Pages tagged "News"
New Data Show 3.2 Million Americans Benefit from Volunteer Tax Preparation
Nearly $4 billion in refunds reached every state in the US
- The vast majority of volunteer tax preparers participate in the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. They must pass IRS certification tests annually to demonstrate their competency.
- VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations across the country. Find a VITA location near you.
- Currently, an estimated 96,000 IRS-certified volunteers are helping over three million taxpayers across the country file their taxes and get their refunds.
- Updates about learning and advocacy opportunities made available through the Network.
- News about the latest developments in the field of tax preparers serving low- and moderate-income taxpayers.
- Valuable resources for volunteer tax preparers, VITA/TCE program managers, tax site coordinators, LITC volunteers and others interested in using tax assistance as a gateway to opportunity.
- Discounts to Taxpayer Opportunity Network-hosted convenings.
Florida Senate to consider Medicaid expansion proposal
By: Kathleen McGrory and David Smiley
A Senate committee will consider a controversial plan Tuesday that would extend federally subsidized health insurance to more than 800,000 poor Floridians — but require a waiver from the federal government to pay for it.
The proposal (SPB 7044) would establish a state-run private insurance exchange available to Florida residents who earn less than $16,000 in annual income, or $33,000 for a family of four.
Beneficiaries would be required to work or attend school, and pay monthly premiums.
It won’t be the first time Florida lawmakers debate the issue. The Republican-led Legislature refused to expand Medicaid in 2013 as part of the Affordable Care Act.
But the question of federal funding has resurfaced in the Senate, because the state now risks losing a separate pot of federal money that helps hospitals pay the costs of treating uninsured, under-insured and Medicaid patients.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, has said expanding Medicaid could help the hospitals that would be affected by covering some of the health care costs for low-income Floridians.
“Some say Florida should not expand the existing Medicaid program and I agree,” Gardiner wrote in a memo to the Senate. “But we have the obligation to make coverage affordable and the opportunity to develop a consumer-driven approach — one that provides access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage while promoting personal responsibility. We should develop options that uniquely suit the needs of Floridians.”
A spokesperson for House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, declined to comment on the Senate proposal. But last week Crisafulli said House Republicans were “not interested in expanding Medicaid as we know it.”
The federal government has said it will not renew a $2 billion program called the Low Income Pool — or LIP — that helps hospitals pay the costs of treating uninsured, under-insured and Medicaid patients.
The state is working with the federal government to negotiate a successor program. But there is no definitive time line for an agreement to be reached.
Late last week, Senate Budget Chairman Tom Lee said the uncertainty surrounding the LIP program had brought the budget process to a “standstill.”
“Everything is on the table, including... being here in May,” Lee said, suggesting lawmakers might need to have a special or extended legislative session to finish the budget.
Senate leaders say accepting federal Medicaid expansion funds would ease the burden on hospitals like Jackson Health System that treat uninsured patients.
“Extra federal funds will enable more of our friends and neighbors to obtain health coverage,” Gardiner wrote in his memo.
But House Budget Chairman Richard Corcoran says he believes the Low Income Pool money will come through — and that Medicaid expansion is unnecessary.
“We were in this exact situation last year,” Corcoran told reporters last week. “It wasn’t until the second week of April that we knew we were getting the LIP money, and we were fine.”
The proposal in the Senate is likely to win the approval of the Senate Health Policy Committee Tuesday.
The bill would create a new health insurance marketplace known as the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange. It would be run by Florida Health Choices, which operates the state’s existing insurance exchange.
The income-based eligibility requirements are the same as those outlined in the federal Medicaid expansion proposal. The work requirement, however, is specific to Florida.
The Florida plan also requires participants to pay monthly premiums and incur $25 fines for “inappropriate” trips to the emergency room.
“Skin in the game is very important,” Senate Health Policy Chairman Aaron Bean said. “When I go to the doctor, I have to pay a little bit. It is important that people do that as we’re going forward.”
Because the plan is different from Medicaid expansion as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act, Florida would need a waiver to receive the $51 billion available for Medicaid expansion in the state.
Bean pointed out that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal regulatory agency, had recently approved a Medicaid expansion proposal in Indiana with some similar components. But CMS would not approve Indiana’s request for a work referral as a condition of eligibility.
Some local elected officials are urging Florida lawmakers to move forward.
At a Monday press conference, Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado pointed out that hundreds of thousands of Floridians earn too much to qualify for Medicaid — but not enough to qualify for a premium subsidy to help cover the cost of private insurance on the federal exchange.
