I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes were approved
III. Announcements (ATTACHMENTS IN .PDF)
Please submit Council Dues if you have not done so yet.
Archcare at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center
See attached for openings in the Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
UCP/NYC
Program vacancy list is attached.
YAI
The vacancy list is attached. The fall 2012-winter 2013 schedule of the Family Support Series for Caregivers of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders is also attached. The Latino Conference is on Tuesday, March 5th. Call YAI LINK at 212-273-6182 for referrals and any other information.
QSAC
There are openings in the Day Hab program in Manhattan, Bronx and Queens; see attached for details.
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached.
Job Path
Program vacancy list is attached.
Hawthorne Country Day
Program vacancy list is attached.
IV. Presentation – New York State Executive Budget, Peter Pierri and Wini Schiff, IAC
OPWDD:
At the time of this presentation, Peter Pierri reported that the Governor had just issued his Executive Budget, with no substantial cuts or rate increases to OPWDD. [This subsequently changed with the Governor’s 30-day amendment that included a $120million/6% cut to OPWDD to fill the budget hole left by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) reduction in reimbursement to NYS in response to issues to do with OPWDD’s developmental center rates.
The Executive Budget for state operations contains a downsizing of the state workforce by 2,000, from transfers to other state agencies and attrition. In 2013-2014, 300 people would be moved out of developmental centers into homes operated by the voluntary agencies. The budget includes $30 million for new programs, mostly for aging out and other school graduates. It does not include funding for any other 24-hour residential opportunities or for family support services.
Budget language authorizes approval and operation of DISCOs to start this year, but it also allows commercial managed care and managed long-term care insurance companies to function as managed care entities. The fear is that these companies operate on a medical model, not a habilitative care model, and would not understand, or pay for, the long-term services that are essential for people with developmental disabilities. The provider associations are proposing alternate language that would hold all managed care entities to the same standards OPWDD has set forth: experience with DD services, utilizing outcomes to measure success, etc.
The Executive proposes a permanent exemption for licensure requirements for social work and psychology positions in OPWDD (and other) programs, something the field has been advocating for.
Education:
The budget proposes more preschool audits and allows municipalities to keep 75% of any recoupments. It also allows the NYC Department of Education to set preschool rates by RFP in order to get the lowest price.
There is no growth factor for 4410 and 853 non-public schools and preschools, despite the 3%-4% increase proposed for the public schools.
The Governor also proposed to allow school districts to request waivers from State Education from state-imposed requirements as long as they are not in conflict with federal standards. Examples: class size ratios, class groupings, etc.
Early Intervention:
All the insurance issues proposed by the Governor, and rejected by the Legislature, last year are back in the Executive Budget. For example, the requirement that providers negotiate rates with insurance companies and accept the negotiated rate as payment in full, even if the negotiated rate were lower than the state-established rate.
New this year is a proposal to mandate a standardized screening prior to a full multidisciplinary evaluation for eligibility determination for EI, because typically about one-third of those evaluated are determined to be ineligible. Children with certain medical conditions (Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.) would automatically be eligible. Also, if parents request a full evaluation, they can have it. This proposal makes sense because it would save money.
V. State News – Lou Mazzella
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is contemplating payback for years of “overpayment” for state-operated DD services. At the same time, OPWDD is beginning the process of transitioning to a more community-based system, in conformance with Olmstead requirements. OPWDD is downsizing ICFs to 4-person homes. There will be more choice, utilizing the Money Follows the Person model. OPWDD is also balancing out day treatment and day habilitation with supported employment, which OPWDD is actively promoting.
A START program is being piloted in Taconic and Central NY where developmental centers are closing. START provides crisis teams to avert hospitalizations.
The “Front Door” initiative is being implemented April 1. This is a new way to access services for all people with developmental disabilities. It is a DDRO initiative. People who are new to the system and those wanting ICS will be the first to utilize the Front Door.
There will be a citywide RFS for seniors and their children with developmental disabilities for opportunities to move to a seniors housing complex in Howard Beach. The purpose is to avoid nursing home placement. The RFS explains the funding for supports.
OPWDD is still in the process of reorganizing.
VI. City News
The name of the Bureau has been changed to New York City Bureau of Developmental Disabilities (eliminating “mental retardation”). City tax levy money has been restored for the rest of this fiscal year.
VII. IAC/Federation Report – Jim Malley
The borough DD Council chairs met last week. The DD/psychiatric group is meeting regularly to plan how to reduce hospital stays of people with developmental disabilities. In the local government plan, the main need is respite; there will be an emphasis on gathering statistics, which the city will do.
VIII. Committee Reports
Family Support – Met 2/12. Jennifer Shaoul gave a presentation on how to effectively present and publicize programs. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 3/12, at 10am at YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th floor. Call Amy Bittinger at 718-859-5420, ext. 234 for more information.
Legislative – The date for the 2013 Manhattan Legislative Breakfast is Friday, March 15. If you are interested in helping to plan the Breakfast, please contact Jim Malley at jmalley@esperanzacenter.net.
Transition – The last meeting was the annual Information Exchange on Jan. 23. 45 people attended, including students and parents. There appears to be sufficient vacancies for this year’s graduates. Students with exceptional needs may be able to approach OPWDD on a case by case basis. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 13th at 9:30am at Life Adjustment Center, 1430 Broadway (at 40th Street), Suite 503. Call Kathy Kelly at 212-780-2724 for more information.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council – Encourage people to attend Family Advocacy Day on 3/1 and the Legislative Breakfast on 3/15. The next meeting is Wednesday, 4/3, at 10:00am, at Metro DDRO, 75 Morton Street. The topic will be assistive technology in the home. Call Margaret Puddington for more information, 212-799-2042.
Service Coordination – The committee is working on planning the forum. They met on 2/1 with good attendance. The next meeting will be on Friday, 3/1 at 10 AM at UCP/NYC, 80 Maiden Lane, 2nd Floor. Contact Carol Lincoln to participate, clincoln@ucpnyc.org.
Children’s Committee – The next meeting will be on 3/19. Dr. Frederick Daum from Winthrop University Hospital will be presenting on toilet training for toddlers. Another speaker will discuss issues affecting older children. For information about the Committee, contact Christina Muccioli at Christina.Muccioli@ahrcnyc.org.
Next meeting: Thursday, April 11th, 9:30 a.m., at YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 12th Floor.