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Subject: News from Disability Policy Consortium
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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
Dear Bill,
The Update is late today. Too much fun walking around the Big Apple this weekend. Christmas in New York City is fabulous. I spent hours in Time Square and 42 Street being dazzled by the lights.
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| Time Square at Night |
We're going to take next week off...See you in 2011.
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
wfallan@dpcma.org| 617-542-3522 |
Editorial: Money Follows the Person
This issue includes information from 2 slides from today's working group on Money Follows the Person. There were direct questions about the role of Aging & Disability Resource Consortiums and indirect answers to those questions.
This was the last meeting before the application is to be submitted on January 7, 2011. The Executive Office staff circulated a letter they would like organizations to sign on the support the application and to be submitted with the application. That letter is also included below.
The DPC will craft a letter on MFP in January following a review of the complete submission.
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Advocates Corner: A Rejoinder on SES:
Last week the DPC published the following suggestion in response to Secretary JudyAnn Bigby's request for idea on how to consolidate services, improve systems delivery and/or save money:
According to DPC sources, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is the only public vocational rehabilitation system in the country maintains a dual service system - i.e., a service provision arm out of central office (Statewide Employment Services), and area offices. Part of the role of SES is to administer the state's Supported Employment dollars from the federal government.
In most states, this money is made available to the regional Vocational Rehabilitation offices to use for extended supports for those who need them. Not only does the existence of this dual structure result in duplicative administrative structures and inefficiencies, but it is confusing to service providers, individuals with disabilities, and their families. Consideration should be given to eliminating this set-up.
The DPC was contacted within hours of our publication by Jim Fratolillo challenging the recommendation. Here is the Rejoinder from Jim the DPC promised to publish.
According to Mr. Fratolillo the facts are:
Many States are doing many different things with their Federal Supported Employment allotment. To suggest simply rolling the funds into existing VR Title I dollars is not a particularly created idea nor would it provide additional dollars to our Community Rehabilitation Providers, or be more cost effective. In addition, as you know, our Area Offices have always had the ability to provide supported employment services with their existing federal Title I funds.
The amount of dollars MRC receives for Supported Employment is relatively small (around $450,000)compared to our total VR allotment. The decision was made that SES would be given the responsibility to develop and administer specific programs to serve the most significantly disabled individuals. SES did so, and we developed programs to serve the most challenging individuals who historically were underserved through traditional VR. We continue to administer these programs today and to develop programs that outreach to individuals with the most severe disabilities i.e., Traumatic Brain Injured, Asperger's Syndrome, individuals with Major Affective mental health issues, as well as consumers with multiple disabilities.
All of these consumers are being served by Community Rehabilitation Providers, most of whom are members of the MCHSP. Many of the consumers we serve, previously went through traditional VR and were placed into sheltered workshops and now, are being placed in the community with these Supported Employment dollars.
However, more importantly the article does not have another fact correct . These Supported Employment funds the writer talks about CANNOT be used to provide the extended supports needed after closure.
As you and members of the MCHSP know all too well, those extended supports dollars are received through State funding in the 4120-3000 account. It is with these extended support dollars we provide the follow along supports for those individuals we placed with our supported employment funding, as well as, those individuals referred to us from our MRC Area Offices.
However, the article has served at least one positive result and that is, it has been brought to many the importance of supported employment. Also, it has been some time since I surveyed how and what other states are doing with their Supported Employment allotment so I have reached out to a number of sources to gather that information. Once I complete my inquiry I will provide this data to you.
Jim Fratolillo
617-204-3854
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News from the Meeting Circuit: MFP
The Money follows the Person subcommittee of the permanent Olmstead Standing Committee met earlier today.
Enhancing Transition Coordination Capacity
· EOHHS will competitively procure Transition Coordination expertise
· Procurement of select number (5?) of regional entities with independent living and disability expertise
· Transition Coordination entity must be able to provide behavioral health expertise - either directly or by subcontracting
· Entities will resource Transition Teams and provide "consultants" to existing Transition Teams (e.g. DMH Hospital discharge planning teams; CSSM)
· Transition Teams will have consistent requirements re:
coordination tasks (medical and non-medical services needs;
delivery system options; etc)
· Housing locator resources would be resident in same entities
Other Transition Enhancements
· Training, technical assistance, (and case consultation?) support to be provided to all regional entities and Transition Teams
· Development of standardized tools across entities performing transition coordination work (e.g. Public Benefits check-lists)
· Accelerated prior authorization approval processes to support discharges across settings
The complete presentation should be available soon on the Community First web page.
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News from the Meeting Circuit: MFP Letter
Nicole Nicholson
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Acquisition and Grants Management Mail Stop C2-21-15 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850
Dear Ms. Nicholson,
We are writing as members of Massachusetts' Money Follows the Person (MFP) Working Group in support of the Commonwealth's application for a MFP Rebalancing Grant Demonstration. Our working group is composed of a range of concerned stakeholders who are committed to the goals of MFP including:
· Increasing the use ofHCBS and reduce the use of institutionally-based services;
· Eliminating barriers and mechanisms in State law, State Medicaid plans, or State budgets that prevent or restrict the flexible use of Medicaid funds to enable Medicaid-eligible individuals to receive long-term care in the settings of their choice;
· Strengthening the ability of Medicaid programs to assure continued provision of HCBS to those individuals who choose to transition from institutions; and
· Ensuring that procedures are in place to provide quality assurance and continuous quality improvement of HCBS.
