Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Town Hall Meetings Start Off Strong in Decatur


Last night, over 200 people packed the Shamrock High School cafeteria to kick off this year's series of Town Hall meetings on school transition. The presenters, Dr. Steve Hall, Nancy O Hara, and Susan Sherman fielded questions on the new waiver, the new graduation rules for students with IEPs, and how to enroll into Vocational Rehab services. Dr. Hall remains optimistic about the impact that the new waiver will have for individuals and their families, while Nancy O'Hara talked of the importance of including the employment dreams of the student and his or her family as the school team helps to develop a transition plan.

A big thank you to the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and Linda Wilson for sponsoring the event. We also appreciated the following Partners coming out to show their support: Rene Demry, Jackie Crews, Sara Takele, Dorothea Cadet, Nancy Sellars, Pam Cannon, Jennifer Dickson, Scott Bales, Elizabeth Goodrich, Millie Powell, Linda Wilson, Chris Hunnicutt, Mike Welter and Stacey Ramirez.


For more on what resources were discussed last night:

Monday, October 29, 2007

Opportunities for Collaboration Across Human Services Programs

The Finance Project Welfare Information Network

[The following is excerpted from the Introduction.]

Purpose of this Paper
The importance of collaboration and cooperation in the development and implementation of human service programs at the state and local level is increasing dramatically both from the perspective of effective services to families and that of efficiently stewarding resources in a time of fiscal pressure.
This paper provides agency and program leaders, governors staff, and legislative staff with a concise overview of some of the major human service programs administered at the state and local level. It also discusses the interdependence of those programs, their common goals, and the way in which those programs might work together. While directed largely at individuals new to these responsibilities it can also prove of value to more experienced staff as well.

Background
The leaders of state human services agencies and programs face an extraordinary series of challenges in the years ahead. These challenges are exacerbated by a combination of factors, including a slower than expected economic recovery, the extremely tight fiscal situation of government at all levels, and a continuing change in the underlying structure of federal programs as they go through the reauthorization process.
Increasingly, political leaders, advocates, researchers and public administrators are recognizing that social problems cannot always be solved within the constraints of individual programs and funding silos. Many families and individuals face multiple problems. And, many problems cannot be solved within the confines of a single program. As a result, there is a growing recognition that success will, in many cases, depend upon the ability of government to work with nonprofits and the private sector to create ready access to the comprehensive services needed.
While there are, and will be, many attempts to achieve comprehensive services through statutory changes and formal requirements for the integration of services, these efforts will probably fall short of the mark. As a result, both short- and long-term improvements will probably depend on efforts at the state and local levels to improve cooperation and coordination among existing programs and organizations.
Such efforts are difficult at best and are often hampered by a lack of information on the roles and responsibilities of other program and agencies. Efforts often fail because they begin with a demand for what one agency needs, rather than with the recognition of common goals and objectives or with a willingness to bring a resource to the table that can be shared with others.
In an effort to encourage greater dialogue at the national level, The Finance Projects Welfare Information Network invited leadership from ten organizations that represent state officials that administer fourteen human service programs to come together to discuss their individual organizations and to examine areas where they might work together. At its first meeting, this group identified the importance of collaboration at the service delivery level. It also noted the lack of information and tools that could assist their members in exploring opportunities for collaboration. Following an intensive discussion, the organizations agreed to explore a number of joint activities. This publication represents the first of those activities.

Click here for the complete publication.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Fall 2007 Project List for Partners' Graduates

We are looking for highly enthusiastic Partners and Voices alumni who want to make a contribution and to give back to Georgia and their communities. We have close to 600 graduates from across Georgia, and we are always looking for ways to get graduates connected to opportunities to use and grow their advocacy and leadership skills.

The following is a list of opportunities that are open to graduates.

Crisis Intervention Team Training-
• A training for police on crisis intervention. In conjunction with the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI), AADD has been training police officers on issues related to Developmental Disabilities. The CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training presents police officers with information about developmental disabilities and describes ways to effectively interact with people of varying exceptionalities. The trainings describe the challenges that police officers often face and the challenges a person with a developmental disability could face. We are looking for additional trainers to conduct training sessions in an effort to reach more officers around the metro area. This issue is of great importance to our families and communities. Trainings are held in Atlanta. Contact Emily Severtson.

Unlock Volunteer at the Capitol to survey legislators during the 08 session
• This project would involve coming to the Georgia Capitol during the legislative session and conducting one to one surveys with legislators on disability issues. There would be short training by phone or one on one to prepare you. Contact Joe Sarra.

