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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY LOU MALONEY!
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30 Day Demand Letter Count Down: 11 down, 20 to go
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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
Dear William,
I have pleased with the feedback I've been getting on the DPC Update. It's always nice to know someone is reading your stuff; much nice to know they like it.
The cat is out of the bag with this issue, for sure. A link below will bring you to the recruiting announcement for the DPC Executive Director's position.
The DPC Board wrestled with options since last October.
One option, to go with me wherever I go was clearly unacceptable.
Can you hear the sighs of relief elsewhere?)
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
wfallan@dpcma.org| 617-542-3822 |
Editorial: Yo-Yo Policy Making
The FY12 Budget article following this reports on a budget process that has become somewhat common in recent years with the Patrick Administration. It might be a pattern that those of us who never served high-up in the private sector could have learned as part of the practice of big business.
But, many of us learned it as kids. The Yo-Yo starts off firmly in hand and is then dropped. Clever manipulation of the string cause it to rise again. This exercise may be repeated multiple times in a cycle.
The Adult Day Health budget was to be cut in FY11 and "$55m" dropped in House 1. Last week was a confirmation of rumor that the FY11 cut was back up on budget. The "$55m" is still in play with the Legislature getting to play "Walk the Old Folks".
If the $55m is dropped in FY12, there probably won't be an day health industry left to play with in FY13.
We've seen this pattern in recent years with the PCA program, dental services, family supports, transportation..in, out, up, down, around and around.
We've been told multiple times that the Patrick Administration decision are "values based". Looping or Sleeping?
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FY12 Budget: Adult Day Health
ADVOCATES: ADMINISTRATION TO CANCELSHORT-TERM CUT TO PROGRAMS
From the State House News: April 8, 2011
The Patrick administration has informed advocates for the elderly and disabled that more than $10 million in cuts to adult day health and other programs for vulnerable Bay State residents, proposed by a state health care agency, have been taken off the table for the next three months.
"We have managed to preserve the adult day health services rates for FY 11," said Alex Zaroulis, spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, referring to the fiscal year that ends on July 1. "FY 12 is going to be a challenge that we have to face because clearly we have very difficult budget decisions across state government."
Officials with Massachusetts Home Care and the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers say administration officials informed them this week that the rates the state pays to caregivers for the elderly and disabled would remain steady for the rest of this fiscal year, despite earlier plans to implement reductions in mid-March. In March, the Patrick administration postponed the rate cuts, which on an annual basis would've resulted in a $3.3 million annual cut to the rates paid to adult day health programs, a $4 million annual cut to adult foster care, and a $5 million a year annual cut to day habilitation programs.
"While this is good news for FY 11, each of these programs and their reimbursement rates remain cut in the Governor's House One budget for FY 12," said Gary Blumenthal, executive director of the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, referring to Gov. Deval Patrick's $30.5 billion annual budget plan. "Thus the damage may be delayed and not prevented, unless the legislature restores funding for each of these programs in their budget."
Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care, said the decision to withdraw the immediate term cuts "is a great victory." But he said the governor's plan to slash $55 million from adult day health in the fiscal year that begins July 1 could lead to "déjà vu in July." "It gives us a little breathing space, but I think we're going to be back in the thick of it for 2012," he said. Zaroulis said that the governor's fiscal 2012 budget prioritized adult day health services "for members with the most complex issues who would otherwise qualify for nursing-level care."
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Position Open: Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the Disability Policy Consortium is recruiting an Executive Director.
The position is part time with flexible hours. Salary, hours and benefits to be negotiated with the successful applicant.
A Position Description, and Self Assessment form are available on the DPC web site. |
| Positions Open: MFP Hiring
Several Money Follows the Person Demonstration positions are now posted on the Mass.gov Human Resources Division website. Posted positions include the MFP Project Director, MFP Assistant Project Director and MFP positions with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. We welcome your help in recruiting candidates for these positions. Please review the positions at the link below and share this information with others that may be interested in applying.
Link to Money Follows the Person positions |
On the Calendar: VSA Events
ASL Interpreted Performance
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 @ 7:30 PM
At Boston's Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston Street
Boston MA 02116
Tickets are $47 each.
ASL Interpreters: Lucy Annett, Gabrielle Weiler, Aaron Malgeri
ASL Coaches: Glen Schultz and Kristin Johnson
In Person: Directly at The Colonial Theatre Box Office, 106 Boylston Street, Boston
Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.
By Email: Boston.BoxOffice@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com
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.
WINNER! BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL 2009 TONY® AWARD! The Public Theater's new Tony®-winning production of HAIR is the most electric celebration on Broadway! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. HAIR features an extraordinary cast and dozens of unforgettable songs, including "Aquarius," "Let the Sun Shine In," "Good Morning, Starshine" and "Easy To Be Hard." Its relevance is UNDENIABLE. Its energy is UNBRIDLED. Its truth is UNWAVERING. It's HAIR , and IT'S TIME.
