Federation of American Hospitals’ Post

Proposition 35: Oppose in California Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax Authorization Initiative The spending proposal in Prop 35 would decrease funding for important services to the disability community, including urgently needed rate increases for nursing services for medically fragile children, critically needed rate increases that ensure ventilator dependent adults can live in the community rather than institutions, funding for pediatric day health centers, community behavioral health, community health workers, Alzheimer’s services, and more. In addition, there would be no funding for continuous Medi-Cal eligibility for children aged zero to four. Under Proposition 35, the MCO tax dollars that help fund Medi-Cal would be locked into certain spending categories, rather than adjusted to meet the needs of the budget each year. Locking in these spending decisions for the future also gives advocates less opportunity to weigh in on how state resources should be allocated each year. More information is available here: Billions for Medi-Cal at stake with health tax in CA 2024 election - CalMatters 

It's easy to confuse state and local costs with investments, and that confusion can lead residents to resist government spending altogether. But investments that benefit future generations are far more appealing (though many of the costs to keep government running are essential). One powerful example, write Barrett and Greene Inc., in a new Management Update, is the potential benefit to North Carolinians -- and other states for that matter -- for putting more cash into child care, according to research conducted by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division in partnership with NC Child. Their new report "indicates substantial possible economic impacts of adding working-age adults with young children to the labor force and illustrates how child-care policy can support sustained economic growth in North Carolina.” Another economic impact analysis done by the NORTH CAROLINA CHAMBER FOUNDATION, the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and NC Child in June 2024 buttresses the point, estimating "that gaps in North Carolina’s child care system result in an annual loss of $5.65 billion to North Carolina’s economy due to child care-related employee turnover and absenteeism, as well as foregone state and local government tax revenue.” For more, click here: https://lnkd.in/eaC6qWTr Erica Palmer Smith Tiffany Gladney Emily Blevins Child Care Aware of America Child Care Aware of America Child Care Services Association Gary Salamido Meredith Archie Kate Payne Center for Children's Advocacy Willow Jacobson Kara Waddell Simone Rede

Get informed on Prop 35

Many of you may have heard rumblings about Project 2025, here are specific ways it would harm Californians: *Increase taxes on middle class by $3,201/year *Cut Social Security, impacting 76% of Californians, or 29.5 million people *Impose limits or lifetime caps to Medicaid, impacting 3.5 million in CA alone *Raise prescription drug prices, impacting 2.2 million *Eliminate Head Start, impacting 85,236 children and further destabilizing the child care field overall *Increase student lown payments for those using Income driven plans, impacting nearly 600k Californians. and unfortunately, much more. Thanks to the Center for American Progress for these state by state fact sheets! https://lnkd.in/gefuKPeE

What did your state do to improve outcomes for young children and their families in 2023? What did other states do? What were the big trends? How does this shape what happens next year? This report from the Alliance for Early Success has all the details. From tax credits to Medicaid expansion to home visiting to child-care and pre-k seats, state policymakers are doing big things for their smallest constituents. https://lnkd.in/dm75dSDc

Now that Republicans have chosen their candidate, many ask, "What big ideas do Democrats have?" There are key reforms consistent with Democratic values that involve less regulation: 1️⃣ Free the housing market: Excessive regulations price out low-income families, contributing to homelessness. We need to deregulate housing, allow more affordable options like boarding houses and mobile homes. 2️⃣ Let seniors work: Abolish the Social Security earning penalty to encourage senior participation in the labor market, boosting income and payroll tax revenue. 3️⃣ Liberate Medicaid: Allow low-income families to use Health Savings Accounts for direct primary care, reducing ER overuse and improving access to medical services. 4️⃣ Magnet schools: Support school choice by expanding magnet schools, which promote integration and specialized education. 5️⃣ Encourage independent contracting: Accommodate flexible work preferences and provide equal tax benefits for independent contractors. Real reform starts with changing bad government policies.

Check out this article and calculator from KFF to see how much more people would pay in healthcare premiums for Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans if Congress doesn’t extend the enhanced subsidies before the end of 2025. For example, two 40-year-old parents with two 10 year-old children in Davis, West Virginia making $125,000 would go from paying $885 to $2,918 per month, an increase of $2,033 ($24,392 per year). A 30-year-old in Dallas, Texas making just over poverty would go from paying $0 to $24 per month (an increase of $291 per year). https://lnkd.in/gEDk4T2y

A few months back, Lemn Sissay & I spoke to Pod Save the UK about privatisation in the care system. The government’s new children’s social care strategy could have halted this. Yet it treats providers with kid-gloves, asking them to ‘voluntarily limit profit’ before legislative change will even be considered. It’s like a sort of unethical amnesia, forgetting who led us here in the first place. There is no detail as to how long providers have to prove themselves as enlightened. Yet every week matters, with costs of up to £1m p/a per child in care. Obscene amounts of money like this could set a child up for life. Yet last year, the three biggest providers paid their directors combined salaries of £5m last year. Imagine what that could do in the right hands. Whilst calls for financial transparency are welcome, it ignores The economic wizardry providers are capable of. Tracking down these firms can be like playing corporate whack-a-mole. It is not too late to impose real solutions such as profit caps/windfall taxes - something campaigners have long been calling for. In short, whilst headlines insist profiteers are on their last legs, on closer inspection, the reality does not live up to the hype. We must continue to pressure the government until it treats children with the same amount of trust, respect & good faith it affords providers.

Did you know that taxpayers cover most of the expenses for aged care – around 75% of residential care costs and 95% of in-home care costs? However a government task force is looking at recommendations to change this. In this week's blog, Goldsborough Adviser Matthew Kelly looks at the what and the why behind the potential changes.. If you or a loved one are entering Aged Care and you need assistance to determine the fees and other financial implications, please contact our office on 8378 4000 to arrange an appointment with Matthew Kelly. #agedcare #financialadvice

Great article on the Aged Care Taskforce recommendations. The taskforce was primarily made up of Industry representation and for profit Business and Company leaders. There was no representation for Older citizens who participate in the current system. The recommendations from the taskforce is one that assumes the current supports catering for all Ageing needs to help them live safely, independent, maintain their dignity and privacy all delivered with a person centred care approach with a focus on quality of the applicable standards. This is far from the daily reality or function. This is where the recommendation fails. Without acknowledging or recognizing these key factors, any recommendation of additional funding by Aged Care recipients is likely to have major consequences that have not been considered or placed on the radar. https://lnkd.in/efFCchVm