Attend Legislative day at the Capitol-
• This project is an Advocacy 201 project for advocates who are ready to move to the next level. Advocates would participate in a training by conference call and would come to the Capitol to meet one on one with their own legislator. We piloted this project last year and now want to open it up to more advocates. Contact Rita Young to register. We will take the first 50 participants to respond. We hold this event separate from Disability Day in order to be able to support participants. This event will be held in early February.

Justice and DD Coalition- GA Code project
• The Coalition is a collaborative effort of disability professionals, providers, judges, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, advocates, and individuals with developmental disabilities designed to encourage the fair treatment and access to equal justice for individuals with developmental disabilities. Graduates would assist the coalition to implement an initiative to change the GA Code using concepts of People First Language. Contact Dave Blanchard for more details.

Aging and DD trainer-
• Trainers are needed to increase community awareness of aging with developmental disabilities and to provide and support partnerships, sharing of resources and information to family members, providers, and local and state agencies. This would involve coming to one train the trainer event in Atlanta and then delivering one training to one of the twelve Area Agencies on Aging. Contact Rita Young for more information. Trainers would receive compensation for their time training ,and an application and resume would need to be submitted for consideration.

Independent Care Waiver Program Support-
• Graduates would be assisting as needed for home and community based services for the ICWP waiver. This could include supporting people to give testimony, distributing fact sheets and other information to legislators. Contact Pat Puckett.

Supporting the organizing committee of Long Road Home
• On June 22, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of people with disabilities to live in their community through the Olmstead Decision. Each year, self-advocates and supporters have events to commemorate and show support for deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities. Contact Cheri Mitchell.

Start a self advocate network in your town-self advocates only
• Start a self advocate group in your community to meet, discuss and advocate for issues. Contact Kate Gainer.

Disability Day at the Capitol
• Be available to help the organizing committee of Disability day on February 21st as needed. Contact Kate Gainer for more information.

Start or join the a Navigator team in your county
• There are twenty six Navigator teams across the state of Georgia working within communities to support families of children with disabilities. Navigator teams were started a few years ago as a connection point for families looking for support and resources. Begin or join a chapter in your county by contacting marchia@parenttoparentofga.org

Peggy Thomas, class of 2005, chats with the Governor at a Braves game this fall


I told the Governor that sometimes after I attend a meeting at school for one of our students, afterward the teachers will make comments like: “If only the parents knew……”. My question was, when you are sitting around with Kathy Cox, what do you wish that parents and teachers ‘knew’ about your issues? His answer was “If a parent shows up for a meeting, I don’t judge their views. It’s the parents who are not engaged that I worry about.”
Peggy Thomas, Director
Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services
& Partners Graduate

CMS Moves to Pull Services for People with Mental Illness, Others

We received this email from SPADD on Wednesday:
From: Tiffany Neff
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:41 AM
Subject: FW: Members may want to read this.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that in August, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued a proposed regulation that would eliminate federal funding through Medicaid for states to provide community-based and school-based rehabilitative services intended to enable individuals with disabilities to improve their mental and physical well-being outside of an institutional setting.

The National Governor's Association (NGA) recently called on CMS to withdraw the proposed regulation, calling it a significant departure from states' authority to provide health-related services to Medicaid beneficiaries. For the report.
Unsure what this meant, we emailed folks at DHR yesterday and received this response yesterday from the Office of DD:
>>> Stephen Hall 10/25/2007 2:53:50 PM >>> This is about the rehab option, not DD. Thanks
And then a response from Chris Gault early this morning:
Attached is the letter that we wrote. Much has already been changed in Georgia as a result of CMS dis allowances in the TRIS program. CMS is supposed to post all the feedback they received during the public comment period, which ended on Oct 12. I tried to check just now to see if they are posted but their site is down. Try www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking later and you might see the comments. The reference to the proposed rule is 2261-P.
Chris
We hope that his information is helpful and would love your comments.

Governor's Response to Sarah Pike

STATE OF GEORGIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
ATLANTA 30334-0900

Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR

October 24, 2007

Dear Ms. Pike:

Thank you for contacting my office to share your thoughts regarding services for Georgians with disabilities. I appreciate your concerns.