Diane Paulus's THRILLING, EMOTIONALLY RICH production delivers INTENSE, UNADULTERATED JOY." -The New York Times
"HAIR SPEAKS TO A WHOLE NEW GENERATION!" -Time Out
"IF THIS EXPLOSIVE PRODUCTION DOESN'T STIR SOMETHING IN YOU, IT MAY BE TIME TO CHECK YOUR PULSE." -Variety
***PLEASE NOTE: While many find this show suitable for young adults (13 and older), parental discretion is advised. There is a dimly lit 20-second scene with nudity that is non-sexual in nature.***
 Please join us for the 3rd Annual Meredith E. Drench Lecture
Disability in 21st Century America: Psychological, Social and Political Meanings
presented by
Simi Linton, Ph.D
Author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity
and the memoir My Body Politic
Tuesday, April 12th
4:30 p.m.
Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Avenue
Room 101
Reception to follow.
**Contact Sargent College in advance for accessibility information by phone 617-353-1815; Fax: 617-353-7500 or by E-mail saralum@bu.edu
What does it mean to be disabled in America? How do social and political forces affect personal experience? How do insiders view their lives and the obstacles they face?
Simi Linton, author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity and the memoir My Body Politic will discuss a new way to think about the meaning of disability - for individuals and society.
To learn more, please visit the Sargent College Events page at www.bu.edu/sargent http://www.bu.edu/sargent
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| On the Calendar: DMH Task Force
from Steve Cidlevich
I wanted to advise you of the progress of the DMH Task Force and the schedule for the remaining three (3) Public Forums that were announced two weeks ago. The Task Force met for the third time two weeks ago at the UMass Shrewsbury Campus. It has been constructive and informative. They have established a committee structure to review different aspects of the community and the Department's services. Specifically, the Task Force reviewed risk management last week. As you know, the purpose of the Department of Mental Health's Task Force on Staff and Client Safety (Task Force) is to review and systematically assess current policies and practices relative to staff and client safety in the DMH Community System of Care.
Convened by Department of Mental Health Commissioner Barbara A. Leadholm, M.S., M.B.A., the Task Force is charged with reviewing a number of issues around safety and training related to the DMH community system and making recommendations to the commissioner based on that review.
In the framework of the Department's vision of Community First, DMH is committed to the safety of the dedicated workforce that provides services and supports to DMH consumers in the community and hospital. DMH places a high priority on helping staff be appropriately trained and informed, recognizing that there are challenges to meeting the needs of consumers and to the responsibility related to public safety. Ongoing review is an important aspect of a consumer-centered and recovery-oriented system of mental health care.
As part of the work of the Task Force, a series of public hearings will be held in several locations across the state. The first one was held at Fitchburg State University (4/7), the second one is scheduled for Monday, April 11th at Springfield Technical Community College, the third one is scheduled for the New Bedford Public Library on Wednesday, April 13th and the fourth and final one is scheduled for Thursday, April 14th from 6:00PM-8:00PM at the DMH Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, 85 West Newton Street, Boston, MA. I have also attached the scope and purpose of the Task Force for your review. Senator Jennifer Flanagan is a member of this Task Force and Michael Carr, General Counsel, has been representing MH&SA Chairwoman Liz Malia . Hope this is helpful!
Stephen M. Cidlevich |
News from the Net: ParaTransit
Governor aims to rein in auxiliary transit costs
Governor Deval Patrick plans to sign an executive order today aimed at controlling the escalating costs of providing specialized transportation for people with disabilities, Medicaid recipients, and others, state transportation officials said last night.
The federally mandated programs, including the MBTA's The Ride, provide a lifeline for thousands of people across the state but cost hundreds of millions of dollars, with usage and expenses soaring.
The Ride, a service for those whose disabilities prevent them from using the conventional T, has quadrupled in cost over the past decade and is poised to break $100 million next year, absorbing nearly 10 percent of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's operating budget. But the roughly 2 million trips it provides represent less than 1 percent of all MBTA service.
And an assortment of related services, known as Human Service Transportation, provide more than 5.5 million trips at over $100 million for Medicaid recipients, people with developmental disabilities, early intervention families, and others.
No one agency can solve the cost issue, the officials said. The governor's order will bring together leaders from several state cabinet agencies - the Department of Transportation, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and Department of Veterans' Services - with users and advocates to coordinate ways to manage or cut expenses while maintaining or improving service, Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey B. Mullan said.
"This is not slash and burn,'' Mullan said. "This is about finding a better way to comply with our mandate and providing service to an important [population] that needs this service.''
Read the complete Globe article
Read the Executive Order
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DPC Needs your Help!!!
The DPC uses the PayPal PayFast system for your tax deductible charitable donations. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this system because credit card payments are also accepted.
The DPC also uses the Causes program for recurring donations (as well as one time donations). This is a great way to make a smaller monthly donation.
Donate by Mail
Make check or money order payable to:
Disability Policy Consortium
59 Temple Place, Suite 669
Boston, MA 02111 |
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