We are excited to contribute to this program in Massachusetts by continuing to provide services and supports to elders and persons with disabilities in a manner that ensures independence, choice and dignity. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Commonwealth to ensure that everyone needing long-term services and supports receives them in an appropriate setting of their choosing.
We strongly believe that the MFP Rebalancing Grant Demonstration will provide increased opportunities to further develop the necessary infrastructure and service packages needed to serve individuals seeking to transition from institutional settings, and will help all of us by creating a more sustainable, affordable system of long-term services and supports.
Sincerely,
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Learning to Fish: CHD's DRP
The CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CHD) provides a broad range of high quality, community-oriented human services dedicated to promoting, enhancing and protecting the dignity and welfare of people in need.
The Disability Resource Program (DRP) believes that individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments enhance their self confidence, interactive skills and physical abilities through organized activities, support groups and self-advocacy. The DRP seeks to educate and inform the public about disability issues to help eliminate negative perceptions. They offer a variety of adaptive sports to provide barrier-free recreational and competitive opportunities for people of all skill levels and age groups, as well as for their family and friends. The athletic programs run year-round and include wheelchair basketball, soccer, hockey, cycling, golf, swimming and more
For a membership fee of $25 per year, which helps offset program and equipment costs, members receive reduced rates on activities, special events and equipment loans, as well as a subscription to the monthly newsletter.
Participants can borrow equipment for a nominal fee, including handcycles, sport wheelchairs, bi-ski, mono-skis, and bowling equipment.
DRP offers community presentations that address questions, concerns, and ideas about physical disabilities. United Way sponsors this program, and all presentations are available free of charge.
The Disability Resource Program offers information on a network of agencies and services throughout the Pioneer Valley.
Staff can answer questions, provide phone numbers and addresses, and offer direction and support on issues relevant to individuals with disabilities, as well as to their families. There is also a resource library made up of books and videos treating a wide variety of topics available to those in the program.
DRP's support groups provide encouraging, educational and healing environments for individuals with physical disabilities living in an able bodied world. Group participants meet with a clinician and a disability professional.
To become a participant, please call 413-788-9695
Email Disability Resource Program: nbazanchuk@chd.org (read less)
The Disability Resource Program (DRP) believes that individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments enhance their self confidence, interactive skills and physical abilities through organized activities, support groups and self-advocacy. The DRP seeks to educate and inform the public about disability issues to help eliminate negative perceptions. They offer a variety of adaptive sports to provide barrier-free recreational and competitive opportunities for people of all skill... (read more)
An weekly email update of recreational opportunities for youth is available from:
nbazanchuk@chd.org
www.chd.org
Or on facebook! Join our Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CHDs-Disability-Resource-Program-DRP/128322229820
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| News from the Net: Join the Revenue Team
Greetings!
As we head towards a new year, you may be thinking about ways that you want to make changes in your life. Will you be eating more healthy foods? Keeping closer tabs on your budget? Learning a new language?
The ONE Massachusetts network is resolving to help build a more balanced, adequate, and stable fiscal foundation for our state, changes made even more important in the face of the promised 1.5 to 2 billion dollars in cuts slated to be announced on January 26th.
But unlike my personal resolution to make it to the gym more frequently - I'm really going to try... at least through January... ugh - ONE Massachusetts' resolution is a firm commitment that is already underway, one that involves the active participation of hundreds of activists and organizations across our state.
Why is this Important?
As a member of the ONE Massachusetts network, you have probably heard us talk a lot about our founding principles:
We believe that all men, women, and children in Massachusetts deserve healthy lives, healthy families, access to quality education, safe, vibrant communities, and broadly shared prosperity in a thriving state.
[Full Collective Value Proposition]
The public structures that make these priorities possible can only be built and maintained when we work together, and base them on a balanced, adequate, and stable fiscal foundation.
Unfortunately, Massachusetts, along with states across the country, currently faces a multi-billion dollar structural deficit, due to a decade of state tax cuts compounding the recent national recession.
For more information on our state's budget, check out The State Budget: Difficult Choices and Our Future, a presentation from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
What is ONE Mass Doing?
Folks from across the state - representing more than twenty organizations - recently took part in a great discussion on the lessons taken from this year's No, No, No campaign and our revenue options for 2011. The comments and support voiced at the meeting made it clear that there's considerable support for a campaign to restore revenue to the 2011 budget.
Representatives from organizations around the state have agreed to meet with legislators and poll them about their support for possible revenue options that would close the state's budget gap.
If you or your organization is holding a meeting with a legislator or participating in such a meeting, please review the linked materials:
- Organizing Legislative Meetings [PDF]
- Questionnaire for Legislators [PDF]
(Please complete this form after meeting with your legislator(s) and return a copy to ONE Massachustts.)
- Potential State Revenue Changes [PDF]
We will be reaching out to additional groups across the state. Let us know whether there are any groups anywhere in the state that we should contact.
We will meet again in January or February. For more information on upcoming revenue reform efforts, or to arrange free on-site trainings for your community or organization, please feel free to contact me today!
Sincerely,
Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusetts
harmony@realclout.org | 617-999-8469
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