ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Lower East Side Family Union
Five Non-Medicaid openings. English, Spanish and Chinese
Contact: 212-260-0040 Ext. 222/208
2. YAI
Family Support Series-For Caregivers of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Premier HealthCare full-day conference Wednesday, May 2, 2012 (register at yai.org/conference for session #87). Distributed vacancy memo.Contact: 212-273-6229
3. Sprout
Annual film festival April 27-29, 2012, there will be a Q&A session with original producer (willowbrook) on April 29, 2012. Free weekend trips 22+ four weekends a year. 5/11-5/13 PA Dutch and 6/15-6/17 Mystic CT. Contact: 212-222-4575
4. GHO
Announced that they still have Manhattan Family Reimbursement and openings in Non-Medicaid case management. Contact: 718-307-6563
5. Lifespire
Announced that they have a short waiting list for In-Home Behavior Management. Contact: 718-454-6940
6. UCP of NYC
Doorways to Independence-available housing assistance in all five boroughs.
Contact: 212-677-7400 Ext. 758/711
7. UCP of NYC
Family Reimbursement still has funding in Manhattan, Staten Island and limited funds in Brooklyn. Manhattan residents may apply for Ipads under Family Reimbursement with good documentation.
Contact: 877- UCP- CONNECT (877-827-2666)
PRESENTATION
SPROUT
40TH Anniversary screening of Willowbrook video; which is part of Sprout’s archived library. Willobrook’s Executive Producer will be at the screening and will hold a Q&A session.
BUDGET UPDATE Margaret Puddington
Report on Budget
The proposal closes the multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes and limits spending growth to two percent.
The two major budget categories include State Operations and Aid to Localities. State Operations funds all state operated programs including institutions, state operated community programs and all administration. Aid to Localities funds all voluntary programs.
Totals are as follows:
Aid to Localities
Governor’s OPWDD Proposal: $2,478,841,000
Final OPWDD Budget: $2,479,141,000
Change: +$300,000 (.12%)
State Operations
Governor’s OPWDD Proposal: $ 2,140,718,000
Final OPWDD Budget: $2,140,718,000
Change: 0 (0%)
The Legislature used the $300,000 increase in Aid to Localities for Regional Centers for Autism Spectrum Disorders ($250,000) and the Epilepsy Foundation ($50,000).
The total State budget is $132.2 billion, a 1.9% spending increase over the current year.
OPWDD
1) Executive Compensation – the Legislature rejected the Governor’s Article 7 budget language limiting executive compensation to no more than $199,000 in State funds. Instead the Legislature opted to allow the Governor to handle the issue administratively, through the Governor’s Executive Order #38.
2) Cap on administrative expenses – The Governor’s Article 7 budget language proposed limiting administrative expenses to 25% in the upcoming fiscal year, scaling down to 15% by 2015. HUMAN SERVICES COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA)
Language will exist in the State Budget to maintain the annual COLA for many human services programs, yet will not be funded for the 2012-13 State Fiscal Year . The Governor’s proposal eliminated the human services COLA, the Assembly and Senate restored the language in the respective one-house budget measures and the final outcome serves as a “place holder” to maintain the COLA yet suspending funding in the next fiscal year.
OPWDD ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE STREAMLINING
The administrative reorganization and streamlining of Developmental Disabilities Service Office (DDSOs) will occur. “Developmental Disabilities Regional Offices” and “State Operations Offices” will be created while existing developmental disability service facilities will continue to operate. Regional offices will oversee services and supports in the voluntary sector and state operations offices will be responsible for the oversight of the state operated system.
PEOPLE FIRST WAIVER – PILOT PROGRAMS
The final State Budget will not provide the Commissioner of OPWDD with authority to enter into contracts without competitive bid or a request for proposal process.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
· Insurance Coverage for EI Services:
Proposals requiring providers to negotiate rates with insurance companies; accept those rates as full payment; become members of insurance networks coverage were rejected.
· Utilization of a Fiscal Agent for billing of EI services:
This proposal was accepted. The language still needs to be amended in a “clean-up bill” to ensure that the intent, (that the fiscal agent does all 3rd party billing and not providers) is clear. We are currently working on language for the “clean-up” bill.
· Arms length relationship between evaluators, service coordinators and providers: This proposal was also rejected.
Family Adv. Council next meeting May 15, 2012 10-1 and 5-6:45
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 @ YAI
Presentation-1115 Waiver and Children’s Museum of Art