NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, June 5, 2013, evening meeting: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Metro NY DDRO, 75 Morton Street, NY, NY
Si su idioma es el Español y necesita intérprete durante la reunión es necesario avisarle a Margaret antes de 20 de mayo del 2013. Llamarla al 212-799-2042. No habrá intérprete si no se pide con anticipación.
If you require interpretation in Cantonese, you must let Margaret know by May 20, 2013. Call her at 212-799-2042. There will be no interpreter unless you request it in advance.
Now What? Life After the Budget Cuts!
Worried? Confused? You are not alone! Join us as Kathy Broderick, Associate Executive Director at AHRC, and formerly Associate Commissioner of OPWDD, explains how the recent budget cuts and the new OPWDD reforms might affect services for people with developmental disabilities. If anyone can predict the future, Kathy has the best shot. Her expertise encompasses services, budgets, policy, OPWDD, and more. Kathy is one of the most trusted and respected professionals in the developmental disabilities field. Come and see for yourself!
¿Y Ahora Qué? ¡La Vida Después de los Recortes de Presupuesto!
¿Preocupado? ¿Confundido? ¡Usted no está solo! Unase a Kathy Broderick, Directora Ejecutiva Asociada de AHRC, y otrora Comisionadora Asociada del OPWDD, que explicará como los recortes presupuestarios recientes y las nuevas reformas del OPWDD podrían afectar a los servicios para la gente con discapacidades de desarrollo. Si alguien puede predecir el futuro, Kathy es la mejor opción. Su experiencia abarca servicios, presu-puestos, polizas, OPWDD, y más. Kathy es una de las más confiables y respetadas profesionales en el campo de dis-capacidades de desarrollo. ¡Venga y vealo por usted mismo!
1. Announcements: FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE AT END
Please “like” the Facebook page of the Coalition of Families for Direct Support Staff for info on advocacy issues affecting people with DD. Access the Coalition page directly at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coalition-of-Families-for-Direct-Support-staff/123511307797151
2. Report on the Statewide Family Support Committee
Margaret Puddington reported the following:
Commissioner’s Report
The Justice center named a new director, Jeff Wise, who was the CEO of NYSRA. Staff will begin work in May.
NYS got an additional $600M in funds from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), of which OPWDD could get a portion. However, this money may not be used to make up the $90M cut (see below). This money is for NYS’s Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) under which NYS would receive enhanced federal funding to increase access to community-based services and supports. The BIP money also supports states’ efforts to transform systems by lowering costs through improved systems of performance and efficiency, creating assessment and care planning tools and improving quality measurement and oversight. Focus is on self-directed services, deinstitutionalization, and employment. This is a temporary funding enhancement of 2% to states that make structural reforms to increase institutional diversions and access to non-institutional long-term supports and services. These funds expire 9/20/2015. NYS must implement:
- No Wrong Door/Single Entry Point across systems, for OPWDD, OMH, OASAS, and maybe others
- Conflict-free case management (to avoid conflict of interest)
- Standardized needs assessment
OPWDD is well on the way to doing all three already through the People First waiver.
Deinstitutionalizing efforts will continue for the developmental centers. The Olmstead law, requiring least restrictive environments, is a driving force.
OPWDD is also participating in CMS’s Money Follows the Person which provides enhanced, time-limited funding strictly for deinstitutionalization from developmental centers and ICFs into small community settings (4 or fewer people). The BIP and MFP can be used together.
FSS RFP
OPWDD is releasing the funds for additional family support services, and the RFP will proceed.
People First Update
OPWDD is hoping for approval from CMS for the People First 1915 b/c waiver by October. Contracts for the pilot programs will hopefully begin in November, 2013.
Family Bill of Rights
The statewide Family Support Services Committee is in the process of creating a family bill of rights. The next step will be to consult with OPWDD and its legal counsel.
3. Update on the NYS Budget: Marianne Ardito, Assistant Director, Clinical and Family Services, YAI
Marianne discussed how the recently passed NYS budget affects the issues we raised at our Manhattan Legislative Breakfast and other vital issues. The NYS budget includes:
- 4.5%/$90M cut to OPWDD voluntary agencies
- A workgroup will make recommendations to implement the cut, such as reducing administrative costs; achieving administrative efficiencies; pursuing audit recoveries; providing alternate payment models, services, programming
- No money for residential development
- Language authorizes DISCOs, HMOs and managed long-term care plans, and sets forth parameters by which DISCOs will operate, including specific criteria, which commercial insurers would have to abide by; the language would, however, permit for-profit insurance companies to participate
- Exemptions from social work and psychologist licensure for 3 years
- Thus behavior plans may continue to be written and implemented by clinicians without licenses
- Money for teacher retention in nonpublic schools and preschools
- Rejection of the waiving of state mandates in special education
- Rejection of preschool bidding
- Rejection of all Early Intervention proposals
- No resolution of the issue of the cut in capital rates to Article 28 clinics. That battle is continuing.
- Article 28 clinics offer primary medical care and specialize in serving people with developmental disabilities. They operate under the authority of the NYS Department of Health (DOH). DOH had increased one portion of the rate for these clinics but had implemented massive recoupments from the capital portion of the rate. 30 clinics in NYS are affected. DOH is still in the process of reviewing this issue after protests from the clinics.
- $45M in funding for the Justice Center, which will be operational in June, 2013
- No cost of living adjustments
- Transfer of all Medicaid administrative functions (including rate setting) from agencies like OPWDD to DOH
- Increase in the minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $9/hour over 3 years
4. Speaker: Meghan O’Sullivan, RN, Owner of At Home Technologies, on Assistive Technology in the Home
Meghan shared a story about using technology to transfer people in Wisconsin from ICFs to smaller community settings. The staff doubted that any of the people could do it, but in fact they did because they received additional technology support.
Meghan explained that various types of technology can be hooked up to a base system and can send alerts to staff via text message, phone calls, or e-mail. Safety concerns include;
- Falls and inactivity
- Cooking safety
- Medication compliance
- Wandering and egress
- Sleeping Patterns
- Bathroom activity
Examples of technology to address such concerns include:
- Motion sensors on stoves
- Sensors on doors and windows
- Bed pressure pads so staff know if someone has gotten up at night
- Medication dispenser – one dose at a time
- GPS watch that converts to cell phone to locate a missing person or to verify the person is where he/she is supposed to be
- Floor pads to detect activity
Please see the attached powerpoint for more information
FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
Family Support Services Committee
- Tuesday, April 9, 2013, 10:00 am – noon
- YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th floor
- Information: Amy Bittinger (718) 859-5420 x 234
Transition Committee
- Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 9:30 am – noon
- Life Adjustment Center, 1430 Broadway (at 40th Street), Suite 503
- Information: Kathy Kelly (212) 780-2724
DD Council
- Thursday, April 11, 2013, 9:30 am – noon
- YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th floor
- Information: Margaret Puddington (212) 299-2042
Childrens Committee
- To be announced
- Information: Christina Muccioli (212) 780-2532
Legislative Committee
- To be announced
- Information: Jim Malley (212) 928-5810 x 101
Service Coordination Committee
- To be announced
- Information: Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 x 225