July 1, 2011 Calendar of Events
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Disability Policy Consortium FY12 Conference Committee Budget Update
Dear Bill,
The FY12 Budget for the Commonwealth has been released.
Here are the highlights.
In general, disability agencies did well by maintaining FY11 levels or increasing slightly. Rep Jim O'Day's amendments for $50,000 increases in Assistive Technology funding were approved for MCB, MCDHH & MRC.
It seems the 4120-4000 Independent Living linte item was restored to more than FY11 levels.
In DDS, the 5920-3000 account for Family Supports was still at a reduced funding level of $5,000,000 while DDS increased by $20 million over FY11 levels.
DMH had close to $9 million restored above FY11 levels.
MCDHH increased by $180,000 including the $50k for AT.
MCB increased by $400,000 most of which was the restoration of the DBCAN account passed by the House.
This is all subject to a veto by the Governor. It is likely however, that the Legislature will override the veto. That is not certain and keeps us in suspense a while longer.
Click this link to view the details for disability agencies.
Spread sheet with Conference Committee Details
You may review the Conference Committee document at this link:
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
wfallan@dpcma.org| 617-542-3822
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FY12 Conference: Elder Home Care
From Al Norman
Last night the Conference Committee released its final FY 2012 Budget. An analysis of the line items and outside sections are attached.
Thanks to your advocacy, the Conference Committee went with the higher version in the House document, which adds $1 million to home care purchased services, and $758,000 to the care management accounts. We also succeeded in getting protective services lifted to $16.25 million. So our efforts overall resulted in close to $3 million worth of amendments or restorations to EOEA accounts. We were also able to secure language requiring EOHHS to fund the Options Counseling program. There is also language included which was submitted by Adult Day Health programs that freeze their rates and impose a moratorium on program capacity. No language on Adult Foster Care was included.
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FY12 Conference: Mental Health
from Steve Cidlevich, DMH
Great News...
This is a quick analysis of what has been recommended in the Legislative Conference Committee Report that will be voted on today!. We are still reviewing the entire budget but I wanted to get you what we see as the significant items..The Conference Budget recommended $647,110,993 for DMH. This is higher than either the original House or Senate Recommendations. The Department retained the additional adult community funding and the hospital account and the Child/Adolescent Account were funded close to the Maintenance request.
Below is new language for the 5046 and the compromised language for the 5095.
5046-0000
that jail diversion programs in operation and receiving funding from the department of mental health as of June 1, 2011 shall continue to receive funding in fiscal year 2012
5095-0015
and provided further, that the department shall file a report with the secretary of administration and finance and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways on or before December 31, 2011, detailing the procedure, implementation and timing for the closure of any existing inpatient hospital beds and shall include a determination of the capacity in the inpatient public mental health system to effectively and appropriately meet the needs of individuals suffering from mental illness and whether individuals are receiving timely access to state hospital beds
5095-0017
under allocation plans submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days before any transfer; provided further, that the department of mental health shall submit a biannual report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse detailing the services provided in this item, including but not limited to the number of clients who a) entered state inpatient facilities, b) were discharged from state inpatient facilities, and c) received community mental health services by service type; provided further, that all inpatient data shall be organized by facility; provided further, that the department shall submit the first report by February 1, 2012 and shall include data for the first six months of the fiscal year; and provided further, that the department shall submit the second report by August 1, 2012 and shall include data for the second six months of the fiscal year.
Have a great day!
Stephen M. Cidlevich