- Introductions were completed.
- Minutes were approved; if you would like to refer to past minutes, they are available as always on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
III. Announcements See Attachments
Hawthorne Foundation
See attached for details on in-home behavior management services for people ages 3-21, living in Manhattan. Must be OPWDD eligible.
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached. Summer camp spots are still available.
Camp Oakhurst
There is a waiting list for the summer programs, but people can still apply. Emergency respite is also available. See attached for details. Go to www.nysh.org for more information.
NYC FAIR
NYC FAIR is embarking on a social media campaign to bring our cause directly to our legislators, the media, the community, and the decision makers in Albany. Get advice from an expert on how to harness our passion and amplify our message. Natalie Belva, Digital Media Manager, Marketing and Development, UCP/NYC, and a Sibling, will offer concrete solutions to make certain that the voices of the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (IDD) Community are heard and understood. The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2016, 6-8 pm, at IAC, 150 West 30th Street, 15th floor. RSVP to www.NYCFair.org.
UCP of New York City
Vacancy list is attached, along with information about Overnight Respite, and upcoming PHP presentations, where people can also enroll in the plan. For information on upcoming workshops, go to www.ucpnyc.org.
Catholic Guardian Services
Seeking family members of children with IDD or who are medically fragile who would consider becoming foster parents to children with similar disabilities referred by the Administration for Children’s Services. Such families understand the unique challenges these children face, are able to navigate the complicated services systems, and have compassion to offer. See attached brochure. Contact Cynthia Blake at 718-228-1515 x 102.
YAI
Information is attached for vacancy highlights. There is emergency respite funding available for people who live at home. Availability in the Mainstreaming at Camp (MAC) program this summer. For more information about these programs, or the Autism Family Support Series, Autism parent support group, an Adult Yoga group, psychological evaluations, and all other services, call YAI Link at 212-273-6182, email link@yai.org or go to www.yai.org/link.
QSAC
Current program openings are attached; call 718-728-8476 for more information.
Presentation on the FIDA-IDD Partners Health Plan by Jan Abelseth, Janet Zampella, Martin Henshaw, and Lynn Decker FIDA PHP ppt May 16
Partners Health Plan (PHP) is a Fully Integrated Duals Advantage (FIDA) managed care plan for adults with both Medicaid and Medicare. This is a FIDA-IDD, the only FIDA in the nation for people with IDD. Started by five ARCs, this program will demonstrate whether a non-profit, mission-based managed care entity can successfully administer a managed care program. The presenters emphasized that although it was initiated by ARCs, PHP is not an ARC product. The ARCs get no special benefits. In fact PHP is looking for other partners, including at a governance level.
PHP is limited to OPWDD-eligible adults with both Medicare and Medicaid who reside in NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, or Rockland counties. Enrollment is voluntary and disenrollment may be chosen at any time. The plan provides all Medicare and Medicaid services as well as OPWDD services. There is no cost to individuals.
The plan provides a care coordination team with a care manager who is a registered nurse or other licensed professional and a care coordinator who will help access needed services. An Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), comprised of the individual, primary DD provider, and others chosen by the individual, uses an “I am” assessment to develop a life plan; the IDT authorizes services. However, the Front Door still conducts eligibility and authorizes residential services.
People can stay with their OPWDD providers. Other providers are grandfathered in for 90 days, after which people must use PHP’s network providers. To date, 9,000 providers have joined PHP. People may invite their providers to enroll; if providers choose not to enroll, they may still participate on a single case basis. Providers benefit by getting additional referrals and no lowering of their rate. The PHPcares.org website lists all providers; within a few weeks, the website will be updated daily.
Advantages of PHP: care coordination, authorization of services by IDT rather than Front Door (except for residential services); expedited access to durable medical equipment; access to non-medical transportation; expedited access to personal care services; access to 24-hour registered nurse advice line; access to a web-based portal of the patient’s information; electronic health record. PHP replaces Medicare Part D for medications, and individuals may appeal if their medication is not in the formulary; the provider prevails.
In addition, PHP has an ombudsperson employed by a separate advocacy agency. Lynn Decker is the ICAN ombudsperson for PHP.
The presenters pointed out that all Medicaid enrollees will eventually be required to participate in a managed care plan. Please see the attached power point for more information.
- State News – Liz Cambra
- Change of Auspice. Liz reported that three changes of auspice are in progress: Community Resources and Services for Children’s day hab: individuals are going to other programs; Federation of Multicultural Programs’ (FMCP) four IRAs in Manhattan will be transitioning as of June 1; Lighthouse Guild’s day program: individuals moving to different programs soon.
- Respite Fees. OPWDD is looking at rates and trying to assist programs to continue.
- Transformation Panel. There are 59 recommendations from the panel. Work plans for implementation are being developed with teams working on the different recommendations.
