I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes February 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. You can reap many benefits when paying your dues.
AHRC
See attached flyers for program vacancies
ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies
1877-827-2666 or email project connect @adaptcommunitynetwork.org
–Mercy Drive
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies and other various programs 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 22 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
-Tri County Care
availability in all Boroughs and NY State for care coordination
Birch Family Services
See attached flyers for details
Elmy’s Special Services Inc
See attached flyer for details
Rising Treetops(Camp Oakhurst)
-see attached flyer for program information
Sinergia
-see attached flyers for openings
GHO–
has openings can assist with getting a care manger in different language
Good will–
Day HAB for people who have autisim and are non waiver eligible and employment
Transportation reimbursement
General Human Outreach (GHO)
-see attached flyer for details on programs
Eprine
-See attached flyers for details
Anderson Center for Autism
-see attached flyers for details
The Office Of Special Educational Partnership (NYS Education Department)
-see attached flyer for details
NY city Fair and SWAN are groups exclusively for families come and get involved!
-2019 Justice center Code of Conduct Recognition Award: Dedication, Respect and Protection from Harm
Guest speaker(see attached power point with announcements)
PARTNERS HEALTH PLAN_OPTION FOR MEDICAID ONLY
Speaker- Malik Abdur-Razzaq
PHP Care Preferred PHSP (PHP):
- Is an Article 44 Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MMCO) providing healthcare to Medicaid only children and adults
- Has an extensive network of high quality providers to PHP members in its 9 county area of operation
- Provides comprehensive healthcare and case management services to all members
- Patient Centered planning, specializing in providing services to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).
- Offers Case Management to high risk individuals including, but not limited to: multiple chronic illnesses, high risk pregnancies, HIV+ etc.
Overview of the Plan
- PHP is a Prepaid Health Services Plan for Medicaid only children and adults
- Comprehensive plan covering Health, Behavioral Health, and Long Term Care Services
- Nine County Service Area (NYC, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk)
- Does not include Developmental Disability Services
- Does not include Care Coordination or Care Management
- Includes Case Management for chronic illnesses
- Large provider network
Who can join?
- People who are excluded
- People with Medicare
- Foster care people
- People living in a nursing home
Case management –mostly telephonic
Managing people with special circumstances
The function is to make sure the individuals get the treatments they need for their health care
You can enroll prior to waiver which can help you get psychosocial and psychosocial in order to help get you into a CCO
There is a monthly webinar to give you information on PHP.
Still waiting for approval from the State to enroll. Will hopefully have a date soon.
Questions
Q-Can people who have Medicare but don’t have A or B, be in the plan?
- Can’t be in Medicaid managed plan. They will have to be in the dual plan
Q- Are there fees?
- There are no fees but if you have a Medicaid Spend down the fees go to PHP
Q- What happens when you are in the Medicaid preferred plan but then you get Medicare and you want to keep your care coordinator?
A-They have to make a choice they have to pick.
Q- What happens when it will be mandated Managed Care?
- If you have Medicare you have to be in a SIPPL If you have dual you have more options. -You have to be in a plan for waiver services and can also be in a FIDA or a Managed Care Plan
Q- What are advantages to sign up?
A-Avoid big rush when everyone need to go in, quick durable medical equipment,
You will be at the forefront of the Change!
You can try out the plan but then you can disenroll if you are not happy.
Q-How does 3rd party insurance fit into this?
A-This plan will coordinate with the 3rd party insurance
Q- Do you have a parent advisory group?
A-Yes they have a participatory group.
- State News – Ellen Bleckman, Mary Grace Giuliano
- There will be a new person appointed to replace Ellen Bleckman. The announcement should be made soon.
- City News – Gavin Myers
- April 9th was the local services plan meeting. It is in conjunction with the city and state department of health. All of the boroughs came together to vote on what they felt was the most important topic. The 3 top topics are:
- Workforce retention
- Housing
- Dual Diagnosis System Collaboration
- This is for future planning over the course of next year. There is an extensive report. For details and a copy of the plan please contact Gavin Myers
- IAC – Chris Trieber
- State budget asked for 15mmillion for teachers and asked for an increase. The Special Education schools did not get any money. (3,8% increase)
- School district Asked for 2 billion-got 1 billion
- 175 billion school budget. The special schools did not get any money.
- Preschool program is asking for 3.8 % from the division of budget
- 61 preschools have closed statewide 30 in NYC- There are many children who have IEP’s and no school to attend.
- There is a teacher recruitment crisis there is a 28% vacancy
- Teacher assistants is an even bigger crisis. If you need to have 4 people in the class then 3 are usually assistants and they only make minimum wage and have a lot of training to do.
- NY State is out of compliance with the special Education programs. We are out of compliance in 15 out of 17 areas. IAC is trying to educate the schools that if they don’t change things then the Federal government is going to have to come in and make decisions
- There have been many articles that the UPC teachers will strike as they have a $25,000 Discrepancy from the DOE they want to have a strike of every child care teacher in May.
- The salary disparity in our school is $36,000 less that the DOE
- In such a large budget the children who have the most needs are being overlooked and are not even looked at for the funding.
- NY city DOE office of child care as of April 1st they are not enforcing the Flu vaccine.
- Measles epidemic. The only schools that have a mandatory Measles vaccine are in 4 specific zip codes. 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249. For those specific zip codes you cannot go to school without the vaccine. Babies are the most vulnerable population as they are not yet vaccinated
VII. Committee
Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-Chairs: Carol Lincoln and Jackie Ceonzo
This past march had a meeting with Paola Martinez-Boone regarding school advocacy
April 23rd is the next meeting at SUS 10:00 Am-12:00 PM PHP a real true understanding of the program. Please spread the word so that everyone can be educated.
Legislative Committee: Co-Chairs Jim Malley & Lynn Decker-
The legislative breakfast was in March it was a success. We had more legislators than in the past.
From this year’s State budget there was a 2% increase for DSP’s coming in January. Hopefully another 2% is coming in April. There was not a lot out there to get but we did get more than other state agencies
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co Chairs Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer
- April 9 was the last meeting on Respite and recreation. It was very successful many new families came. The topic was recreation and respite.
- May7th is part 2 of respite and recreation at CIDNY from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM light dinner will be served. Family Reimbursement will be discussed as well.
- Ely said “It was the most energized meeting in a long time. It was truly an amazing meeting”.
New Business
- There is a recommendation to have the transition committee reformed. The needs for that particular population is very specific and gets lost in the larger committee.
- Annual Family and Provider resource fair is held in December. It is a full council event. A work group will be starting shortly.
- Looking for Volunteers to help with the Website.