“This is a real crisis, but it’s been under the radar,” Regalado said. “I really think Miami has a problem with this gap.”
The mayor was joined by Harry Melo, 28, who recently moved to Miami-Dade County to pursue a master’s degree in higher education administration. He learned he no longer qualified for Medicaid when he attended an Florida International University enrollment fair.
“I considered driving back to New York, where I wouldn’t have to pay for out-of-state tuition [or] on-campus housing, I can accept student loans and have insurance,” he said.
Melo said he would likely remain uninsured — and hope the Florida Legislature expands Medicaid.
Julio Fuentes, president of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, made another argument for expansion during Monday’s press conference: It could create as many as 100,000 new jobs in Florida.
“From a business perspective, it’s absolutely a no-brainer,” Fuentes said. “From a moral perspective, it’s imperative.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article13142507.html#storylink=cpy
Miami Leaders Urge Lawmakers To Expand Medicaid
By: Lisann Ramos
Harry Melo is a 25-year-old grad student from New York who came to Miami two months ago for school. In New York he was able to sign up for Medicaid.
He was surprised to find out that in Florida there’s a “coverage gap” where uninsured people who can’t afford health care insurance also don’t qualify for Obamacare. Melo is now in that gap.
“Shouldn’t my concern as a student be studying and receiving A’s," Melo said, "rather than what to do or where to go and how much this would cost me as an uninsured adult."
Melo joined Mayor TomásRegalado and other healthcare advocates at Miami City Hall Monday morning to express their desires to the legislature, currently in session.
With Medicaid expansion, the state would choose to accept federal funds for health care. Supporters say that the money could fund hospitals, create more health care jobs and save taxpayers money that would otherwise be used to treat the uninsured.
Julio Fuentes is the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He believes that a Medicaid expansion is financially sound.
“From a business perspective, this is absolutely a no brainer," Fuentes said. "From a moral perspective, it’s imperative."
Last week a bill was introduced in the Senate that would be an alternative to Medicaid expansion. The bill would still allow the state to receive the federal funds. But instead of Medicaid, consumers would receive vouchers to purchase private insurance.
Although this is a step in the direction of Medicaid expansion, Regalado urged Florida Legislators to take further action.
“This bill in the Senate does something, but it doesn’t do everything,” said Regalado. “For Miami it’s important because there are thousands of people here that do not have health coverage and that will be a brunt for the city. These are our residents so we have to take care of them.”
This is an issue that continues to divide the legislation. The federal funds would fully cover the expansion through 2016.
Those against Medicaid say that the program is flawed and shouldn’t be expanded. They also don’t want the state to be left funding the program once the federal money is reduced.
http://wlrn.org/post/miami-leaders-urge-lawmakers-expand-medicaid
Miami mayor backs advocacy group that aims to close health care coverage gap
By: Nina Lincoff
Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado will back Florida CHAIN, an advocacy group working to close Florida's health care coverage gap, at a press conference Monday.
Regalado will join Julio Fuentes, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Athena Smith Ford, advocacy director for Florida CHAIN, and other community leaders to call on Florida lawmakers to take action to boost signups. The press conferences is at 9:45 a.m. in Miami's City Hall Commission Chambers, 3500 Pan American Drive.
This year, during open enrollment for health care coverage, South Florida had the most signups among major metro regions, with 756,137 signups through the HealthCare.gov website. Florida also led signups among states, with 1,600,006 new signups or re-enrollments, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
However, nearly 1 million Floridians are still unable to get health care coverage, said Florida CHAIN, the statewide health advocacy group organizing the event.
"Over 280,000 people in Miami-Dade fall into this coverage gap," Ford said ."City of Miami Mayor Regalado will join local uninsured residents [at this press conference] … to [help] close the coverage gap."
The gap was created in part by the state's refusal of federal Medicaid expansion, which amounts to a denial of $50 billion available to Florida through the Affordable Care Act, according to Florida CHAIN. The ACA, otherwise known as Obamacare, allows for individuals to select a health care insurance plan through a state or federally-run competitive healthcare marketplace.
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2015/03/06/miami-mayor-backs-advocacy-group-that-aims-to.html
Under new budget pressures, Florida Senate debates Medicaid expansion
By: Kathleen McGrory
A potential budget crisis is fueling a new conversation about Medicaid expansion in Florida.
The issue was a non-starter in 2014, largely because House Republicans oppose expanding Medicaid as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act. But Florida now risks losing a separate pot of federal money known as the Low Income Pool that helps hospitals like Jackson Health System treat uninsured patients.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said the potential $1.3 billion loss in funding has given lawmakers a reason to reconsider Medicaid expansion.
