| MPLP eNewsletter | Issue 14 Winter 2002 |
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MPLP
Welcomes New |
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S P E C I A L . A N N O U N C E M E N T S We encourage you to sign up for the Center for Law and Social Policy’s new series of Audio Conferences, “Making Welfare Work: Reauthorization 2002,” which will be held on Fridays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (EST) throughout 2002. Links to the registration form and a brochure listing the program topics are below. The 2002 CLASP Audio Conference Series will focus on the latest legislative developments, with information from Congressional Democrats and Republicans, staff from the House and the Senate, state agency staff, and Administration officials. The next Audio Conference will
be on February 15. The topic of the conference will be TANF Time Limits
& Sanctions.
Advocates Concerned about Governor's Announcement that State Will Seek Medicaid "Super Waiver" Alison Hirschel, MPLP-- Governor Engler announced that Michigan will seek a fast-track waiver to create the MI-Family health plan. Under the waiver, states can offer expanded Medicaid coverage to uninsured populations, but the federal government will not provide additional funds to pay for the expansions. Instead, states are given wide latitude to fund the changes by reducing benefit packages and increasing cost-sharing for Medicaid recipients currently enrolled in optional Medicaid categories. Michigan Office of Services to the Aging Addresses Seniors' Nutritional Needs With MiCAFE Program Alison Hirschel, MPLP--The MiCAFE website provides surveys to determine nutritional risk, dietary guidelines, recipies, nutrition newsletters and reports, and information on a pilot coupon program to encourage purchases at farmers' markets. CMS Clarifies Dually Eligible Nursing Home Residents' Rights to Return to a Medicaid Only Bed after Hospitalization Alison Hirschel, MPLP-- Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services staff recently confirmed that dually eligible residents do have the right to return to their original bed even if it is certified only for Medicaid, despite an MDCH policy that generally requires returning residents to obtain any Medicare benefits that are available, even if the resident must move into a different facility. |
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Michigan Enacts Full Faith & Credit Legislation As Part of Domestic Violence Package Lynelle Morgan, MPLP -- The package of 24 bills includes important provisions requiring Michigan courts to give full faith and credit to valid foreign protection orders and mandating that those orders be subject to the same enforcement procedures as Michigan PPOs. Uniform
Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Adopted in Michigan State & National Domestic Violence Coalitions To Hold Annual Conferences Lynelle Morgan, MPLP -- The Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence will hold their annual conferences in June and August. |
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H O U S I N G L A W CORT
Training on Federal Housing Issues - March 19-20 in Ann Arbor Highlights
from the Last Housing Taskforce Meeting (December 11) Property
Tax Foreclosure Process
Jim Schaafsma, MPLP -- The most dramatic event in the new property
tax foreclosure process will occur in the next several weeks when circuit
courts around the state enter tax foreclosure judgments for properties
with unpaid 1997 and 1999 taxes. After the judgment is entered, the owner
will have only 21 days within which to pay off those taxes, including
the costs and fees assessed earlier in the foreclosure process. Sixth
Circuit Decides Two Fair Housing Cases on Same Day |
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Passage
of Senate Bill 817 Brings Profound Change to the Social Welfare Act Changes in Medicaid Prescription Coverage Lisa Ruby, MPLP -- The Court of Appeals lifted an injunction to allow the Michigan Department of Community Health to implement the Michigan Pharmaceutical Best Practices Initiative, which will allow doctors to prescribe only certain discounted medications to the 1.6 million low-income patients that have Medicaid. (With background information and case updates from Mark Cody, Michigan Protection & Advocacy, and Susan McParland, Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disorders.) Hello
Food Stamps/Goodbye "Food Stamps"! Lisa Ruby, MPLP
-- The Bush administration proposed to restore food stamps to many
legal immigrants whose eligibility for benefits was severely restricted
by the 1996 welfare law. And effective November 7, 2001, Michigan officially
changed the name of its food stamp program to the Food Assistance Program
(FAP). Social Security Cost of Living Increases for 2002 Lisa Ruby, MPLP -- The cost of living adjustment for Social Security and SSI benefits will be 2.6 percent for this year. |
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Firewalls Matt Filizzi, MPLP--A firewall prevents unauthorized access to private data. Installing one is a painless and simple way of helping to protect your computer and data from being illegally accessed.
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