I am proud of the support that we have been able to provide for Mental Retardation/ Developmental Disability (MR/DD) services during my administration. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2006, we provided funding for 925 new MR/DD services. The FY 2007 Appropriation Bill created funding for 1,500 new Medicaid Waiver services, including funding to allow 150 children, adolescents and adults with DD to transition from institutions to community services. Also, the FY 2007 budget included funds to strengthen our MR/DD system's capacity to meet the increasingly complex needs of our consumer population. On an annual basis, the FY 2007 appropriation will total over $19 million in state dollars, the largest increase in MR/DD funding in Georgia's history.

Developing our state's budget involves making difficult decisions as we must weigh and prioritize the many competing and important needs of the people of our state. However, I want to assure you that I will not forget my respect for and commitment to Georgians with disabilities during this budget cycle.

If you have concerns about a specific budget item, I invite you to share your ideas with the members of the General Assembly who represent your district, as the General Assembly has the constitutional duty to annually appropriate the funds necessary to operate all state agencies and departments. Thank you again for sharing your unique perspective.

AADD’s Metro SOAR Special Olympics Swim Team

LOCATION: EMORY UNIVERSITY POOL
Pool Located at Woodruff Physical Education Center
Woodruff PE Center 30322

Parking can be found in the Peavine Parking Deck across from the Woodruff P.E. Center/pool and is free of charge.

2007-08 Season Starts October 23, 2007
Tuesday Evenings 7:30 - 8:30 PM

This program is opened to all levels of swimmers. We have participants that can’t swim at all to swimmers that can swim at a fast competitive level. Also, we have training for Unified Special Olympics where people without disabilities compete on the same team with our Special Olympians against other Unified Special Olympic teams.

We are fortunate to have members of the Emory University Swim Team as out coaches.

We host several “friendly” swim meets each year and swim at the State Special Olympics summer games May.

Swimmers need to be a registered athlete with Special Olympics.

If you need to know if you are registered with Special Olympics or need registration forms contact Dan at the AADD office: (404) 881-9777 Ext. 216

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Employment Resources

U.S. Department of Education (DOEd) Highlights Promising Practices for Basic Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies Helping Transition Age Youth.

The U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) monitored 23 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies funded under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. These agencies, their stakeholders, and RSA identified promising practices that provide useful samples of programs and services that promote youth with disabilities transitioning from school to employment. One state agency recognized is the Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services which is a partner in the Department of Labors systems change grant entitled Shared Youth Vision Federal Collaborative Partnership. The purpose of the Shared Youth Vision grant is to create state teams that will undertake strategic planning activities to develop a system that will improve services to youths by leveraging resources, aligning policy, and other activities.

Disability Data Resources: Office of Disability Employment Policy Website

SUMMARY: Who are people with disabilities? What do we know about people with disabilities? How many individuals with disabilities use assistive devices? How many people with disabilities are working? What are people with disabilities' demographics? Numerous resources are available to provide statistical data to answer these questions and provide information on other disability related topics. This website compiles a list of other sites which have disability data readily accessible.

Housing News & Events Update:

State Policy in Practice: A Medicaid Primer for Housing Officials
SUMMARY: The most striking characteristic of housing and health care in this country is the disconnection between the two. Access to affordable, accessible housing is critical to the success of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program, which will provide opportunities for thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries living in institutions to relocate to the community. Presented in a concise question and answer format, this document explains many of the features of what can be a complicated program.


DisabilityInfo.gov
HUD Awards More Than $18 Million in Grants to Fight Housing Discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded 88 grants totaling $17.1 million to recipients in 37 states and the District of Columbia to help fight housing discrimination. One of the grant recipients, Access Living of metropolitan Chicago, is part of the Department's national effort to reduce discrimination against persons with disabilities. Access Living will use the grant to conduct fair housing enforcement activities.

Click the titles for more information.

New Online Tool For Side-by-Side Comparisons of Presidential Candidate Health Care Proposals

As part of its ongoing effort to inform debate about health care issues in the 2008 presidential election, the Kaiser Family Foundation has released an interactive online tool to compare the health care proposals of presidential candidates. The tool, 2008 Presidential Candidate Health Care Proposals: Side-by-Side Summary is available here. It summarizes positions in four overall categories of access to health care coverage, cost containment, improving the quality of care, and financing.

The online tool allows users to customize side-by-side comparisons by selecting as many as four candidates for comparison that can then be formatted into a printer-friendly format. Users will also be able to print out documents comparing all the Democratic candidates and all the Republican candidates.

