By Jamey Helgeson

LIFE Mower County

On April 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), which included a study of data from 2010, 2012 and 2014 on the prevalence of autism among four-year-old children across study sites in seven states.

The data indicate that the prevalence rate was 1 in 59. However, prevalence rates varied greatly between study sites. Of the three states that had data for all three years, only one (New Jersey) had an increase, while the rates in the other two (Missouri and Arizona) remained stable.

These three sites also reported no improvement in age at first evaluation. These study sites were part of the Early Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM), a subset of the broader ADDM, which primarily monitors autism prevalence among eight-year-old children.

Medicaid/LTSS: President signs MFP extension

On April 18, President Donald J. Trump signed the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 (H.R.1839) into law.

This bill adds an additional $20 million for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program through Sept. 30. MFP has helped more than 88,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities move out of nursing homes and institutions. Independent evaluations have proven that MFP improves the quality of life for individuals and has reduced Medicaid and Medicare expenditures by approximately 23 percent.

LIFE Mower County strongly supports reauthorization of MFP. Additionally, the bill extends Medicaid’s spousal impoverishment protections for home and community based services beneficiaries until Sept. 30. The spousal impoverishment protection allows the spouse of a Medicaid long term services and supports (LTSS) beneficiary to maintain a modest amount of income and resources for food, rent, and medication.

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Upcoming Events

• Spring 2019 Vacation Meeting: Monday

• Movie and Munchies: Tuesday

• Track and Field: Wednesday

• Learning For Life – Discover Austin MN Presentation: Thursday

• Guys Night Out: Friday

• Spring Formal/Prom Dinner and Dance: May 4

• LIFE/4-H Adventure Club: May 6

• Bingo: May 7

• Track and Field: May 8

• Self-Advocates Minnesota Meeting: May 9

• Open Center: May 10

• Minnesota Twins: May 11