your congressional delegation about the importance of Competitive Integrated Employment.
• Learn about non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and educate your congressional delegation about it importance.

Employment

The National Council on Disability's report, National Disability Employment Policy From the New Deal to the Real Deal: Joining the Industries of the Future, released on October 16, provides several key recommendations:

• Phasing out of 14(c) on a six-year timeline
• Issuing a two-year moratorium on any new 14(c) certificates
• Retaining the current definition of Competitive Integrated Employment used by the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Action Step:

• Reach out to your congressional delegation, share the report and your interest in policy that supports competitive integrated employment for all.

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All

You can VOTE! Learn all about overcoming voting barriers for people with disabilities with Liz. Liz discusses how to get to the polls and how early voting might be the right option for you.

Read about how you can get a free ride to the polls on Election Day with Uber or Lyft at https://bit.ly/2OP60Nz.

Find your local League of Women Voters at https://www.lwv.org/local-leagues/find-local-league.

For more from AUCD, follow @AUCDNews and like AUCD on Facebook

For updates from our Executive Director Andy Imparato, follow @AndyAUCD.

For definitions of terms used in In Brief, please see AUCD's Glossary of Legislative Terms