Next Meeting:
CHANGE OF DATE: May 16th, 2013, 9:30-noon
FEGS, 315 Hudson St., 9th floor
(enter at 80 Van Dam Street)
Speaker: Josh Keller, Director of Marketing & Outreach, HAI (HAI inspires healing, growth and learning through access to the arts for the culturally underserved.)
I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes were approved
III. Announcements: April 2013 Council Attachments
Archcare at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center
See attached for openings in the Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
UCP/NYC
Program vacancy list is attached.
YAI
The vacancy list is attached. YAI/Premier HealthCare have partnered with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai on a Peer Advocate Study. See attached flyer for more information. YAI International Conference is on May 6th-9th. Premier HealthCare One Day Conference is on May 7th. Call YAI LINK at 212-273-6182 for referrals and any other information.
QSAC
There are openings in the Day Hab program in Manhattan, Bronx and Queens; see attached for details.
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached as well as camp information
Head Injury Association
Now offering service coordination in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. See attached flyer.
Esperanza
Program vacancy list is attached.
IV. Presentation – Mark Surabian, of the CogniTech Café’s Assistive Technology at the JCC in Manhattan, presented on the Impact of Assistive Technology on all Individuals with Disabilities. CogniTech Café offers free assistive technology support and services for children 0-22. For more information, contact Mark at ATHelp@me.com.
Mark explained that assistive technology (AT) is a sensory extension that enables a person to participate in an environment that would otherwise be inaccessible, such as school, play, or work. AT is anything that increases, maintains, or improves the functional capabilities of a person with disabilities. With all people, one should always assume that the potential to learn is present.
Mark pointed out that many people are frightened of technology, but that it is really intuitive and easy to use. He showed a video of his 2.5-year-old nephew tapping away on a mini-iPad and explained that the technology is that easy to figure out.
Mark gave examples of how AT can change lives. For instance, augmentative communication can decrease unwanted behaviors and staffing needs; can enhance independence; can improve quality of life. You need to figure out where the gaps are and then find an app to fix them. You are fixing the disconnect, not the person. Mark showed various apps. He explained that Medicaid is paying for iPads now because you can lock out other apps and use it exclusively for communication.
On April 27th from 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM, there will be a presentation at Pace University in Manhattan on Assistive Technology. Some AT users will present. For more information visit www.cognitechcafe.com.
V. State News – Donna Limiti
OPWDD held a videoconference on the transformation agenda, which is grounded in CMS expectations to:
• Increase employment. In the next year employment must show a net increase to 700 people. OPWDD’s central office is spearheading ways to help people. Pathways to Employment, a 12-month program, will be used to move people from day hab and sheltered work to e-SEMP or employment where people must be paid a minimum wage in an integrated setting, although they do not necessarily need to work 40 hours/week.
• Increase in self-direction, whereby people manage their own budget and hire their own staff and hold leases in their own names. Currently, there are 850 people in self-direction through Consolidated Supports and Services (CSS); this number must increase to 5,000 within the next few years. The CSS process is being streamlined.
• Increase in home and community-based settings. CMS defines these as living situations where the person has his/her own bedroom, has access to the kitchen, and is living with people of his/her own choice. CMS’s Money Follows the Person program offers enhanced federal funding to transform the system: specifically, to move people out of institutions (defined as developmental centers and ICFs), to the aforementioned community settings or to an agency setting with 4 or fewer persons.
For people with challenging behaviors, OPWDD is establishing the START program, a crisis intervention system that has been used in mental health. This program promises a 2-hour response time and provides in-home services as well as out of home respite.
DDROs are preparing to implement the “Front Door” system for new people coming into the DD system and for people already being served who need a new or different service. The Front Door will perform eligibility and assessments, determine budget, and if the person needs a waiver service, refer to MSC services. The service plan will be authorized by the Front Door as well. Trainings are now being developed. Hopefully, the new system will not delay the process. Eligibility for family support services will also be obtained via the Front Door. Ultimately, the Front Door will do eligibility and assessments and budget and the DISCOs will take over from there.
As of July, 2013, there will be no more admissions to sheltered workshops.
VI. City News
No report available.
VII. Budget Update – Wini Schiff, IAC
The budget language authorizes managed care organizations and managed long-term care companies to participate in the People First waiver but would require them to follow the same standards set for DISCOs. For-profit companies would be permitted to participate; upstate there are no non-profit managed care companies.
Scope of practice: a 3-year extension of exemption from licensure requirements for social workers and psychologists was approved.