“We have an obligation to look at this issue,” Gardiner said.
It will still be a tough sell in the Florida House.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Tuesday said the federal government wasn’t offering enough flexibility on how to spend the $51 billion available to extend health insurance coverage in Florida to cover an estimated 800,000 people.
“We feel like some progress has been made in that arena,” said Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island. “But at this point in time, we are not interested in expanding Medicaid as we know it.”
The state healthcare budget will be one of the most closely watched issues of the 2015 legislative session.
The LIP program is set to end June 30 under an agreement with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal regulatory agency. The state is hoping to reach a deal with the federal government on a successor program that would continue funding Florida hospitals that treat large numbers of uninsured, under-insured and Medicaid patients.
If no agreement is reached, expanding Medicaid eligibility could help cover some of the healthcare costs for poor Floridians, but the state would still need to help fund those safety-net hospitals because Medicaid consistently pays providers less than cost.
“If the negotiations don’t go our way, we need to have options,” Senate Health Policy Chairman Aaron Bean said.
Gov. Rick Scott ratcheted up the pressure Wednesday, writing President Barack Obama to say he would oppose the use of state dollars to backfill the LIP program.
“Florida taxpayers fund our federal government and deserve to get a return on their investment,” he wrote. “Moreover, we have worked hard to turn Florida’s economy around and cannot afford to fund programs started by the federal government.”
Still, Scott said he was hopeful about the ongoing negotiations.
“We are optimistic that you will not terminate LIP and we will be able to reach an agreement on how best to structure this program in a way that protects both our state’s most vulnerable residents as well as state and federal taxpayers,” he wrote.
Later in the day, the Senate Health Policy Committee used the LIP issue as a jumping off point for a conversation on Medicaid expansion.
The panel heard testimony from a bipartisan coalition of business groups and lawmakers known as a Healthy Florida Works. The group has a plan to extend healthcare coverage by creating a Florida-specific exchange where insurance companies can offer health plans and receive a fixed monthly premium per beneficiary. The beneficiaries would be required to pay monthly premiums, and either search for employment or enroll in job training programs.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce also expressed support for Medicaid expansion, but said spending on the program should be limited to 32 percent of the state budget.
“It’s complicated, it’s controversial, it’s not popular,” President Mark Wilson told the panel about his proposal. “But we’re talking about lives, we’re talking about the state budget, and we’re talking about making Florida healthy.”
Some attendees, however, said Florida should explore other options.
Sal Nuzzo, of the conservative James Madison Institute, called Medicaid “inefficient,” and urged lawmakers to focus on policies that support telemedicine and medical education programs.
“If we were to move forward with concrete reforms in the healthcare arena, as opposed to expanding a broken socialized program, we would generate the kinds of solutions that would make it such that Medicaid expansion wouldn’t be necessary,” he said.
Gardiner, the Senate president, said he’s not sure where the debate will lead.
“I haven’t read the last chapter on this one,” he said. “We, at least in the Senate, will have a discussion [to see] if it is the best way to go for Florida.”
The talk in Tallahassee over possible Medicaid expansion came the same day U.S. Supreme Court justices questioned lawyers in the latest politically charged fight over the Affordable Care Act. At issue: whether Obamacare beneficiaries in states like Florida without a state-run exchange are eligible for the tax subsidies that make the federal health insurance program more affordable.
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, attended the oral arguments in Washington.
Castor said she was “heartened” by Gardiner’s comments about discussing Medicaid expansion.
“I would hope the Legislature takes a really hard look at the creative proposals that have been brought forward,” she said.
Responsible Wage Ordinance Passes Unanimously!
By: Cynthia Hernandez, South Florida AFL-CIO
On Thursday, February 26th, the City of Miami Commissioners unanimously voted to pass the “Responsible Wage Ordinance.” The Coalition for Responsible Wages, a diverse group of faith, labor, community-based organizations, immigrant rights groups and university researchers came together to fight for an ordinance that will raise the wages of Miami’s construction workers and their families.
The Responsible Wage Ordinance will address multiple challenges: the ordinance will strengthen working families; decrease unemployment and poverty; reduce crippling tax deficits, prohibit wage theft practices, ensure safer workplace conditions, and promote more robust economic development. The Responsible Wage Ordinance is "a rising tide that will lift all boats." Beyond wages, the ordinance is designed to build Miami's workforce capacity by expanding skills training and apprenticeship programs. The Responsible Wage Ordinance also introduces new safeguards and accountability measures for public projects. The ordinance decreases the waste of public tax dollars and increases the transparency of the contracting process.
