October 20, 1999
Web posted at: 12:53 a.m. EDT (0453 GMT)

WASHINGTON -- A newly approved bill to allow many of the nation's 9 million adults with disabilities to enter the work force without losing government-funded health coverage is being hailed as a "breakthrough" for the disabled.

The bill, approved in the House Tuesday, "is the most dramatic breakthrough...since the Americans With Disabilities Act," said Rep. Rick Lazio (R-New York), a chief sponsor. That 1990 law required businesses and offices to make facilities more accessible to the disabled.

There has been support among both Democrats and Republicans for the measure. President Clinton, in a statement, said he was "extremely pleased" by the House vote. "One of the biggest barriers these Americans face is the fear of losing their health insurance when they get a job."

The Senate has already passed a similar measure, and Clinton has voiced strong support for legislation removing barriers to people with disabilities wanting to work.

Putting aside its partisan battles, the House voted 412-9 to pass the legislation that over the next 10 years would also more than quadruple, to 550,000, the number of disabled receiving rehabilitation and training services.

"It says to people who would otherwise stay home, 'You should have the courage to go to work because we are going to extend those health care benefits,"' Lazio said.

Fear of losing Medicare and Medicaid benefits is one of the major disincentives for the nation's disabled to seek employment.

The House bill would extend Medicare coverage for up to 10 years for Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries who return to work. That's six years beyond the current law. The Senate version grants lifetime Medicare for SSDI recipients who go to work, but only during the next six years.

The bills would also give states the option of extending Medicaid to those in the Supplemental Security Income program for low-income people, allowing them to pay premiums as their income grows.

The legislation would also provide disability beneficiaries with a "ticket" that can be used to purchases services to enter the work force. To increase competition, those with disabilities could choose between government and privately run rehabilitation programs.

Currently fewer than 1 percent of people who enter government disability rolls ever leave. Estimates are that the House bill would help an additional 35,000 people return to work over the next decade.

Rep. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), said that if 1 percent of those with disabilities move off SSI and SSDI as a result of the bill, the government would save $3 billion over the lifetime of those benefits. "We want people to take the risk to work."

The House bill is expected to cost $323 million over five years, with the costs defrayed by several provisions, including allowing clergy to buy into the Social Security system and tightening up Social Security payments to prisoners.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wednesday, October 20, 1999

• Dole quits presidential race
• Key Democrat alleges 'anti-minority sentiment' in GOP
• Clinton signs housing bill as budget negotiators talk numbers
• Des Moines Register: Bradley gains Iowa support
• NHPrimary.com: Gun control advocates take aim at Bush
• Workers with disabilities get support from legislation
• Senate tries again to pass late-term abortion ban
• Campaign finance debate may be mixed blessing for McCain
• Democrats accuse GOP of stalling on gun control
• Lugar sees a third straight farm bailout
• AmeriCorps participants join Clinton on fifth anniversary of program
• Modest tax break extension moving in Senate
• House lawmakers debate funds for poor students
• Trump, Maples divorce gets uglier
• Court strikes down NYC anti-fraud checks for AIDS welfare recipients

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