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Reposted by Richard Edwards

Disability Scoop @disabilityscoop.bsky.social · 8d

While many services will continue, Congress' failure to fund the government could have big implications for people with #disabilities who depend on a wide array of federal programs. #shutdown

What The Government Shutdown Means For People With Disabilities

While many services will continue, Congress' failure to fund the government could have big implications for people with disabilities who depend on a wide array of federal programs.

www.disabilityscoop.com

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · 15d

Everyone agrees on the number, and no one wants the cuts, but here we are. #ncga #medicaid #ncdhhs

With no NC health funding deal, the state is poised to cut Medicaid rates ncnewsline.com/2025/09/23/w...

With no NC health funding deal, the state is poised to cut Medicaid rates • NC Newsline

Reductions in Medicaid health insurance payments are set to hit next week, threatening patient care and jobs in NC.

ncnewsline.com

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · 15d

The NC House and the NC Senate have agreed on a Medicaid budget (rebase) number that they have confirmed with the DHHS to avoid rate cuts 10/1, but they will not vote for the other chamber's bill. #ncga

Reposted by Richard Edwards

ANCOR @therealancor.bsky.social · 16d

Autism is not a crisis. It does not destroy families. Help us tell federal policymakers to invest in community-based services and ensure people with Autism have access to critical supports to participate in our communities: www.ancor.org/actions/advo...

Advocate for the HCBS Relief Act: Strengthen Community Services | ANCOR

The HCBS Relief Act would provide a 10-percentage-point increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for HCBS in 2026 and 2027.

www.ancor.org

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

National Health Law Program @nhelp.bsky.social · 21d

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) could force states to cut provider payments & limit Medicaid benefits. This issue brief explains state-directed payments, provider taxes, and how OBBBA’s cuts threaten access to care. By Geraldine Doetzer ⬇️
healthlaw.org/resource/med...

Medicaid Financing after OBBBA: State directed payments and provider taxes by Geraldine Doetzer.

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · 24d

Back again Day 2 -- had a great time with this team of NC based advocates for #AAW2025, talking about the importance of #Medicaid, #HCBS, and our caregivers.

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Sep 9

Excited to be on Capitol Hill with a big group from #ANCOR advocating for #Medicaid, #HCBS, and #DSPRW2025!

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

KFF @kff.org · Sep 8

Our new brief offers a look at how Medicaid’s coverage and share of national health spending has changed over time: https://on.kff.org/41DE9nR

KFF line chart titled “Medicaid’s share of spending has grown but remains lower than that of private insurance and Medicare.” The chart shows the share of total annual national spending on personal health care, by payer.

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Sep 6

How does pointing to a "potential" cause of #autism help? I'm genuinely curious.

Disability Scoop @disabilityscoop.bsky.social · Sep 6

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will reportedly point to #Tylenol use during pregnancy as a potential cause of #autism in a forthcoming report on what’s driving rising rates of the developmental disorder. #disabilties #RFK

RFK Jr. To Link Tylenol Use To Rising Autism Rates, Report Says

The Department of Health and Human Services will reportedly point to Tylenol use during pregnancy as a potential cause of autism in a report on what's driving rising rates of the developmental disorde...

www.disabilityscoop.com

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

ProPublica @propublica.org · Aug 31

One disabled Marine veteran has not had a primary care doctor assigned to him since his previous doctor left in the winter, his wife said. The VA “was never like this before. There’s a lack of staff, empty rooms, locked doors.”

Veterans’ Care at Risk Under Trump as Hundreds of Doctors and Nurses Reject Working at VA Hospitals

Amid concerns about the stability of the agency, records show nearly 40% of the doctors offered jobs at the VA from January through March of this year turned them down — quadruple the rate of rejectio...

www.propublica.org

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Aug 29

www.wral.com/story/nc-law...

NC lawmakers order halt to Medicaid cuts as budget stalemate continues

Leaders of the North Carolina House of Representatives have instructed the state's Medicaid program to suspend its plans to cut reimbursement rates and services in October, despite a shortfall in Medi...

www.wral.com

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Aug 28

#Medicaid services hang in the balance. NC DHHS has proposed cuts to service rates ranging from 3% to 10% (!), depending upon the service. DHHS and NCGA need to come together to find a way to avoid these deeply harmful cuts.

Dawn B. Vaughan @dawnbvaughan.bsky.social · Aug 27

No NC budget deal yet among Republicans, as Democratic lawmakers call for action

#ncga #ncpol

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

No NC budget deal yet among Republicans, as Democratic lawmakers call for action

Democrats push for Republicans to reach a state budget deal, already two months late.

www.newsobserver.com

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Aug 12

States' reaction time to HR1/OBBBA will be important to watch. Congress can act at the last minute, but states cannot. Still, acting too early has its own risks.

Joan Alker @joanalker1.bsky.social · Aug 12

Colorada Governor calls the legislature in for special session to address the budget holes created by HR1 (the "OBBB).

Immediate loss of $1.2 billion in revenue for the current fiscal year.

www.colorado.gov/governor/new...

Governor Polis Calls Special Session to Address Budget Hole Created by Federal Bill | Colorado Governor Jared Polis

DENVER - Today, after carefully evaluating the negative impacts of the federal government’s budget-busting bill, H.R.1, Governor Polis is calling the General Assembly back into session to address the ...

www.colorado.gov

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Aug 12

From the CBO, the richest 10% will gain $13.6k per year. That's all? We did all of this so 1/10 Americans could buy a used car with 100k miles?

