Topeka Independent Living Resource Center
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Supreme Court Lets Regulators Sue Over Generic Drug Deals
Pharmaceutical companies that pay rivals to keep less-expensive generic versions of best-selling drugs off the market can expect greater federal scrutiny after a Supreme Court ruling on Monday.
In a 5-to-3 vote, the justices effectively said that the Federal Trade Commission can sue pharmaceutical companies for potential antitrust violations, a decision that is likely to increase the number of generic drugs in the marketplace and benefit consumers.
Specifically, the justices threw out lower-court rulings that said the agreements were legal, provided that a deal did not keep a generic drug off the market beyond the term of the brand-name drug’s patent.
The decision is likely to create considerable uncertainty in the drug business and shift an important balance of power to the generic companies, industry analysts said. Drug developers may now find it harder to ward off generics, which typically cost about 15 percent of the brand-name’s price and cause the original to quickly lose up to 90 percent of its market share. ...
Read the full story on our Federal Issues News page
Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority board members Jim
Daniel, Elsie Eisenbarth and Jim Ogle on Monday review
ridership statistics. The five board members present later
approved a $9 million budget for fiscal year 2014.
(Photo by Aly Van Dyke/Topeka Capital-Journal)
Topeka Metro approves $9M budget
Running the Topeka bus service will cost an extra $815,000 next year, though a majority of that will come from money already saved for capital purchases.
The Topeka Metro board on Monday unanimously approved a $9 million budget. Its mill levy will remain at its maximum of 4.2 mills.
“I think we went through double-digit drafts,” general manager Susan Duffy said of the budget. “I think again we’ve been very prudent in our recommendations to the board.”
Duffy complimented the staff for being frugal, adding that their critical eye toward the budget mimics how they spend their own personal money.
Budgeted capital expenses and special projects make up the primary difference between this and last year’s budgets. Capital purchases would rise from $1,461,204 to $2,630,752 in fiscal year 2014, while budgeted expenses for special projects would increase from $0 to $555,000.
The capital expense money would go toward buying fixed route buses, upgrading fareboxes, installing bus shelters and adding a bicycle sharing program — projects for which the Metro has been saving for some time. ...
Read the full story on our State/Local Issues News page
Though not funded as part of Obamacare, the project
fits in with several of ACA's goals. | AP Photo
New project addresses mental health care gap
A new project seeks to bridge the U.S.’s mental health care gap by linking up primary-care doctors and mental health experts. ...
... The project, launched Friday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the GE Foundation and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, will have academics train primary-care providers to strengthen the coordinated mental health care received by patients in community health centers. The initial goal is to fill a gap in the training of general practitioners.
Primary-care providers “don’t have the expertise to make the right diagnoses” for mental disorders, said Sanjeev Arora, director of Project ECHO and professor at the UNM Health Sciences Center. “They see this enormous difficulty, but they don’t have access to any psychiatrists, so they don’t know how to get that expertise.” ...
Read the full story on our Health/Long-term Services News page
ACTIVITY CODES FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT SERVICES (T1019) IN THE MR/DD WAIVER AND PERSONAL SERVICES (S5126) IN THE PD AND TBI WAIVERS, (PDF Format) (Word Format)
ACTIVITY CODES FOR ATTENDANT CARE SERVICES LEVEL I, LEVEL II, AND SELF-DIRECTED IN THE FRAIL ELDERLY WAIVER, (PDF Format) (Word Format)
DRC Kansas seeking public comment on its proposed Program Priorities
Public Hearing at the DRC offices on June 28th, 2013, 9 - 10am, 635 SW Harrison, Suite 100, Topeka, Kansas 66603
TILRC's 23th Americans With Disabilities Act Anniversary Celebration
July 26th, 2013 | 11am - 1pm
408 SW Jackson St
New to the TILRC Website:
Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development on the Role of Housing in Accomplishing the Goals of Olmstead - this guidance provides information to clarify how recipients of federal financial assistance from HUD can assist state and local Olmstead efforts, and to encourage housing providers to support Olmstead implementation by increasing the integrated housing opportunities that are available for individuals with disabilities who are transitioning from, or at serious risk of entering, institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, and other restrictive, segregated settings.