Research shows that every dollar spent on responsible wage projects generates $1.50 in economic activity--that’s money spent at local businesses such as restaurants, shopping malls, and grocery stores – resulting in larger tax receipts and spurring additional job creation that keeps local communities and businesses economically sound.
In the end, supporting the Ordinance means that commissioners are prioritizing Miami’s economy and working families by creating a more sustainable economic model that keeps our economy and community moving forward. The City of Miami deserves a growing middles class, an expanded skilled workforce, increased economic activity, greater tax receipts, and more accountability of public spending.
The only opponents to the ordinance were the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), who argued that the ordinance would negatively impact small businesses and contractors as a result of added wage and compliance requirements. However, research findings show that small business contractors have benefited from the Miami-Dade County’s Responsible Wage Ordinance which has been in place since 1990. Specifically members of ABC have been awarded over $40 million dollars in construction projects from January 2013-December 2014.
Having a Responsible Wage Ordinance in place will ensure that workers in the City of Miami are paid correctly and avoid wage violations because contractors will have to submit their payroll information. “"Having worked in the construction industry for over 35 years I have seen the abuses of crooked contractors cheating employees and their families out of well-earned wages and benefits. This ordinance will assure tax payer money goes to qualified responsible contractors by extending the 25 yr. old Miami Dade County Ordinance to City of Miami Capital Improvement Projects,” said Mark Schaunaman, of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 487.
It is important to highlight the great importance of working in coalition in order to create changes and wins for Miami-Dade's working families. The various testimonies from community organizations, faith based organizations, university researchers, and small business owners, made it impossible for the opposition to argue that the ordinance was merely a "union" issue. The Responsible Wage Coalition exemplified that this was a community issue. Working together we showed our elected officials that this was not just a "union" ordinance, but rather a community ordinance. And that Miami deserves a growing middles class, an expanded skilled workforce, increased economic activity, greater tax receipts, reduced tax deficits, and more accountability of public spending. Miami’s working families should be our elected officials’ priority and passing the Responsible Wage Ordinance was the responsible thing to do.
MEMO: King v. Burwell: What’s at Stake for Florida
March 3, 2015
Benton Strong, 202.481.8142
[email protected]
FROM: Center for American Progress
DATE: March 3, 2015
SUBJECT: King v. Burwell: What’s at Stake for Florida
— Celia from Miami
- Leah Barber-Heinz, CEO of Florida CHAIN: “The Affordable Care Act is saving lives in our state as the law intended. … It is unfathomable to me that the Supreme Court would take away something so vitally important from so many hardworking families.”
- Dr. Mona Mangat, practicing Florida physician: “Doctors and other health care workers know that health insurance tax credits save lives, and we feel it is vital that the Supreme Court uphold the law.”
University of Miami students pull all-nighter for charity
By: Jackie Salo
Most college students are well-versed in the art of pulling all-nighters. More often than not, their sleep deprivation is in the name of looming paper deadlines and final exams, but some have used this acquired skill-set for a more altruistic reason.
For a whirlwind 25 hours this weekend, University of Miami students worked non-stop developing ad campaigns for 16 local nonprofits, which otherwise could not likely afford such services from an agency. Now in its sixth year, PhilADthropy offers more than 120 advertising and public relations students professional experience and challenges them to conceptualize their client’s message.
“We offer the organizations full ad campaigns as well as any other creative needs,” said Meryl Blau, a professor of advertising who started and coordinates the program. “I like to give my students as much real world experience as possible.”
Students were not introduced to their clients until the beginning of the marathon Friday morning, when organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Paws for You came to discuss concepts with the student team.
Armed with coffee and energy drinks, the students then set off to create everything from websites to billboards for the clients before they returned the next morning.
“They come in really excited to work but they sometimes underestimate their abilities, so they’re always surprised about what they are able to accomplish in this period of time,” Blau said.
Senior Alexandria Van Deusen, a PhilADthropy veteran, says that last year her teams created in one day what usually would take them a month in the classroom. The experience is worth the stress of the time pressure for her.
“This allows you to get a foot in the door,” said Van Deusen, who is a creative advertising minor. “I wanted to get some good exposure to working with clients and be able to apply what I have learned to real-life situations.”
Her team was paired with Catalyst Miami, an anti-poverty foundation. They were undaunted by the sleepless hours ahead, although senior Francisco Alustiza came prepared with pillows just in case.