Punchbowl News @punchbowlnews.bsky.social · Aug 12

The One Big Beautiful Bill will shrink resources for the poorest Americans while giving a boost to middle-income and wealthy households, per CBO.

We break down the latest assessment:
punchbowl.news/article/fina...

CBO: Rich get biggest OBBB boost

The One Big Beautiful Bill will shrink resources for the poorest Americans while giving a boost to middle-income and wealthy households, per CBO.

punchbowl.news

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Aug 8

Re: #medicaid work requirements -- CMS has until June of 2026 to provide guidance to states on how to do this and how it will be supported. The deadline for having work requirements in place is December 31st -- of the same year. #OBBBA

Reposted by Richard Edwards

KFF @kff.org · Aug 5

Medicaid. Medicare. The Affordable Care Act. HSAs.

The new tax and budget law signed by President Trump includes major changes across all these areas.

KFF’s new timeline helps track when each provision will take effect:

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Jul 31

Important read -- multiple states have had to be sued by the US DOJ to enforce the ADA and Olmstead Decision. We should not be retreating on ensuring access to the community for people with disabilities. It seems that we are.

Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · Jul 31

New: A DOJ investigation had determined that South Carolina officials illegally denied community-based services — required by federal law — to over 1,000 people diagnosed as seriously mentally ill.

The lawsuit over these allegations is now on hold. It's not alone.

By @coreygjohnson.bsky.social

Trump Administration Halted Lawsuits Targeting Civil Rights Abuses of Prisoners and Mentally Ill People

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division had brought lawsuits accusing Louisiana of confining prisoners longer than they should and South Carolina of keeping mentally ill people in unreasonably restrictive gro...

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

Little Lobbyists @littlelobbyists.com · Jul 25

They said we'll "get over it." We won't.

Congress has passed the largest cuts to care in history – gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and the #AffordableCareAct by more than one trillion dollars, in favor for tax cuts for billionaires.

We will not simply "get over" losing our care!
#ProtectMedicaid

Little Lobbyists families sit in front of a livestream camera feed to read their Medicaid stories

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

States Newsroom @statesnewsroom.com · Jul 25

The recent federal announcement of a freeze on projects that help states use their Medicaid programs to suit the needs of their residents could have an impact on future projects in Ohio.

via @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-m...

US Medicaid department freeze on state projects could impact Ohio children’s enrollment

The recent federal announcement of a freeze on projects that help states use their Medicaid programs to suit the needs of their residents could have an impact on future projects in Ohio. In the most r...

www.newsfromthestates.com

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · Jul 24

News: A bill to end subminimum wage for disabled workers federally was just re-introduced in the House. This comes after the federal government withdrew a potential rule to end it federally.

Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of Lawmakers Introduce Bill to End Subminimum Wages for Workers with Disabilities

WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX-17), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. This is a bipartisan, bicameral proposal, which would phase out the use of subminimum wages for workers with disabilities and help transition them into fully integrated, competitive employment.

Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, workers with disabilities can legally be paid far below the federal minimum wage, sometimes less than $1 an hour. This bill ends that practice over five years, invests $300 million in state and local transition efforts, and ensures all workers with disabilities can earn fair wages and work alongside their peers.

Currently, nearly 40,000 people with disabilities are still employed under this policy. This legislation ensures they are no longer left behind in our workforce and brings federal labor law into alignment with the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It is long past time for Congress to phase out the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities and expand access to fulfilling employment and economic self-sufficiency. By fostering collaboration between employers and services providers, this bipartisan legislation makes clear that it is not only possible, but beneficial, to invest in fully integrated and competitive jobs for people with disabilities. We must take this next step to ensure that every worker can succeed in the workplace and earn a fair wage,” said Ranking Member Scott.

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Jul 21

I have a question, maybe for @kff.org -- how do you think efforts to comply with HR1 will interact with incentives built into managed care for #Medicaid, in particular #HCBS?

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Jul 21

Final CBO score: It's terrible. Trump tax law runs up deficit by $3.4T, throws 10 million off health insurance. minnesotareformer.com/2025/07/21/r...

Trump tax law runs up deficit by $3.4T, throws 10 million off health insurance, CBO says • Minnesota Reformer

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, wrote in a statement that it is “still hard to believe that policymakers just added $4 trillion to” deficits after Republi...

minnesotareformer.com

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Richard Edwards @edwardsr0203.bsky.social · Jul 21

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Labor Department moves to end disability hiring goal for federal contractors

Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer plans to axe a longstanding, successful incentive program for disabled workers.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · Jul 19

My summary of some of the most immediate health policy changes in the "Big Beautiful Bill," including some that already took effect and others that will take effect for 2026 coverage www.healthinsurance.org/blog/one-big...

One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings sweeping changes to health coverage

Five provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) Act take effect in 2025 and early 2026 and will significantly impact Medicaid enrollees, Marketplace consumers, and low-income immigrants. In this...

www.healthinsurance.org

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Reposted by Richard Edwards

Disability Scoop @disabilityscoop.bsky.social · Jul 18

The first cuts won't hit immediately, but people on #Medicaid, including those with #disabilities, fear they could experience significant setbacks under the "big, beautiful bill."

Medicaid Recipients Fear Loss Of Coverage, Though It Won't Happen For Years

The first cuts won't hit immediately, but people on Medicaid, including those with disabilities, fear they could experience significant setbacks under the "big, beautiful bill."

www.disabilityscoop.com

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