In March 2024, the twelve FY24 appropriations bills were passed in two separate pieces of legislation. When combining the two packages, discretionary spending for the budget year comes to about $1.66 trillion. That does not include most program costs for Social Security and Medicare or financing the debt. The appropriations package was constrained by the agreement that former Speaker of…
More than 20% of Americans serve as caregivers, representing all socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and ages. Caregivers experience disproportionate physical, mental, and financial strain as a result of their caregiving responsibilities and have historically been under-represented and underserved in federal policy and program design. Everyone will need some level of caregiving during their lifetime, but none more than individuals with…
Nothing gets done in Washington, right? Well…in a year when Congress had the fewest bills passed, ever, and polarization seemed at its highest, it was a breakthrough year for C-TAC’s policy advocacy. The public policy wins in this recap of 2023 will have an immediate impact for patients, caregivers, and their care teams in 2024. We couldn’t have done it…
Election years can sometimes lead Members of Congress to focus on winning votes at home and avoiding tough votes in the nation’s capital or delaying action until after the election what should be addressed today. Getting major policy changes through Congress can be challenging even in good times, but there may still be opportunities for small but important bipartisan victories…
The House and Senate are finally back in session. The priority issue for most in Congress is preventing a partial government shutdown. Immediate attention will be devoted to the proposed topline spending deal announced by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on January 7th, including a modest less than 1 percent cut from current non-defense funding….
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed AB 5225 into law on December 21, 2023, requiring the development of a palliative care services benefit aimed to improve the quality of life for Medicaid beneficiaries with serious illness and their caregivers. The benefit will give access to needed ongoing assistance by an interdisciplinary team, including management and support for pain and other…
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) – the co-chairs and co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus – recognizing November 2023 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. We strongly appreciate the leadership of Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer to recognize…
In 2022, C-TAC expanded our relationships on the Hill, deepened our engagement with state leaders, and continued our dialogue with the Administration through our regulatory and administrative advocacy. Heading into 2023 our focus remains on creating a continuum of care for patients and their families from diagnosis through to the end of life, working with innovative care models such as: Home-Based Primary Care, Palliative Care, PACE, and Hospice.
The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on August 7 by a vote of 51-50. What’s missing?
How can we build, expand and more sustainably fund CBOs so that more people with serious illness, especially those in marginalized communities, can receive the comprehensive, community-based care they need?
How can we leverage the flexibility, speed and innovation of state models of care to influence federal policy decisions?
What measures can be taken to eliminate the cost-sharing burden that prevents this patient population from taking advantage of the benefits advanced care planning provides?