I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes from the last meeting were approved. If you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
III. Announcements
YAI
There are funds available for emergency respite. Information is also attached for family reimbursement, Parents with Special Needs training and support groups, Project Grown-Up, “You and I” social skills training, workshops on navigating the system and OPWDD, and crisis intervention in Manhattan and Queens. There will be an Autism Conference on 4/2/19; see
attached for details. For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.
ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City
Information is attached regarding services and supports and a Family Support Newsletter. There will also be a Family Connect Summit on Friday, 5/3/19. For information on any programs or services, please call 718-436-7979 ext. 704, or email familyconnect@adaptcommunitynetwork.org
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached.
NYC FAIR
The next meeting will be on 3/21 at 6pm at IAC (150 West 30th Street, 15th floor). Representatives from ACA (Advanced Care Alliance), CDNY (Care Design NY), Tri-County & PHP (Partners Health Plan) will participate. Go to www.nycfair.org to register and for more details.
ACS
ACS will be holding a free DD Resource Fair and art exhibit on 4/16/19 from 10-2 at 150 William Street, 19th floor. Families and professionals are welcome. For more information, call Cliff Datys at 212-341-8902, or email Carli.Ovardek@acs.nyc.gov to register.
PHP
The new CEO, Kerry Delaney, started in January. A letter was sent to families saying that if they hadn’t signed on to a CCO, they would be in jeopardy of losing their waiver services. A new letter will be sent to clarify that they must sign up with a CCO or with PHP. Any agency announcements or events (non-fundraising) can be emailed in a pdf file to manhattanddcouncil@gmail.com to be included on the website. Member agency events will also be posted on the Council calendar.
IV. State News – Mary Grace Giuliano, Director, Region 4
Nothing to report.
V. City News – Gavin Myers
Nothing to report.
VI. IAC – NYS Budget Presentation, Tom McAlvanah
COPA, the Coalition of Provider Associations, is changing its name to New York Disability Advocates. IAC is a COPA member, along with NYAEMP, DDAWNY, CPA, and Alliance.of LI Agencies. COPA associations will have a joint white paper and will lobby together on February 26 and 27. At his budget proposal rollout, the Governor announced a $4.4 billion shortfall, which was recently increased by another $2 billion. The State has many pressing needs, and cuts may be forthcoming. 30-day amendments to the Executive Budget are due today. The Executive Budget includes a 3.7% increase for mental hygiene services; the average increase for other services was .8%. Other OPWDD budget issues:
No money for DSP salaries
No COLA
For the 5th year, $120 million for all new OPWDD services and supports
Currently, 37,300 people receive certified residential services for $51 billion (all shares)
Last year 459 certified residential opportunities were funded for $60 million
5,300 ISS opportunities were developed since 2013
Currently, 78,000 are enrolled in day and employment services
Currently, 43,000 are enrolled in respite, an increase of 12% over five years
COPA Advocacy Recommendations
OPWDD
1. DSP turnover is 27%; vacancy rate is 14%. bFair2DirectCare: Request installments three and four of our proposed six-installment salary increases to move DSPs to a living wage, #3 on 4/1/19, and #4 on 1/1/20. The first two installments were 3.25% each. Cost: approximately $75 million.
2. Support a COLA of 2.9% for all human services. We have had virtually no COLA since 2010 (one year we got .2%). If we had gotten COLAs all along, we would have been able to raise DSP salaries and wouldn’t have fallen so far behind. A COLA is needed now to help manage all rising costs, from liability insurance to health insurance, to rent, etc. Support “Strong Nonprofits for a Better New York” campaign. Cost: $140 million
($72 million for OPWDD).
3. Create a pool of funding to cover costs for high-needs individuals. Cost: $10 million.
4. Double the $15 million proposed by the Governor for capital cost of affordable housing
for people with I/DD to $30 million. Cost: $15 million.
5. Designate $20 million of the $120 million for residential services for people with complex needs currently living at home. State Education Department Aid to public schools has risen 36% over the last 3 years; in comparison, aid to 853 schools has increased by 22%, and to 4410 schools by 8%. The teacher salary differential between 853 schools and the public schools is about $35,000 per year for a 10-month school year, based on
data from 2015; current differential would be higher.
1. Ensure that every student in 4410 and 853 schools has a certified special education teacher by increasing the recruitment and retention fund by $15 million to $23 million. Cost: $15 million.
2. Provide minimum tuition increases for 4410 and 853 schools comparable to the 3.6% for general education schools.
3. Permit 4410 and 853 schools to receive rate increases while awaiting rate approval from SED. For example, if a school agrees to serve additional students, rate approval takes a long time. While waiting for approval, the school is not allowed to get any of the other general increases to which it is entitled.
4. Cap county responsibility for costs of 4410 increases; state would be responsible to fund excess costs above the cap.
5. Oppose blanket waiver of NYS special education requirements that exceed federal standards. Instead, convene a workgroup to examine which NYS requirements could be eliminated without compromising quality.
6. SED should collect data on teacher and assistant teacher vacancy and turnover rates.
Department of Health
1. EI should get a 5% across the board increase. The Governor proposed increase for OT, PT, ST only. Cost: $8 million.
2. For EI, require a covered lives assessment from insurance companies to create a funding pool, eliminating the current commercial insurance billing, claiming, denials, and appeals currently managed by providers.
3. Increase the base rate of Article 16 services by $4 million.
4. Increase the APG add-on for patients with I/DD and traumatic brain injury from 20% to 30%.
5. Oppose CDPAP proposals that would reduce the number of FIs from 600 to 60 and would also change payment to FIs to per member per month.
6. Oppose elimination of prescriber prevails.
7. Oppose elimination of spousal/parental refusal.
8. Oppose elimination of Medicare Part B cost sharing for dual eligible individuals. Providers would be forced to accept the Medicaid rate, which would likely result in providers refusing to serve dual eligible individuals. IAC will be holding its annual conference on June 6 and June 7 of this year.
VII. Family and Provider Information Committee
The January meeting featured a presentation on OPWDD START (Crisis Intervention) services. The next meeting will be on 2/26/19, with a panel of CCO and PHP staff. The meeting will be at SNACK, 316 East 53rd Street.
On 3/26/19 the topic will be Educational Advocacy, featuring Paola Martinez-Boone from the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. The meeting will be held at AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th floor.
For a full schedule of future meetings, go to www.manhattanddcouncil.org.
IIX. Legislative Committee
The 31st Annual Legislative Breakfast will be on March 8 at Barnes and Noble Union Square, 33 East 17th Street from 8-10am. Please share the attached invitation with all Manhattan families, people receiving supports, and staff.
IX. Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council
The January meeting topic was Educational Advocacy. At the 4/9/19 meeting, there will be agencies presenting respite and recreation options. The meeting will be at 10am at Birch, 104 West 29th Street, 4th floor. The Council Co-Chairs can be reached directly at: manhattanfamilyadvisory@gmail.com.