Category: Health

CAA Is Looking for A New Policy Specialist to Join the Team

Children’s Action Alliance is seeking a Policy Specialist to coordinate the collection and communication of key health policy information and to coordinate, facilitate, and provide policy, communications, and staffing assistance to the Arizona Oral Health Coalition. This is a full-time, grant-funded position reporting to the director of health policy.
 
To learn more and apply, please click here. 

Executive Budget Signals Major Cuts to Health Care

Earlier this month the Trump Administration released a budget proposal that calls for significant cuts to health care. Though Congress is unlikely to act on the proposal, it offers a glimpse into the President’s health priorities in 2021 and beyond.

The $4.8 trillion executive budget proposal would make the tax cuts prescribed by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, at a cost of $1.5 trillion. In an effort to balance the budget, these tax cuts would be paid for by slashing budgets for Medicaid and other safety net programs.

The proposed budget calls for roughly $1.6 trillion in cuts to federal healthcare programs over the span of a decade, including:

  • $844 billion in cuts related to the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, though the budget does not define a replacement strategy
  • $920 billion in cuts to Medicaid, including $150 billion in cuts related to the implementation of work reporting requirements
  • $79 billion in cuts tied to restricting eligibility for federal disability benefits

Although we are unlikely to see this budget enacted through Congress, we will likely see federal agencies pursue these priorities and programmatic cuts through administrative means.

CAA will continue to monitor the federal budget and will keep you abreast of any efforts to cut services.

Public Charge Goes Into Effect February 24

After months of controversy and litigation, we have some bad news about the Department of Homeland Security’s Public Charge rule.

The US Supreme Court has issued a stay on the nationwide injunction against the rule, meaning the the final rule will go into effect later this month on February 24, 2020.

The final rule will make it harder for some legal immigrants who use certain public benefits to become lawful permanent residents, or green card holders.

The final rule does not apply to all immigrants, but will impact green card applicants and immigrants who apply for reentry after leaving the country for more than 180 days in a row. The rule will not impact people who already have citizenship or a green card, or those with certain immigration statuses, like refugees or asylees. The rule does not apply to KidsCare (CHIP) or to children under 21 who participate in AHCCCS (Medicaid).

Under the new rule, use of the following benefits for more than 12 months out of a 36 month period MAY negatively influence a person’s green card application: long term care paid by the government, cash assistance (through SSI, TANF, or others), section 8 or other federal housing programs, SNAP (food stamps), and AHCCCS (except for young people under age 21, pregnant women and moms up to 60 days postpartum, and emergency AHCCCS).

The legality of the rule is still being played out in the courts. Families with questions should speak with an immigration attorney. To find a list of local legal resources click here.

Fact sheets about the rule are available here in English and Spanish.