“Sometimes you hit a wall at 6 a.m., but you power through because the clients are coming soon,” said team leader volunteer Danny Barry, who participated in the marathon as an undergrad all four years.
As the sun rose, students began to feel the elation of their accomplishments.
“Collectively as a whole, this probably was one of our most successful years,” Blau told the students and organizations before the presentations began Saturday morning. “The way some of these teams moved their clients forward is amazing and beautiful.”
For the founder of Project Knucklehead, Amir Whitaker, the results were overwhelming. He started the organization to inspire at-risk youth by introducing them to the arts, but did not have the resources to develop all of the materials needed.
“We never would have thought to take it to this level,” said Whitaker, 30. “This exceeds my expectations by far.”
The students created posters, a press release template, a website, stickers, backpacks, phone covers and social media accounts — all branded with a logo they had developed.
“We wanted the logo to be clean and deliverable to both audiences and target the people who donate as well as the kids,” said Gianna Balasco, a creative advertising senior.
The group said that after first meeting with Whitaker, they became inspired by his determination and selflessness. Whitaker had spent his childhood visiting his parents in prisons and later entered the juvenile justice system himself, but he went on to graduate high school and earn five college degrees. He dreamed of Project Knucklehead two years ago to help young people with stories similar to his.
“We started off the night by reading his personal story and it was very inspiring, so that kept us going,” said Emma Deardorft, a marketing and public relations sophomore.
Whitaker, who got teary-eyed during the presentation, says that he was touched by their hard work and the lengths they took to understand the organization’s message.
“This is going to go a long way,” Whitaker said. “This is going to be why students stay in school. It shows them there are a lot of people who care.”
Comisionada Levine Cava inaugura oficina en complejo de gobierno condal
By: Enrique Flores
Entre los aplausos de más de un centenar de asistentes, la comisionada condal Daniella Levine Cava inauguró el sábado su oficina distrital en el complejo gubernamental del sur de Miami-Dade.
Levine Cava destacó que la nueva sede ofrece una mejor locación para que de manera masiva los residentes puedan acudir en busca de cualquier ayuda por parte de la comisionada.
“Estamos aquí para servir a los residentes del distrito”, resaltó Levine Cava, en español. “Este es un lugar muy conveniente, cerca del Turnpike, donde podemos atender a más residentes del sur del condado Miami Dade”.
Cava reemplazó en el escaño por el Distrito 8 a Lynda Bell, quien mantenía su oficina distrital en Palmetto Bay. El Distrito 8 comprende parte de las ciudades de Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Naranja y Homestead.
“La ubicación de esta oficina distrital en Palmetto Bay no era lo más conveniente para la mayoría de residentes del sur del condado”, agregó Levine Cava.
La nueva oficina está localizada en el primer piso del complejo del gobierno condal localizado en el 10710 SW 211th Street, donde se turnan y rotan los ocho empleados del equipo de la comisionada, el cual también despacha en la sede principal del Condado, en eldowntown de Miami.
Más conocida como la directora de Catalyst Miami, una organización sin fines de lucro que se enfoca en programas para pobres y en el mejoramiento de áreas, Levine Cava recibió el respaldo del Partido Demócrata y de los sindicatos para derrotar a Bell en las elecciones de noviembre.
Un informe del Miami Herald detalló que Levine Cava es heredera de una acaudalada familia de Nueva York, y que dejó su trabajo para aspirar al escaño. Para ello compró una casa en el Distrito 8 antes de presentar su documentación como candidata. También cambió su nombre, y la mujer que durante toda una vida fue conocida como Danielle Levine optó por usar también el nombre español de su esposo en un distrito donde los hispanos componen el 40 por ciento del electorado.
“Una de nuestras prioridades será fomentar la creación de trabajo en nuestra comunidad”, dijo Levine Cava. “También estamos muy involucrados en tratar de mejorar el servicio de transporte público”.
Degrees of Exclusion: Signs of Economic Progress Don’t Account for the Financially Vulnerable
- Control over day-to-day and month-to-month finances. One reason households struggle to control their day-to-day finances is because even as unemployment rates tick downward, wages have actually declined since 2012.
- Capacity to absorb a financial shock. Not having emergency savings means that liquid asset poor families can’t overcome otherwise minor setbacks such as a broken-down car.
- Being on track to meet financial goals. Being riddled with debt, lacking strong credit scores or not having a bank account make it so that even families that might otherwise get by lack the flexibility to invest in assets like a home or a college education for their kids.