Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council
Next Meeting:
Thursday, March 12, 2020
9:30 A.M.
Birch Family Services
104 W. 29th St. 3rd floor
Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council Minutes
February 12, 2020
I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes January minutes Approved. The minutes are posted on the Council website. If you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
III. Announcements
–Please remember to pay your dues which help support our events throughout the year.
Manhattan DDcouncil@gmail.com. Please send all information and flyers to the email address. All non-fundraiser
Events can be posted on the website. You can reap many benefits when paying your dues.
AHRC
Program vacancies in many of their programs. Day habilitation openings in all 5 boroughs. Contact the Referral & Information Center at 212 780-4491 for information.
ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies
1-877-827-2666 or email project connect @adaptcommunity network.org
Family Support Workshop Series- First Workshop October 9th.
Family Connect-topic is bussing. Spanish translation available
QSAC
See attached flyer for program vacancies
Openings in the after school programs
Ohel Bais Ezra
Family reimbursement funds available Manhattan and Queens
Call 718-686-3451 or email Communityservices@ohelfamily.org
YAI
Information is attached for service vacancies. For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.
See attached flyers for the different programs available.
Funds still available for emergency respite.
NY START
212-273-6300
Accepting referrals. Provide help with conflict and behavior needs.
Crisis intervention. Coordinators on call 24/7. Crisis line available
February 21st on line training.
NYLPI – Looking for services for immigrants with disabilities that do not require Medicaid. NYPLI has frees services and trainings available on future planning, guardianship, and special education rights; call 212-244-4664 for information.
Sinergia– see attached flyers for vacancies and reimbursement money.
Americare-please see attached flyer and application for the pediatric program.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council-see attached flyer
New York City Fair will be having a budget meeting specifically geared toward parents and how it affects them. The meeting will be at IAC on February 19th. 6-8 PM.
Esperanza has a day hab program in Washington Heights, and funds available for transportation reimbursement for Manhattan only. 212-928-5810
CFS – see flyer for vacancies and information.
NY Census – see attached flyers for information.
Self Advocacy Association is surveying staff as they are observing that staff can not use comm hab for ADL skills. This seems to be happening for some people in some regions. They are looking for information please email eyanky@sanys.org
New ADM on OPWDD website regarding Level Of Care (LOC)
IV. State News – Delia Tucker, Deputy Director
- Commissioner spoke about the proposed 2021 budget. It highlighted accomplishments from 2020. More than 37000 people are living in residential opportunities
- 6400 are authorized to receive rental subsidies in this year’s budget. It’s more than double than individuals than 6 years ago
- 3.9 billion in state share
- These new resources represent 5.4 % growth
- $120 million for OPWDD new services.
- Additional capital funding $15million to develop affordable, independent housing
- Commissioner Kasner testified on February 3rd. It’s recorded and can be seen on the state websites
- Additional resource is the Extended Treatment Unitl. OPWDD adopted emergency regulations for ICF to include Extended treatment units.
- It’s a limited capacity program for sub acute psychiatric program. They are working closely with Kings county hospital. In order to get the ETU you need to be NYSTART enrolled. They will start with 4 beds and will have a capacity up to 12 beds.
- The ETU will be at Bernard Fineson as part of the transition. This is a step down unit for transition.
- HCBS waiver renewal is retroactive to October 2019-October 2024. This allows a Nurse practitioner to fill out and authorize the LOC among other things.
- The OPWDD website will be going through a transition in the spring.
V. City News –
- The city is gearing up for the local planning process for 2020. The meetings will take place on March 20th.
VI. Guest Presentation – Wini Schiff Budget
- On first look the budget did not seem so bad upon further analysis OPWDD could be in big danger
- Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his 2020-2021 $178 billion State Budget proposal on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. The $178 billion executive budget outlines a plan to reduce the growth of government spending and restructure the state’s Medicaid program to combat a looming $6.1 billion deficit.
- MRT II: Reconvenes the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT II), that is charged with identifying cost-containment measures to provide approximately $2.5 billion in gap-closing savings in FY 2021 and ensure Medicaid spending in future years adheres to the Global Cap indexed rate
- Middle Class Tax Cuts: Continues middle class tax cuts for 4.7 million New Yorkers earning under $300,000 a year and recommends no new tax increases
- Fighting Domestic Terrorism: Enact the “New York Hate Crime Anti-Terrorism Act” which creates a domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate crime as a new A-1 class felony punishable by up to life in prison without parole
OPWDD
- OPWDD – budget still has the January 2% and the April 2% Be Fair to Direct Care. The money should be coming out in April. January will be paid retroactively.
