DISABILITY
RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
California Disability Community Action Network: Advocacy
Without Borders: Connecting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs,
Seniors, Traumatic Brain & other injuries, People with MS & other health
needs, including People of color, different languages, cultures, Families,
Workers, Providers, & Organizations to Rights & Unified Action
REMEMBERING
SHIRLEY KLEIN WHO DIED AT AGE 74
Report
#066-2007 May 6, 2007 Sunday
To
respond to this email, reply to: martyomoto@rcip.com
CDCAN website: www.cdcan.us
FEDERAL NEWS
* President Nominates Kerry Weems New Medicare & Medicaid Chief
* Currently Deputy Chief of Staff to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt
* Impacts Relationship with California's Medi-Cal Program
SACRAMENTO - President Bush
nominated last week Kerry N. Weems, a long time federal health official with a
strong financial background, as
the new chief to oversee the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs (called the
"Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services" or CMS) that impact
millions of seniors, people with disabilities and the low income families across
the nation. Weems (pictured right, sitting, in a 2005 photo)
currently is the deputy chief of staff to Secretary Mike Leavitt of the US
Department of Health and Human Services - the agency that oversees the Centers
of Medicare and Medicaid Services. He succeeds Mark McClellan, who
resigned in October. The nomination requires approval by the US
Senate. [Note: CDCAN will be scheduling a Townhall Telemeeting with the new
administrator in the coming weeks - watch for announcement]
President Bush also nominated Tevi David Troy, currently deputy assistant to the
president for domestic policy, to be deputy secretary at the US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Some observers said that the nomination of Weems, who has worked over 24
years in the US Department of Health and Human Services is unsual since the high
profile position usually is filled by not by a career department official but a
political appointment.
Secretary Leavitt however said that "Both Troy and Weems] bring a broad
array of knowledge, management experience and expertise that will enhance our
ability to advance effective policies to improve Americans' health."
And a former department official, Alex Azar, former Deputy Secretary of the
department praised Weems long department experience, saying that ,
"If you're looking for somebody who knows the programs inside and out, and
knows also how to get things done in the government with no transition period,
he's it. He's been at the center of all that."
The Bush Administration has less than two years to go before a new president
takes office.
Medicaid Program Serves Over
6.8 Million People In California - Impact of New Appointment
* Medicaid, with a budget of about
$200 billion in 2006, provides health coverage across the nation to nearly 53
million people with disabilities, low income seniors, the blind and people who
meet eligibility requirements under the old "Aid to Families with Dependent
Children or AFDC" (called "CalWORKS"in California). Nationwide,
in 2007, persons on Medicaid include 5 million seniors 65 and over, 8.5 million
blind or persons with disabilities (including developmental), 11.1 million are
needy adults and 23.5 million who are needy children.
* In California the Medicaid program is called "Medi-Cal" and
has about 6.8 million people total enrolled, with about 1.6 million of that
number persons with disabilities, seniors or the blind. This includes
people who receive In-Home Supportive Services, many regional center funded
community-based services, persons in developmental centers, many persons in
skilled nursing and other health facilities, and also includes thousands who are
eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare services.
* The federal Medicare program provides coverage for about 43 million seniors
and persons with disabilities, with a budget in 2006 of about $408
billion.
* The new Administrator for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services will
have important impact to the Medi-Cal program in California, especially as the
State moves forward in several areas requiring special approval from the federal
government including the waiving of existing Medicaid rules for special programs
and grants, and additional funding - some of which is targeted as part of the
different major health care reform measures pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
and the Democratic legislative leadership.
* The new Administrator can also have impact on further implementation of the
federal 2005 Deficit Reduction Act impacting the Medicaid Program.
Acting CMS Administrator
Will Stay On Until New Chief Is Approved by US Senate
Leslie Norwalk, who is serving as
acting administrator of the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
since Mark McClellan resigned in October, previously withdrew herself from
consideration for the nomination saying that "I believe the next
administrator must be committed to stay for the remainder of the administration.
