According to the Washington Post, President Obama is expected to sign the economic stimulus package today. The stimulus package includes long-sought increases in funding for special education and State Medicaid programs. Federal support for special education is expected to grow by more than $12 billion. According to the New York Times, the bill “doubles federal spending on disadvantaged and disabled children… “ $87 billion dollars will be going to states to help with Medicaid, which the AP notes, “could slow or reverse some of the steps states have taken to cut the program.” All of the new spending outlined by the bill is temporary, with most slated to end after two years.
Also, President Biden has announced Kareem Dale to serve as Special Assistant to the President on Disability Policy. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, this is the first time the President has has an assistant focused exclusively on Disability Policy.
The NSCIA also announced that the Obama administration has contacted them and other disability organizations and asked that they help identify persons with a disability who have gone to work or been rehired as a result of the Economic Recovery Plan. Read the full article on the NSCIA website.
How do you think the stimulus package will affect the current Medicaid situation and employment of people with disabilites?
I just read in PT Magazine’s February issue that Obama is also proposing healthcare IT as part of the economic stimulus plan. He says that investing in health care modernization (establish electronic billing and health records) would provide a boost to the economy & help lower health care costs in the future. I agree & also like that it will cut down on paper use.
A miloiln thanks for posting this information.