- There is no COLA in the budget as a concession to the 2% for the staff. All Human Services across the state started a coalition. The campaign is called 3 for 5. 3% increase over 5 years. This will include all staff including DSP’s and clinicians. We want the money to be across the board to keep our doors open to keep us alive.
- NYDA-All 7 associations together across the state. 3 for 5 is their only platform. 1 third of all providers are 2 pay periods away from financial insolvency.
- NYDA has a Facebook page that you can follow
- CDPAP have been the biggest spending since 2017
- It has been reported that 152 agencies are still on a watch list of closing but it’s not confirmed
- Development: Once again the budget includes “additional State resources “that can leverage up to $120 million” all shares fully annualized (state and Federal) in additional funding available for “Program Priorities,” including; certified housing supports in the community; more independent living; more day program and employment options and increased respite. In reality it’s most likely 30 million per year that is spent.
- Additional 15 million in capital funds for affordable funding. Usually we ask for it to be doubled as the money is already spent before we begin. This year we are not asking for more as is it a hard budget year.
- “Improve Accountability and Oversight”: Includes legislation that provides OPWDD with the authority to issue operating certificates to providers of certain Medicaid State Plan services. “The purpose of this legislation is to create more direct authority for oversight and ensure quality of services by providers…and to eliminate duplication of efforts between multiple State agencies.” (See“CCO’s” below)
- “Promote More Efficient Use of State Resources”: “OPWDD will leverage federal Medicaid funding, utilize other supplemental aid where available and take other actions to more cost-effectively support the provision of person-centered programs.”. Recoupments of surpluses in supplemental room and board and other state fund payments should yield $10M, reduced State Operations overtime payments should produce $7M.
- Managed Care: Guidance on Specialized I/DD Plans – Provider Led (SIP-PL) “is expected to be released for public comment soon.” Responses will inform OPWDD on the system’s fiscal and other readiness for Managed Care. In July 2018, OPWDD developed regional Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) as a first step.
- 7/1/2020 2% rate cute to OPWDD services. It’s not a line in the budget but it’s meant to be considered for payback for over spending. This is growth over projection.
- Justice Center: Discontinue the requirement that every Justice Center investigation of abuse and neglect must also include a Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) check except in cases where the check may aid the investigation.
- CCO’s: $30M in savings are expected to be realized from reductions in CCO rates. Since the 90% enhanced federal support of CCO’s is now reduced to 50%, OPWDD will provide $178 million and will assume oversight of CCO’s from DOH.
SED
- School Aid: The proposed school aid increase is $826 million or 3.0% for a total of $28.5 billion which is the largest line item in the budget. Therefore, we hope that our 853 schools will get 3% growth as they have received the same percentage increase as school aid in recent years.
- 4410 & 853 Schools: We were extremely disappointed that there weren’t any funding or teacher retention proposals for our 4410 or 853 schools or any inclusion of the Regents proposals to add funding for teacher certification or loan forgiveness. October 1, 2020 our schools will be the lowest paid teachers.
- School Mental Health Resource and Training Center: $500,000 is provided for the Resource and Training Center. The funding will be utilized to continue the work of educating teachers, administrators, students and other school personnel about the inclusion of mental health education in schools and to help promote school climates that are conducive to mental health and wellness.
- Master Teacher Program: $1.5 million for the Master Teacher Program to create a corps of outstanding teachers and counselors in order to improve the quality of instruction and counseling at public schools.
- Campaign “our kids are your kids”
- Education budget hearing, Chris Treber presented. He spoke very well. The Chancellor spoke about the 4410’s and helping our schools. More state funding is needed and they are considering contracting directly.
- 2 million increase to help our teachers get certified and another 2million for loan forgiveness.
VII. IAC Report
See budget report
VIII Committee Reports:
Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-Chairs: Carol Lincoln and Jackie Ceonzo
January 7th was the last meeting. The topic was family supports. There were about 50 people who came. The next meeting is February 18th. Topic is Medicaid representatives. The meeting is at SUS
Legislative Committee: Co-ChairsJim Malley & Lynn Decker
The legislative breakfast is on March 6th 8Am-9:30 AM. There is a planning meeting immediately following Council meeting
The program is free of charge and everyone should attend.
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co Chairs Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer
The last meeting was held on December 5th. Communication without words. It is a hands on training.
The last meeting was in January and Janet Davis spoke about Family Support Services. The next meeting is February 27th the topic is You Have Something to Smile About – NYU Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities
Transition meeting Co Chairs – Andrew Harris and Maggie Maldonado
The January meeting was a fantastic showing. It was standing room. It was a self direction panel.