Weekly Update - February 28, 2011

Dear Bill,

This is a busy issue of the Update with a full calendar, breaking news, and budget updates.

The breaking news is the announcement of Dr. Jean McGuire's resignation.  Dr. McGuire is moving to academia and a search for her replacement is being launched.

The budget surprise this week is the potential defunding of the DBCAN program.  Imagine yourself at home 24/7 by 52.  That wold be life  for 75 people who are Deaf-Blind without DBCAN.  The Deaf-Blind Community Access Network provides 16 hours of Service Support Providers to assist people with community living: shopping, medical appointments, banking.  Things you and I take for granted.  

Elsewhere we comment on the successful management of the MassHealth budget that keeps administrative costs to 1.5%...at whose expense, we ask?

The DPC web site has an excellent Power Point presentation on the plans for merging services for people who are both Medicaid and Medicare eligible.  It can be accessed here: Dual Eligibles.

Elsewhere on www.dpcma.org we put the first issue of an ADA update we've been getting.  The lead article is on the successful pursuit of US Department of Justice ProjectCivicAction complaint against the town of Swanse, MA.  Look for it under News/National.

Enjoy your week...we're counting down to Spring!   

Terry Dougherty, MassHealth Director, testified before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on Friday, February 18 at the Boston Public Library. 

Mr. Dougherty told committee  members that MassHealth has an administrative cost rate of 1.5%.  That number is LOW by any lens that one uses to look at MassHealth as a health insurance program.  Private industry rates stretch upwards to and over 30%.  He received accolades from members of the committee.

Yet there are "negative costs" associated with that low rate of spending.  EOHHS staff are frequently saying that MassHealth doesn't have the staff to respond, that so many people have been let go, or that resources aren't in place to respond.

People with disabilities are also negatively impacted by  MassHealth's inability or unwillingness to spend funds on administrative costs.  Blind MassHealth members are continually denied accessible materials.  Requests for electronic forms that would allow people to answer questions privately are denied.  Printed documents that are not readable by blind MassHealth members often sit until a volunteer reader is available and deadlines may be missed.

The negative costs also includes other people with disabilities who are served by a medical system that does not take accommodation seriously.  The disparity rates for people with disabilities are high.  The lack of accessible exam tables, scales, and mammography equipment is well documented.  Communication access for Blind individuals, people who are Deaf and those who are Deaf-Blind is a failure almost across the board.  Access to emergency interpreters is a mess.

The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF, May 2005) concluded that MassHealth has a responsibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to make sure recipients federal funds comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

These "negative costs" are being documented by the Disability Policy Consortium.    If you would like to contribute your experience. Please contact us at healthcare@dpcma.org.

letter from EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby

February 25, 2011  

I am writing to let you know that Jean McGuire is stepping down from her role as Assistant Secretary for Disability Policies and Programs next month.  She is leaving to pursue ongoing work in disability and long-term care in academia and consulting and will continue to provide senior consultation on long-term care policies.  

In her four years with the Administration, Jean has led the development of many of the state's Community First Olmstead Plan efforts for elders and people with disabilities, including the community expansion and facility closure process for DDS, upcoming Medicaid long-term care expansions through new federal health care reform initiatives, and disability employment innovations, including the Governor's effort to make Massachusetts a Model Employer of people with disabilities.  Jean's depth of knowledge and her creativity have resulted in new policies, resources, and improved outcomes for people with disabilities.   

As you know, Jean is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities and has shown thoughtful leadership during her time at EOHHS. She has demonstrated an unfailing commitment to making Massachusetts a better place to live and work for people with disabilities. 

The announcement of Dr. Jean McGuire's resignation on Friday may have come as a surprise to many people.  For close observers of EOHHS and the Patrick Administration, her resignation did not come as a surprise.

Dr. McGuire was one of the first appointments in 2007 that brought advocates and people with disabilities to their feet with applause.  She started work with a clear understanding of the importance of the Olmstead decision. 

Her immediate recognition of the unmet needs of people with adult onset disabilities was unprecedented.  It was as if she had been in the room with advocates and former Assistant Secretary Gerry Morrissey for the two years of meetings where we danced around a commitment.