The candidates' summaries were prepared by Foundation staff with the assistance of Health Policy Alternatives, Inc. They are based on information appearing on the candidates' websites and supplemented with information from candidate speeches, the campaign debates and news reports. The sources of information are identified for each candidate's summary (with Internet links). Information will be updated regularly as the campaign unfolds.

The new tool is part of health08.org, a website operated by the Foundation providing analysis of health policy issues, regular public opinion surveys, and news and video coverage from the campaign trail. For further information on the side-by-side comparison or other health08.org efforts contact health08web@kff.org.

Have you contacted your Congress person and Senators supporting the Community Choice Act?

Click here for each Senator or Representative's congressional website, where address, phone number, e-mail, and other information can be found.

Sponsors from GA

-Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] - 10/9/2007
-Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] - 8/2/2007

A COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO NURSING HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Families are in crisis. When support services are needed there are no real choices in the community. Whether a child is born with a disability, an adult has a traumatic injury or a person becomes disabled through the aging process, they overwhelmingly wan t their attendant services provided in their own homes, not nursing homes or other large institutions. People with disabilities and their families will no longer tolerate being forced into selecting institutions. It's time for Real Choice.

The Community Choice Act provides an alternative and will fundamentally change our long term care system and the institutional bias that now exists. Building on the Money Follows the Person concept, the two million Americans currently residing in nursing homes and other institutions would have a choice. In addition, people would not be forced into institutions in order to get out on community services; once they are deemed eligible for the institutional services, people with disabilities and their families will be able to choose where and how they receive services. Instead of making a new entitlement, the Community Choice Act, makes the existing entitlement more flexible.


Find out about current action on the Community Choice Act from THOMAS, the Library of Congress Database.
The Senate Bill is S. 799 and the House Bill is H.R. 1621.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Did you know that 1 out of 5 Americans has a disability?

Many people don't realize that people with disabilities are America's largest minority group. Despite this significant presence, there is a lack of regular public dialogue about how to be inclusive of this major segment of our population. As a result, it is all too common for people with disabilities to be overlooked and underrepresented in community activities and in the workplace.

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Bobby Dodd Institute is providing free online disability awareness training. The Web site provides the answers, tips, and resources to connect businesses to this untapped labor resource and to ultimately make a difference in the underemployment of people with disabilities. The majority of these resources are appropriate for disability awareness in a non-business setting as well.

Please take a few minutes to increase your disability awareness

by visiting www.bobbydodd.org.


Thank you!

Medicaid spending jumps sharply

By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY

Medicaid spending has started to soar again, a sharp reversal from last year when costs unexpectedly fell for the first time since the program began in 1965.
The state-federal health care program for the poor experienced a 10.7% jump in costs during the first six months of the year, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data. That's the biggest increase since 2001 and puts Medicaid on pace to spend a record $330 billion in 2007.


Click for the full article.

What else could I be reading?

This past Partners weekend, we had a couple of suggestions on books that might reinforce what we are learning about disability. In September's session, Kathie Snow discussed the eugenics movement in the U.S. and recommended War Against the Weak by Edwin Black. One of our current Partners already read the book, and said it was a chilling commentary on how prevelant the idea of eliminating types of people who are different from society was in our country.



Bruce Anderson spent two days with us in October speaking on community building. He reminded us to that advocacy only works when you're watching, and that part of our charge is to change the imagination of other people on how people with disabilities belong in community. Bruce taught that we have to believe in the capacity of everyone in order for them to feel truly welcomed, and that we have to discover how to frame our issues in a way to get more people involved.



Write me if you get a chance to read any of the books recommended. Also let us know if you have other suggestions.

Employment Resources

The Disability Law & Policy e-Newsletter, Vol 4, No. 14 - An electronic publication of The Law, Health Policy & Disability Center at the University of Iowa College of Law - and The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University

Employing Persons with Disabilities in Colorado

The State of Colorado is asking businesses to hire people with disabilities after realizing that half of the 29,299 individuals with disabilities in Colorado are unemployed. To remedy this situation Colorado has set aside $200,000 to educate business owners about the benefits of employing persons with disabilities. In situations where businesses need to expend extra monies to employ people with disabilities, the state has agreed to temporary relief in the form of reimbursing the salary of the employee with disabilities to assist those businesses.

Full Story: Peter Swanson, Colorado Urging Businesses to Hire People with Disabilities, Colorado Springs Gazette, September 28, 2007.

The Riot! Jobs Issue is now available.

