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A new addition to the Agenda, the D.C. Dispatch is an overview of the many initiatives and coalitions the Office of Public Policy & Advocacy has been working on throughout the year.
- The Arthritis Foundation (AF) sent a letter in support of S. 2104, American Center for Cures Act of 2005, which would establish within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) an American Center for Cures to promote translational research to speed the development of effective therapies, diagnostics, and cures.
- AF cosigned a letter with a broad cross-section of charitable organizations to express our strong support to Congress for enactment of a significant package of charitable giving tax incentives and charitable reforms like those included in the Senate’s version of Tax Relief Act of 2005 (H.R. 4297).
- AF joined with other health organization requesting Congress to provide funding to continue the National Children’s Study (NCS) in fiscal year 2007. The Children’s Health Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-310) authorized the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to lead a consortium of relevant government agencies, university researchers and others in undertaking an ambitious long-term study of American children’s health and their subsequent development.
- As part of our support for Cover the Uninsured Week, AF sent the personal letters we received to people's respective Senators and Representatives, asking Members to consider their constituents' needs while working to find solutions to the burgeoning challenge of arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation believes that all Americans should have access to affordable and quality health care.
- The Social Security Administration recently released the final rule on Disability Service Improvement, which should improve the processing problems and time delays in decisions for disability. Implementation of these rules will begin in the summer of 2006 in the Boston Region. According to SSA, "the roll-out will be thoughtful and measured as we carefully monitor the changes and the effects of these changes on the disability process."
-- The final rule provides for:- A quick disability determination process for those who are obviously disabled. Favorable decisions would be made in such cases within 20 days after the claim is received by the state disability determination agency.
- A new Medical-Vocational Expert System (MVES) to enhance the expertise needed to make accurate and timely decisions. The MVES will be composed of a Medical-Vocational Expert Unit and a national network of medical, psychological and vocational experts who meet qualification standards established by the Commissioner.
- A new position -- the Federal Reviewing Official -- that will review state agency determinations upon the request of the claimant. This will eliminate the reconsideration step of the current appeals process.
- Retention of the right to request a de novo hearing and decision from an Administrative Law Judge if the claimant disagrees with the decision of the Federal Reviewing Official.
- Closing the record after the Administrative Law Judge issues a decision, with provision for certain good cause exceptions to this rule.
- A new body -- the Decision Review Board -- to review and correct decisional errors and ensure consistent adjudication at all levels of the disability determination process. The current Appeals Council will be phased out gradually. More information can be found at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability-new-approach/ .
- DisabilityInfo.gov (www.disabilityinfo.gov) is a one-stop federal Web site designed to offer people with disabilities and many others access to the information and resources they need to live full and independent lives in the workplace and in their communities. DisabilityInfo.gov offers a broad range of valuable information, not only for people with disabilities, but also their family members, service providers, employers and many others.