All the Early Intervention proposals regarding insurance providers were rejected. The associations are now looking at ways to strengthen EI, in advance of next year’s budget.
The 853 schools got $2M for teacher retention and another $2M to share with the 4410 schools.
The proposal to allow waiver of state special education mandates was rejected.
Preschool bidding was rejected.
No admissions to sheltered workshops after July, 2013. A closure plan for workshops must be developed by December 31, 2013.
Regarding the proposed cut to OPWDD, Wini emphasized that we had the best grassroots advocacy ever. Nevertheless only $30M was restored. The budget language required a workgroup to propose how the cut could be taken with minimal impact on services. The workgroup met on April 10 and endorsed the following implementation steps:
• $40 million will be applied to the cut from a combination of OMIG audits, self-disclosure and claims voided by providers received in the 2013-14 state fiscal year – the $40 million is state share so the total anticipated recoveries amounts to $80 million with the federal match. These savings have no impact on rates.
• $32 million will come from savings derived from movement of individuals from higher cost services to lower cost services including movement from state institutions and prevention of out of state placements. Cost savings from avoiding “institutional” placements will also count. The total reduction will amount to $64 million with the federal match. These savings have no impact on rates.
• $6.6 million in savings will be achieved through recent enrollment of 2,500 additional qualifying individuals into Medicare, thereby reducing Medicaid spending for medical services. These savings have no impact on rates.
• $6 million will come from reducing payments for IRA and Community Residences room and board supplemental payments (currently $57 million per year) starting 10/1/13. This will be administered based on a surplus/ loss analysis of providers across all OPWDD Medicaid programs. Currently, 164 agencies receive this state payment and the 11% cut will be allocated to higher surplus agencies (with adjustments for 2011 rate cuts). OPWDD will work with Provider Associations on the exact methodology for allocating the cut. Whether agencies that had operated at a loss during that period will receive any reductions at all in this area is uncertain at this time. This cut is in state only dollars so the total impact remains at $6 Million.
• $2.6 million savings ($5.2 million state and federal combined) will come from reducing the administrative portion of rates for ICF, day hab and res hab programs. To be implemented 10/1/13 together with rate rationalization. OPWDD estimates that it’s only a 1-2% reduction in the admin portion of rates.
• $3 million in savings will come from transitioning individuals from sheltered workshops to integrated community employment. This is about an 8% reduction in OPWDD Local Assistance funding for sheltered workshops effective 10/1/13.
Wini mentioned that a bill is expected to be introduced for full restoration of the $90 million.
VIII. IAC/Federation Report – Jim Malley
We did better advocacy with state legislators than ever, but were not successful with the Governor’s office. We will need a new strategy going forward.
IX. Committee Reports
Family Support – At the last meeting there was a presentation by Autism Speaks. Services from Harlem Independent Living Center and CIDNY will be presented at the next meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, 5/14, at 10am at YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th floor. Call Amy Bittinger at 718-859-5420, ext. 234 for more information.
Legislative – The legislative breakfast in March was very successful. Huge turnout by families as well as many legislators. Thank you to all those that helped make the breakfast a huge success. Next meeting to be announced. Contact Jim Malley at jmalley@esperanzacenter.net for more information.
Transition – The committee discussed follow up with this year’s graduates. Approximate 65-75 need OPWDD services. Many are going to supported employment. About 10 have placements. The committee is concerned whether placements will be identified for about 5-6 people who are non-ambulatory, including 2 who are medically frail. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 8th at 9:30am at Life Adjustment Center, 1430 Broadway (at 40th Street), Suite 503. Call Kathy Kelly at 212-780-2724 for more information.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council – Marianne Ardito did a budget update at the last meeting, and there also was a presentation on Assistive Technology in the home. The next meeting will be announced. Call Margaret Puddington for more information, 212-799-2042.
Service Coordination – About 40 people attended Randi Rosenstein’s guardianship presentation. The committee is working on planning the forum. The forum is scheduled for May 23rd at PACE University. The next meeting will be announced. Contact Carol Lincoln to participate, clincoln@ucpnyc.org.
Children’s Committee – The last meeting was on 3/19. Dr. Frederick Daum from Winthrop University Hospital presented on toilet training for toddlers. The next meeting will be Tuesday, 5/14, at 9:30 at the Jewish Guild for the Blind, 15 West 65th Street. For information about the committee, contact Christina Muccioli at Christina.Muccioli@ahrcnyc.org.
Next meeting: NOTE CHANGE OF DATE: Thursday, May 16th, 9:30 a.m., at FEGS, 315 Hudson Street, 9th Floor (enter at 80 Van Dam Street).