You can also read past issues of The Riot!, purchase self-advocacy materials, or get your Riot! Gear at www.theriotrocks.org.

RRTC on Work Supports: Workplace Resources

The resources in this section are materials and information that facilitate employment and job retention for individuals with disabilities, including new knowledge gained from the Center's research activities. Resources of interest include:
Accommodations
Assistive Technology
Employer Partnerships
Recruiting and Hiring People with Disabilities

Supreme Court Deadlocks on Special Education Case

The U.S. Supreme Court split 4-4 over whether school districts must finance private education for disabled children who haven't tried a public special education program first.

After hearing arguments on Oct. 1, the justices said in a one-page statement today they were upholding a lower court ruling that a man was entitled to be reimbursed for his disabled son's private schooling in New York City. The action sets no nationwide precedent. The father, identified in court papers as Tom F., is former Viacom Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tom Freston, according to the Associated Press.

"All the school districts in the country would like a more definitive result," said Leonard Koerner, a lawyer for the New York City school board, which argued against reimbursement.

The legal question may be raised before the Supreme Court again in an effort to get a decision with nationwide effect, said Paul Gardephe, an attorney for the father. Until then, the ruling is limited to the 2nd Circuit, which covers New York, Connecticut and Vermont.

"With no clear idea how they would vote, I'm pleased it came out the way it did," said Gardephe.

Justice Anthony Kennedy didn't participate in the case, giving no reasons. The court, as is its practice in deadlocked cases, didn't say which of the other eight justices were on which side of the case.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

NECTAC eNotes - October 12, 2007
2nd Quarter 2007 Policy Letters of Clarification on IDEA from the U.S. Department of Education

Source: U.S. Department of Education - October 12, 2007
Letters from the U.S. Department of Education received by individuals during the 2nd quarter of 2007, which describe interpretations of the IDEA and its implementing regulations are now available online .
For links to letters of clarification that address early childhood provisions of the IDEA (Part C and Section 619), click here.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Statewide Projects for Advocacy Training Graduates

To further promote opportunities for graduates of advocacy training programs to stay involved, Partners participants in the current class, as well as alumni, and Georgia Voice that Count graduates will be sent a list of advocacy projects that need volunteers through this fall and winter. Partners in the current class will be asked to chose one or more of the following as their major project for the course.

The projects include:

Crisis Intervention Training- (at this time, for metro graduates only)
A training for police on crisis intervention. In conjunction with the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI), AADD has been training police officers on issues related to Developmental Disabilities. The CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training presents police officers with information about developmental disabilities and describes ways to effectively interact with people of varying exceptionalities. The trainings describe the challenges that police officers often face and the challenges a person with a developmental disability could face.

Unlock Volunteer at the Capitol to survey legislators during the 08 session
This project would involve coming to the Georgia Capitol during the legislative session and conducting one to one surveys with legislators on disability issues.

Attend Legislative day at the Capitol-
This project is an Advocacy 201 project for advocates who are ready to move to the next level in their training. Advocates would participate in a training by conference call and would come to the Capitol to meet one on one with their own legislator.

Trip to Central State and write an op-ed piece for your local paper (Partners current class only)

Justice and DD Coalition- GA Code project (at this time, metro graduates only)
The Coalition is a collaborative effort of disability professionals, providers, judges, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, advocates, and individuals with developmental disabilities designed to encourage the fair treatment and access to equal justice for individuals with developmental disabilities. Graduates would assist the coalition to implement an initiative to change the GA Code using concepts of People First Language.

Aging and DD trainer
Trainers are needed to increase community awareness of aging with developmental disabilities and to provide and support partnerships, sharing of resources and information to family members, providers, and local and state agencies. This would involve coming to one train the trainer event in Atlanta and then delivering one training to one of the twelve Area Agencies on Aging.

Independent Care Waiver Program Support
Graduates would be assisting as needed for home and community based services for the ICWP waiver. This could include supporting people to give testimony, distributing fact sheets and other information to legislators.

Supporting the organizing committee of Long Road Home
On June 22, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of people with disabilities to live in their community through the Olmstead Decision. Each year, self-advocates and supporters have events to commemorate and show support for deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities.

Start a self advocate network in your town-self advocates only
Start a self advocate group in your community to meet, discuss and advocate for issues.

Disability Day at the Capitol
Be available to help the organizing committee of Disability day on February 21st as needed.