- Front Door Info Sessions. OPWDD is now using a DVD for presentations, along with translators.
- Residential Placement. OPWDD is looking at how the $10 million in the budget dedicated to residential services for people in non-emergency situations will be handled statewide. The priorities have changed. They are now referred to as “categories.” A draft of the new categories is being circulated:
Category 1: Emergency situations
Category 2: Urgent, substantial need, including aging out and developmental center people
Category 3: Stable situations
Hope Levy added that The Residential Request List and the Certified Residential Opportunities list will merge. In the interim, she cautioned MSCs to make sure people are on the CRO list, not the RRL.
- Elly Rufer mentioned that SWAN will have quarterly meetings with the Acting Commissioner. Families should address their concerns to NYCFair.org.
- YAI will be running START in Manhattan, Bronx, and Queens. SUS will be running it in Brooklyn and Staten Island. There will be an Advisory Board of about 8-10 people for advice and oversight for both organizations to include self-advocates, families, clinicians, and policy makers. There will be monthly trainings and a tiered roll out. This is not a SWAT program: the people must be known to START beforehand; then they can expect a quick response.
- City News – Sandra Piggee
Awards have been announced for the RFP for clinical services:
Brooklyn: Community Assistance Resources and Extended Services
Bronx: Montefiore – RFK Childrens Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center
Manhattan: YAI
Queens: Shield of David
Staten Island: Staten Island Mental Health Society
- IAC/Federation – Jim Malley
IAC: Hope Levy explained that the enacted budget raises the minimum wage incrementally, with hourly rates in NYC going to $11 at the end of 2016, $13 at the end of 2017, and $15 at the end of 2018. The provider associations are going to focus advocacy arguments on the fact that direct support is not a minimum wage job and that raising only to the minimum and not also raising the salaries of those slightly above the minimum will result in increased turnover and tremendous recruitment challenges. The new strategy is equal pay for equal work.
IAC is holding its annual conference July 9 and 10, which will address 22 topics.
Federation: Jim Malley stated there was nothing new to report about the Federation.
VII. Committee Reports
Family Support Services: The May meeting on FIDA-IDD was jointly sponsored by the Service Coordination Committee. There is a hold on the date at the NY Academy of Medicine for the annual Family and Professional Resource Fair for December 13, 2016. Next meeting: Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 10:00 am – noon, Sinergia, 2082 Lexington Ave. at 125th Street, 4th floor. Information: Yesenia Estrella (212) 643-2840 x 349; yestrella@sinergiany.org.
Legislative: Lynn Decker will serve as new chair, and Jim Malley will be co-chair. Information: Jim Malley (212) 928-5810 x 101; jmalley@esperanzacenter.net.
Transition: About 75% of 2016 graduates are nearly through the Front Door. The committee discussed different individual situations. The 853 schools are having difficulty with the transformation process. IAC’s Chris Treiber is linking the 853 schools with the borough transition committees. A co-chair is needed for this committee. Please contact Kathy Kelly to volunteer or to suggest someone. Next meeting: Wednesday, June 8, 2016, 9:30 am – noon, AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th floor Board Room. Information: Kathy Kelly (212) 780-2724; Kathy.kelly@ahrcnyc.org.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council: Lynn Decker presented on PHP’s FIDA-IDD at the well-attended May evening meeting. Families were eager to learn more. Next meeting: Hope Levy will discuss the Justice Center, Thursday, June 2, 2016, evening meeting 5:30-7:30 pm at IAC, 150 West 30th Street, 15th floor. Information: Margaret Puddington (212) 799-2042; Margaret.puddington@gmail.com.
Service Coordination: The committee now has a third co-chair: Annie Cox of CGS. The committee is engaged in planning its annual forum: Thursday, June 2, 2016, 9:00am-4:00pm, Pace University, 3 Spruce Street, Upper Level. RSVP at www.manhattanddcouncil.org. Information: Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 x 225; clincoln@ucpnyc.org.
Childrens/Education Committee: This committee is in need of a co-chair. To volunteer or to suggest someone, please contact Christina Muccioli. Next meeting: TBA. Information: Christina Muccioli (212) 780-2532; Christina.muccioli@ahrcnyc.org.
VIII. New Business
Margaret Puddington presented the Nominations Committee’s slate for officers for 2016-2018,
- Chair: Marco Damiani
- Professional Vice Chair: Kathy Kelly
- Parent Vice Chair: Susan Williams
- Secretary: Elly Rufer
- Treasurer: Jessie Backie
Voting will take place at the June DD Council meeting. In order to vote for officers, a member must have attended at least three meetings in the nine months prior to the voting meeting or have attended the two meetings immediately before the voting meeting.
Discussion focused on the need for transparency and outreach and especially the need to reach out to younger families. Discussion also raised the issue of the need to rethink the committees in light of systems/funding changes. There will be an Executive Committee meeting over the summer.