U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Children’s Hospice International to Hold Informal Media Briefing on New CMS Waiver For Florida Today

News Advisory:

WHO: U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.); Ann Armstrong-Dailey, CHI founding director and CEO; Bob Maryanski, former administrator of Florida Medicaid; Jayne Parker, director of Florida’s CHI PACC program.

WHAT: Informal media availability to highlight a recently announced decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the state of Florida impacting children with life-threatening conditions.

WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, July 26, 11 – 11:30 a.m. EDT (Congressional briefing for Members and staff to take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Room 2247 Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. (Official press credentials, with photo I.D. will be required upon check-in.)

WHY: Florida officials expect to serve approximately 1,000 children initially under this new program, which will run through June 2007 under waiver authority found in Section 1915(b) of the Social Security Act. The waiver is based on the CHI PACC(r) model of care, and will be implemented across seven demonstration sites around the state.

Funding for multi-state demonstration projects to develop a national program was secured by Moran through federal appropriations, totaling approximately $3.2 million over four years. Bipartisan supporters of the program include U.S. Sens. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and John Warner (R-Va.), U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.) and others.

Colorado, Utah, Virginia and other states, are expected to implement similar programs through CMS waivers using the CHI PACC model in the months to come. Supporters hope to develop a similar program for the children of U.S. military families through the U.S. Department of Defense.

For more information, contact Kirsten Fedewa at 703-684-3339 or 202-365-6936.

Contact Information

Kirsten Fedewa

Media Contact

Children’s Hospice International

Contact via E-mail