• Editor’s Note: Washington Watch on Hiatus
• CDC Releases Study On Adults Seeking Care
• SBA’s Authorization Extended Through May 2008
• Long-Term Care Crisis May Be Imminent, Commission Reports
• Reminder: Nominate Burdensome Regulations For Review

Editor’s Note: Washington Watch on Hiatus

As 2007 draws to a close, Congressional members will soon be packing their bags and heading back to their home districts for the year, and Washington Watch will go on holiday hiatus. Our last weekly edition will be December 19th and then we will resume the usual weekly updates beginning January 16th. Happy holidays to you and yours! Signed, The Washington Watch Team

CDC Releases Study On Adults Seeking Care Nearly one in five adults failed to receive health-related services in 2005 because they could not afford them, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The report, titled "Health, United States, 2007," is an in-depth analysis of information collected by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The study found more than 40 million people in 2005 neglected to receive or seek medical care, prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses. “The fact that costs related to health care can be unmanageable is no surprise to micro-businesses,” said Kristie Darien, executive director of the NASE’s legislative office. “Nearly three in five micro-business owners have had to go without needed medical care as a result of being uninsured.” The report also found the following: Young adults 18-24 years of age were more likely than children or older adults to lack a usual source of care and to be uninsured. One in 10 adults ages 45-64 years did not have a usual source of health care, and more than 5 percent of adults in this age group who had diagnosed high blood pressure, serious heart conditions, or diabetes reported not having a regular source of medical care. One in 10 women aged 45-64 years with income below the poverty level reported delaying medical care due to lack of transportation. About one-third of all children living below the poverty level did not have a recent dental visit in 2005, compared with less than one-fifth of children with higher income. To view the entire study online, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm.

SBA’s Authorization Extended Through May 2008 Congress has recently approved legislation that temporarily extends authorization of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) at fiscal 2007 levels. The bill (HR 4252) –having cleared both the House and the Senate –comes at the end of a series of short-term budget extensions for the SBA, the latest of which expires on December 15. It authorizes funding through May 23, 2007, allowing Congress more time to negotiate a longer-term SBA reauthorization. The House also approved HR 4253, a measure that is designed to help veterans and reservists who are small-business owners. Among other provisions, the bill would increase funding to several related government programs, such as the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. It would as also ratify the National Reservist Enterprise Transition and Sustainability Act, which expands the services offered to reservists. The bill is sponsored by Jason Altmire (D-PA), a member of the House Small Business Committee. Its language is similar to that of a Senate measure (S 1784) sponsored by John Kerry, D-Mass., who chairs the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Kerry’s bill would authorize the programs for three years, while Altmire’s bill would only extend them for two. For more information on this bills, visit http://thomas.loc.gov.   Long-Term Care Crisis May Be Imminent, Commission Reports   A group of current and former lawmakers, care givers and health industry experts warned that the growing population of elderly Americans – spurred by longer life spans – and greater cost of elder care will lead to the collapse of the long-term care system. The National Commission for Quality Long-Term Care, which is co-chaired by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Senator Bob Kerrey, released its recommendations along with the results of a national survey on the direction of long-term care efforts. “The heart of the problem is how we pay for long-term care in this country. It drains individuals, families and government and does not always ensure quality. We must create a financing system that encourages savings and planning, shared responsibility and allows people the choices they need to maintain independence,” said Commission Co-Chair Newt Gingrich. Survey respondents indicated confusion on sources of long-term care funding under the current system. According to the results, one-third believe most long-term care is paid for by Medicare, one in five (20%) believe most long-term care is paid for by Medicaid and about the same amount (22%) believe individuals and their families pay for most long-term care. For more information on the National Commission For Quality Long-Term Care or to view survey results, visit http://www.qualitylongtermcarecommission.org/index.html. Reminder: Nominate Burdensome Regulations For Review Small businesses annually pay 45 percent more per employee to comply with federal regulations than big businesses do, according to the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. To nominate a regulation you feel is in need of review and reform, visit the Office of Advocacy Web site at http://www.sba.gov/advo/r3 by December 31, 2007. Washington Watch Online Visit the NASE Advocacy Web page to view archived editions of Washington Watch. While you’re there, read the latest updates from the Washington, D.C. office, write your Congressperson, and find out how you can join the fight for micro-business. Web site: http://advocacy.NASE.org.