It was not easy, but I decided early in the search process that I could not
commit to staying for another two years..." though said she would remain as
acting administrator until Weems is confirmed by the US Senate.
McClellan announced his resignation on Sept. 5, 2006 saying that he wanted to
spend more time with his family and later joined a center for regulatory
studies run by two think tanks in Washington, the Brookings Institution and the
American Enterprise Institute.
An economist and doctor, McClellan helped put in place the controversial
Medicare Part D prescription drug crisis that went into effect January 1, 2006
sparking a crisis for hundreds of thousands of seniors, people with disabilities
eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits, unable to get needed
prescription drug medications. In California last January, the Governor
issued an emergency order providing emergency drug coverage to tens of thousands
of people with disabilities and seniors eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid
and unable to get their drugs.
Secretary Leavitt Praises Nomination
Secretary
Leavitt (pictured left) said that he was "...pleased that the
President has announced two strong nominees for the [Department of Health and
Human Services] senior leadership team. Both bring a broad array of
knowledge, management experience and expertise that will enhance our ability to
advance effective policies to improve Americans’ health."
Leavitt noted that Weems' "...wealth of experience as an advisor to several
[Department of Health and Human Services] secretaries and as a manager of large
budgets and organizations will make him successful in the role of Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator."
"He understands the large fiscal challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid
and what it will take to strengthen and sustain those programs for the future.
Further, he has been a leader in this department's efforts to accelerate
adoption of health information technology and better financial management
systems, which will be a valuable asset to CMS" said Leavitt, adding that
Weems is "...well respected within the health care community and will be
valuable [asset] to the department..."
He urged the US Senate - controlled narrowly by the Democrats, to act quickly on
both nominations.
Background on Weems
* Weems, who has worked within for the
US Department of Health and Human Services for 24 years, previously served as
acting assistant secretary for budget, technology and finance under Secretary
Tommy Thompson, Leavitt's predecessor, and as chief financial officer for the
department. In that role he provided advice and guidance on budget formulation,
analysis and preparation; managed department wide financial management issues;
and oversaw the department's chief information officer.
* Weems has been one of Secretary Leavitt's most trusted advisers on budget
issues
* Since June 2002, until becoming deputy chief of staff to the Secretary, Weems
has served as the deputy assistant secretary for budget, where he provided
expertise and advice on the largest budget of any federal department.
* Weems was responsible then for all budgetary program policy and management
issues, including the development of the US Department of Health and Human
Services budget and its presentation to the federal Office of Management and
Budget and to the uS Congress.
* Weems began his role as deputy assistant secretary in an acting capacity
in January 2001. Previously, he served as the director for the Division of
Budget Policy, Execution and Management.
* Weems has received a number of department awards, including the Presidential
Rank Award in 2001, the Secretary's Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and an
HHS Senior Management Citation in 1993.
* Weems earned a master's of business administration from the University of New
Mexico in 1981, and earned two bachelor's degrees in philosophy and management
from New Mexico State University.
REMEMBERING SHIRLEY KLEIN
[CDCAN Note: I will include other
selections of her poems in my tribute to Shirley and post on the CDCAN website]
Signing of the ADA (Dedicated to my father, William Klein, who died the next
day)
By Shirley Klein
When the last pen stroke died
my father slept assured
that promises would finally open their front doors to me
which I could enter on ramped opportunities
into broad hallways
that no longer held the tyranny UPSTAIRS,
- that I could see the splendor of Beethoven
or feel the texture of Michaelangelo;;
- that I could read the voice of a distant child
or hear the softness in my lover's eyes
or type the answer to my mother's touch
- that my learning would be measured by my will
and not by barbed numbers
- that my wheels could take flight to open adventures
or ride the rails of access through the beauty of my land
Yes, my father could finally rest
After the pen parted the waters
And he saw me to the shore
That had eluded us so long
Published 1993 - Seedlings
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MANY THANKS to Manteca CAPS, Training
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