Katherine's Updates -

Legislative Wrap Up, Children's Redesign and Federal Issues

April 13, 2011  

We have much to cover in this newsletter:

1.      Urgent Call to Action: This week we face a bill in Congress that will devastate individuals with disabilities, if passed;

 2.      Children's Redesign: New information has just been released regarding the Children's Redesign;

3.      State Legislative Report: Last week marked the end of one of the longest, most challenging legislative sessions in our state's history.  Click here to download the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities' Legislative Report;     (.pdf)

We certainly have faced many challenges throughout the past few months.  Even now we are facing federal legislation that will severely impact people with disabilities.  Considering the significance of past and present decisions and its consequences on people with disabilities and mental illness, it is essential that we continue keeping families, staff, colleagues and caregivers informed!
 

I am so very grateful for all your past support, hard work and advocacy. Together let us all resolve to continue our efforts to protect individuals with disabilities and mental illness.

Katherine 

Please forward this along to anyone you think may be interested in receiving these kinds of updates. Thanks!- Katherine

If you have any questions regarding how this will impact you, please email me this weekend: katherine.hansen@cp-of-idaho.com

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URGENT CALL TO ACTION:

Contact your Congressman by Friday, April 15:

House 2012 Federal Spending Plan is Devastating to People with Disabilities.

Last week, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released his Fiscal Year 2012 spending plan (known as a budget resolution).  This plan pulls the plug on people with disabilities, seniors, students, and the middle class to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy by targeting:

• Medicaid -  Cuts $1.4 trillion over 10 years, reducing federal support by about 33%.  Converts it to a block grant program
• Medicare -  Replaces Medicare with a voucher program
• Discretionary Programs - Eliminates most federal government programs outside of health care, Social Security, and defense over time as the cuts are so deep.
• Health Care Reform - Repeals and defunds the Affordable Care Act.

The $4.3 trillion from all of those cuts will be used to provide $4.2 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years.  Very little money will go towards deficit reduction.

Congressmen Labrador and Simpson should hear from concerned Idahoans.

The House of Representatives will vote on the Ryan budget plan this Friday, April 15. 

We must let them know that this plan is wrong for America. 

Please call your Representative this week.  Call toll free: 1-866-922-4970.  If the line is busy, please enter your zip code in the "call now" box to obtain the District Office phone number. 

Tell your Representative to Vote NO!

Children's Redesign Update

New information posted online   

Please visit www.redesignforchildren.medicaid.idaho.gov  to view the following updated information:

• Information on Parent and Provider Trainings
• Resources

We have an updated informational packet, rate chart and information on the budget categories 

• Competency Coursework

We have included an Information Release on Habilitative Intervention Coursework Requirements, an Application for Habilitative Intervention and Coursework Guidelines

• Case Management

We have included an Information Release on Case Management for Children with Developmental Disabilities

If you have received a forwarded email and would like to be put on Health & Welfare's direct email list, please send your email address to: Redesign@dhw.idaho.gov 

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ICDD's 2011 Legislative Report The 2011 Legislatureadjourned Sine Die on April 7, 2011

To view the the full text of bills go to the Idaho Legislature website at:

http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/legIndex.htm 

Rules

Docket No.16-0305-1001 - Eligibility for Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) - This rule reduces general fund expenditures. Idaho will only pay AABD cash to participants that are also receiving Federal Supplemental Security Income or (SSI) payments.  Also, individuals receiving assistance through the Developmental Disabilities waiver and living in a Certified Family Home (CFH) or Residential Assisted Living Facility (RALF) will no longer receive a cash payment. These changes are projected to reduce the Department of Health and Welfare general fund expenditures by approximately $1.3 million over the first 12 month period and will provide necessary savings with the projected growth over the next few years. None of the changes will result in a loss of federal matching monies because this benefit is paid with 100% state general funds.
  Status: Adopted
  Council Position: Monitored
Docket No. 16-0309-1002 - Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation Services -  The Department of Health and Welfare implemented a selective contract for a statewide transportation brokerage which controls costs and maintains access to non-emergency medical transport services for all Medicaid participants.
  Status: Adopted
  Council Position: Monitored
Docket No. 16-0309-1004 - Hospital Medicaid Reimbursement - This is a temporary rule, authorized by H0656 and H0701 in the 2010 session that allows changes in hospital reimbursement mechanisms to generate a $25 million savings in state general funds.
  Status: Adopted
  Council Position: Monitored
Docket No. 16-0309-1005 - Reductions in Basic Medicaid Plan Benefits (Temporary Rule).  These changes, made in order to achieve cost savings under the provisions of H0701 passed in 2010, include:  Specific changes include:
1. Limit contact lens benefits to circumstances where vision correction cannot be achieved by eyeglasses.
2. Require prior authorization for more expensive light weight lenses and conditions for payment of contact lens fitting fees;
  3.   Restructure the reimbursement of primary care case management;
  4.   Reduces benefits for evaluation and diagnostic services from an annual combined limitation of 12 hours to 4 hours per calendar year. This combined limitation includes speech and hearing evaluations, physical therapy evaluations, occupational therapy evaluations and diagnostic services. Psychological/Neuropsychological evaluations are separately limited to 4 hours for each eligible participant per calendar year.
  4. Reduce mental health treatment plan benefits;
  5. Eliminate collateral contact for mental health services, developmental disabilities services, and school-based services.
These rule changes are in effect through June 30, 2011.
  Status: Adopted
  Council Position: Monitored

for a .pdf of the full report, please click here

Medicaid Matters in Idaho

We plan to keep our Medicaid Matters in Idaho website current with information on upcoming changes, legislative updates, rule changes, trainings, news and FAQ's.   It has become an invaluable tool for keeping people across the state informed and empowered.  Thanks to everyone who has been involved in this statewide campaign to protect services for people with disabilities in Idaho. 

WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!