Priced Out in 2012 is a study of the severe housing affordability problems experienced by people with disabilities. It confirms that non-elderly adults with disabilities living on SSI confront an enormous housing affordability gap across the entire nation.
LET US HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS!
If you are a TILRC consumer you may already know how we help people who want to transition from an institution, like a nursing facility, back into the community or how we help folks get the attendant care services they need through the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver Programs, but you may not be aware of all the other ways we help people with disabilities maintain or increase their independence. Learn more about how our advocates can help you be more independent in many aspects of daily living.
Job Openings
- AAPD Jobs Board
- Community Resource Council Jobs Bank
- Disabilty Scoop Jobs Listings
- NCIL Jobs & Internships Listings
- Independent Living Advocate, Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC)
ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Service Animals in Post Secondary Education Settings, June 18, 2013, 1-2:30pm CDT
Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) Webinars
Local Policy Development: Ensuring Your Transportation Service is Open and Accessible to All, June 19, 2013, 1-2:30 CDT
Everything You Wanted to Know about the ADA and Transit but Were Afraid to Ask, July 24, 2013, 1-2:30pm CDT
NCOA Webinars
Living with Chronic Conditions: Why Self-Management Works in Community and Online, June 20, 2013, 1:30 CDT
LEAD Center Webinars
Group Discovery: An Alternative Assessment Tool for Workforce Centers and Community-Based Providers, June 26, 2013, 2-3:30pm CDT, This webinar will provide information on Group Discovery – an alternative assessment tool proven to identify the strengths of job seekers with and without disabilities; particularly those with multiple barriers to employment.
Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinars
Ticket to Work: Support Services for People Who Have a Disability and Are Ready to Work, June 26, 2013, 2-4pm CDT
Arts & Recreation Webinar Series
Transition Planning: The Dynamic Process for Parks, Recreation and Tourism, July 10, 2031, 1pm CDT
AccessibilityOnline Webinar Series
Accessible Web Content (WCAG 2.0), July 11, 2013, 1:30-3pm CT
ADA Legal Webinar Series
The anatomy and myth of the ADA drive-by lawsuit, July 16, 2013, 1-2:30pm CT
WebEd Webinar Series
Accessibility of Web Information: Implications for how the Public and Private Sector Conducts Business, July 17, 2013, 2-3:30pm
POLICYMAKERS/RESEARCHERS NEED YOUR INPUT:
The “Apps Jungle” - What are the accessibility issues? This survey is designed to gain a greater understanding of the accessibility issues encountered by users with disabilities in dealing with app stores, how to determine if an app is accessible prior to purchase and what has become for everyone a very cumbersome process to find assistive and accessible apps relevant to them.
Wireless RERC Survey on Emergency Communications & People with Disabilities - This survey by the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center asks you to share some information about yourself, your experiences, and your preferences for communicating in emergencies. Your answers will be used to improve accessibility of emergency communications for people of all ages and abilities.
ITEM Coalition Survey on Access to Assistive Devices Under Medicare - The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition is surveying Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities and chronic conditions to assess their experience accessing the devices they need to function independently in everyday life. ITEM is interested in getting feedback from individuals who access medical device and assistive technology in areas where Medicare has implemented a selective provider contracting program known as the DME Competitive Bidding Program, and comparing that feedback to individuals who use devices outside of those areas.
SABE Self Determination Survey - Tell SABE if your local or statewide self advocacy organization's activities help its members to be more self-determined.
Access to 9-1-1 for People with Disabilities Survey
PECS Survey for Parents of Children with Autism - This survey askes asks parents to describe their children's Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training, their children's PECS use, and their own attitudes towards PECS.
Topeka ADA Advisory Council Members Needed!
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD! - Help eliminate the use of the R-word in everyday speech.