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New! Disabilities-related information on the 87th Arkansas General Assembly, including important legislation we are following, is
now available on our Public Policy page.
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New! The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to re-open enrollment in its health care system by July 2009 to about 265,000 veterans whose incomes exceed current limits. The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10 percent or less. Congress provided funds in VA’s fiscal year 2009 budget to support the new enrollment. The rule should take effect by June 30, 2009.
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New! The National Council on Disability (NCD) has arranged for telephone access for those who would benefit from listening to NCD's Disability Healthcare Policy Forum on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. MST. The forum will be held at the Chaparral Suites Resort, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona, and the meeting is open to the public.
The toll-free number to listen to the forum is (888) 790–6568, and the pass code is "healthcare". The forum will explore the relationship between health insurance coverage and access to appropriate health care for people with disabilities, including people with chronic health conditions. It will also identify opportunities to improve health outcomes for this growing population.
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New! An inquiry from Senator Steve Faris asks if the state's School for the Blind and School for the Deaf qualify as "free public schools" and as such must receive academic facilities funding from the state in a manner similar to that provided to public schools --i.e. sufficient to provide a substantially equal opportunity for an adequate education. To read the Attorney General's response
click here.
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New! System of Care Commission’s Annual Report to the Governor (draft) - Each year DHS is required to submit an Annual Report to the Governor on behalf of the System of Care Commission. The System of Care Commission will be distributing the final version of its report at the January 15, 2008, commission.
Click here to read a copy of the draft report [pdf]. If you have any questions please contact Dawn[dot]Zekis[at]arkansas[dot]gov
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New! Arkansas Hands & Voices group meeting will be held Saturday, February 7, 2009 on the campus of Arkansas Children's Hospital. Registration begins at 9:30 am. There will be informational sessions for families of children who are deaf/hard of hearing of all ages, in addition to great social opportunities for all family members. Childcare will be provided by reservation.
A flyer with the agenda and registration information is now available. For more information, please call 501.569.9807 or email mandym[at]arhandsandvoices[dot]org
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New! CADC ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR REGULAR LIHEAP JAN. 5, HOLDING LIHEAP DAY IN PULASKI COUNTY JAN. 8 - 9•
New! Department of Education Issues Final Regulations Amending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).•
The Department of Labor published final regulations on November 17, 2008, making significant changes to the rules implementing Title I of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The 201-page rule, which goes into effect January 16, 2009, implements leave provisions created by the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008. The regulations implement two new leave entitlements referred to as "qualifying exigency leave" and "military caregiver leave." There are also significant changes to the definition of "serious health condition," an amendment to conform to the decision in
Ragsdale v. Wolverine World Wide Inc., 535 U.S. 81 (U.S. 2002), a clarification of the medical certification procedure, and other changes. To read the DOL final rule
click here.
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Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued Opinion No. 2008-165, December 17, 2008. Representative Johnson requested an opinion from the Attorney General on how a "special-needs trust" established by a third-party, with the third-party's assets, impacts the beneficiary's eligibility for Medicaid. To read the full opinion
click here.
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The Arkansas Governor's Developmental Disability Council is accepting applications for its yearly Family Leadership Program series of seminars in 2009. For more information
visit this page.
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The Medicare website has a new online tool for finding and comparing nursing homes. You can try it by going to
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp•
The Arkansas delegation to the Electoral College met in the Old Supreme Court Chamber at the State Capitol Monday, December 15 and cast their votes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates. A recording of this historic process is available at
http://ideas.aetn.org/web/electoral•
The state Senior Health Insurance Information Program is sponsoring
public sessions on Medicare Part D open enrollment assistance around the state.
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Remember: Disaster recovery information is made available on the
Client Assistance Program page as it becomes available.
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The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 Unbolts Doors for Students with Intellectual Disabilities.
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