APHSA's Preliminary Summary of President's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Proposals APHSA has published its preliminary summary of the President's fiscal year 2012 budget proposals for health and human service programs The letter is posted here. APHSA-NASTA TANF Recommendations for Reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program APHSA and its National Association of State TANF Administrators affiliate have issued a detailed set of recommendations for reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The recommendations reflect a year-long effort by the state TANF administrators and other key state human service leaders. They focus on keeping intact the core TANF elements that have made this program so effective over the past 15 years while enhancing its adaptability to the rapidly evolving needs of state agencies and of the low-income individuals and families they serve. Agencies urge collaboration among health programs and human service programs On Nov. 23, 2010, the heads of four agencies in HHS and USDA issued a joint letter to state human service commissioners providing information on health insurance exchanges and Medicaid eligibility IT systems, and urging collaboration among health programs and human service programs. The letter is posted here. APHSA/NASTA Letter Urges Timely Extension of TANF Program (9-23-2010) APHSA Letter to Congress Opposing any Further Cuts in Future SNAP Benefits (9-20-2010) APHSA Letter to Congressional Leaders Outlines Fall 2010 Priorities (9-20-2010) August Recess Legislative update APHSA Letter to Congressional Leaders on Additional SNAP Funding Cuts Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Reauthorization The National Association of State TANF Administrators' (NASTA) TANF reauthorization recommendations were released on January 19, 2010, and are posted here. Child Support Enforcement and Healthy Fatherhood Initiatives Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Presidential memo on flexibility (new) On Feb. 28, 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum directing all federal departments and agencies to work with state, local and tribal governments to reduce "onerous administrative burdens and regulatory requirements to achieve better outcomes at lower costs." The memo instructs the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate a process to streamline procedures, identify administrative barriers, review cost allocation guidance, develop efficient data collection mechanisms, and facilitate cost-efficient modernization of state information systems. Agencies are to report back within 180 days. OMB guidance – presidential memo on flexibility (new) On April 29, 2011, OMB issued implementing guidance to federal agencies to carry out the requirements of the Feb. 28 presidential memo on flexibility. The memo directs agencies to report their implementation plans to OMB by June 1 "based on input from state, local, and tribal partners." OMB will lead several interagency work groups to carry out specific areas of work outlined by the presidential memo. DHHS Exchange Guidance Letter Initial Exchange Guidance Negative error process letter APHSA and its AASD and NAPIPM affiliates sent the following letter to USDA expressing concerns about a recent final rule on the SNAP negative action QC review process. Claims collection letter APHSA and its AASD affiliate sent the following letter to USDA expressing concerns about a recent memo on collecting claims from households with no qualifying adult members. Medicaid and Health Care Reform The National Association of State Medicaid Directors, an APHSA affiliate, has developed a detailed side-by-side chart of the health care reform legislation’s provisions. The chart is posted on the NASMD web site at www.nasmd.org/home/doc/SummaryPatProtAct.pdf. NASMD has also provided a general overview of the major elements of health care reform legislation and an implementation timeline, posted at www.aphsa.org/Home/Doc/hr_issues_state_govt.pdf. APHSA has submitted a comment letter on the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed federal-state partnership funding, available at www.aphsa.org/Home/Doc/Letter_OMB_fed-state_partnership.pdf. Additional details on the partnership are posted on OMB’s site at www.whitehouse.gov/open/partner4solutions. |