Jean's ability to absorb the complexity of  EOHHS issues such as the 1115 Waiver, the Community First Olmstead Plan, global payments, dual eligibles, bundled payments, MassHealth, group homes, etc. etc. etc was nothing short of phenomenal.  Yet, I was equally impressed soon after she started with the fact that she knew Mass Advocates Standing Strong members by their first names.

Dr. McGuire's contribution to community-based services can not be underestimated.  The state's budget crisis for the last 3 years  made it difficult to bring about the changes we all seek.  The shift in policy within EOHHS toward a broader and deeper focus on improving the medical models of service also seems to have limited the focus on changes necessary to implement the Olmstead Plan.

As a frequent critic of the Patrick Administration, I want to be very clear that I know Dr. Jean McGuire has played a huge role in getting us to where we are today.  The systems and priorities are different than in 2006.  The fact that we are not where we'd all like it to be is no fault of hers.

Jean, thank you for all your hard work  (even at times when you were classified as the "walking wounded") and your dedication to Olmstead, home and community-based services, and people with disabilities.  We wish you well!

Hello supporters of adult day health care -

The Adult Day Health rate hearing was held on Thursday, February 24^th at the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy.  Between 400 and 500 people turned out for the hearing.  Vans rolled in from across the Commonwealth, carrying program directors, clients and family members.  Many of the attendees arrived with walkers and riding in wheelchairs.  The crowd filled the hearing room and two overflow rooms.  Chairs were set up in the foyer and still the crowds came.  Many carried signs supporting the need for and cost efficiency of adult day health programs.

Many legislators gave in-person testimony and many others submitted written testimony.  Legislators who attended included Senator Dick Moore, Representatives Kat Hogan, Robert Koczera, Denise Andrews, David Sullivan, Jon Fernandes, Edward Coppinger, David Vieira, Paul Brodeur and James Lyons.  Aides attended from the offices of Senator Jack Hart, Representative Marty Walsh and Representative Steven Walsh.  Other testimony included that of program directors, family members and clients, including compelling personal stories of how these programs help maintain elders and persons with disabilities in the community.  The only testimony in support of the rate cut was given by DHCFP and this testimony was handily refuted by Dr. Christine Bishop of the Heller School at Brandeis.  All in all the hearing was a great day.

Thanks to those of you who came to testify or submitted written testimony.  As you know, now is no time to relax the pressure.  MADSA will be following up Monday with Secretary Bigby to recommend that they postpone the rate cut implementation date based on cost savings due to snow day closure.  If any of you have connections with the legislators who attended the hearing please call or email them to thank them.  We will be in touch with you all shortly to plan our next steps.

NAMI MASS OUTREACH TO OUR MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

NAMI Mass is working with public interest lawyers to explore ways that people with mental illness who are on MassHealth and are being denied treatment for their illness could take legal action against the state.

To determine the scope of the problem, we want to talk with people who have recently lost their outpatient mental health services or who have been told their services will soon be terminated.  You must be a person living with a mental illness and be willing to make your story public:

·       You are on MassHealth;

·       You are or have been receiving outpatient mental health services;

·       The mental health clinic is closing or is reducing its services;

·       You have not found another outpatient mental health clinic in your area or you have been put on a waiting list;

·       Or you have found another clinic but this new situation is not working for you.

If you or someone you know is in this situation, please call NAMI Mass and talk to our Executive Director, Laurie Martinelli at 781-938-4048 x 205 (confidential voice mail) or email: LMartinelli@namimass.org

March 1, 2011

  11 AM Grand Staircase

Restore the $3,000,000 cut to the 33 Clubhouses 

TO PURCHASE ACCESSIBLE TICKETS:
In Person:Directly at Boston's Colonial Theatre Box Office, 106 Boylston Street, Boston  Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.
 
By Phone:By calling (617) 880-2419. Please leave a detailed message including a day/evening phone number and specific information regarding what kind of special seating need you have. The Colonial Theatre's TTY number is 617-426-3444.
 
By Email:Email to ADABoston@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
 
Mail Order:The Colonial Theatre Box Office 106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 Attn: Access Seating and the Production name. All orders must include: name of production, day and evening telephone number, performance date/time and please specify special need request. Please provide check or money order made payable in full to The Colonial Theatre.
 
Other Access accommodations at both Boston's Colonial Theatre and the Boston Opera House include Open Captioned Performances, Audio Described Performances, wheelchair seating, infrared assisted listening and large print programs.