Start or join the a Navigator team in your county
There are twenty six Navigator teams across the state of Georgia working within communities to support families of children with disabilities. Navigator teams were started a few years ago as a connection point for families looking for support and resources.

What are other projects that you are working on? What are you hearing about across the state that we are missing?


Thursday, October 11, 2007

Nandi Isaac, Partners class of 2004, accepts the "Courage Award"

She accepted the award from the Tubman Museum in Macon. The award ceremony was on October 9th in Atlanta. Other award winners included US Congressman John Lewis. He received the "Lifetime Achievement Award."


"It was an AWESOME ceremony!"

Help SCHIP/Human Needs: Forward to Your State Network! -- DEADLINE 10/12

This is a giant collaborative effort with the Coalition for Human Need. Our state is a key target. It touches on SCHIP and L-HHS-ED appropriations.


Show Congress Broad Support to Override the President's SCHIP Veto - and to Meet Human Needs
State Organizations Needed to Sign Letters in 12 States--Click to sign for Georgia .
- Deadline, Friday, October 12
To our Friends in National Organizations:

The President's veto of the children's health insurance bill (SCHIP) will come up for a House override vote on October 18. We want to show strong support for the override in 12 states whose members of Congress can provide the margin of victory for millions of children.
We can do this through letters signed by organizations in those states - from local congregations to statewide groups. The letters will be sent to every member in the state's delegation.
The message: congregations, child care centers, health providers, social service agencies, professionals, labor, advocates, and concerned citizen groups statewide want Members of Congress to vote for children's health coverage, and to vote for human needs appropriations to invest in healthy children, educated workers, and secure families and seniors.

You can also help show the breadth of support for SCHIP and human needs by forwarding this request to your state/local networks in these states: CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, and VA. (Please click on your state for a sample letter)
Or copy and paste this link in an email: http://aaddpolitical.blogspot.com/





SCHIP Fact Sheet:


~The Bi-Partisan CHIPRA legislation, vetoed by the President, would increase federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion over the next 5 years. Georgia would receive over $400 million in federal funds per year, an additional $240 million over current baseline federal funding for the PeachCare program. Georgia needs an additional $130 million above current federal funding levels simply to serve the 275,000 low-income children currently enrolled in PeachCare. The additional $240 million would enable Georgia to serve not only the 275,000 low-income children already enrolled, but would enable Georgia to serve an additional 100,000 low-income children currently eligible for PeachCare but not enrolled. This is a great deal for Georgia taxpayers in that the state contributes only $1 for every $2.70 received from the Federal government for the PeachCare program.

~The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that nationally, over two-thirds of all children who would gain SCHIP coverage due to additional funding contained in CHIPRA would otherwise be uninsured. This compares to the President's health care proposals relying on tax deductions and credits where 77 percent of the benefits would go to people who already have health insurance. CBO director Peter Orszag has stated that he "has not seen another plan that adds 5 million kids to [SCHIP and Medicaid] with a 33 percent crowd out rate. This is pretty much as good as it is going to get."

~Nationally, of the 3.8 million children who would benefit from the additional funding, it is estimated that 84 percent are children who have incomes below the current eligibility limits set by states.
~PeachCare is a government-subsidized program, not a government-run (single-payer or socialized medicine) health system. PeachCare beneficiaries receive coverage through private managed care plans. The American Medical Association, as well as trade associations for private insurance companies and drug companies, supports the efforts in Congress to use SCHIP to cover substantially more uninsured low-income children.

~PeachCare recipients share in the cost of the program. PeachCare charges a sliding scale premium that tops out at $35 per month per child with a family cap of $70 per month.

~Non-citizens are not eligible for SCHIP. The Bi-Partisan CHIPRA legislation vetoed by the President extends the Medicaid citizenship documentation requirement to SCHIP.

GBPI's research reports are available on its website at www.gbpi.org.

- Meeting Agenda:

October 11, 2007, 10:30 a.m.
Twin Towers Building
20th Floor, West Tower, Floyd Room
200 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

A. Call to Order - Richard Holmes, Chairman
B. Approval/Adoption of Minutes - Mark Oshnock, Secretary
C. Opening Comments - Richard Holmes
D. Commissioner’s Comments - Dr. Rhonda Medows
E. Committee Report
Audit Committee - Mark Oshnock, Chair
F. Department Updates
1. Chief Financial Officer - Carie Summers
▪Final Adoption of SHBP Rules 111-4-1-.01 and .13
▪Initial Adoption of Mental Retardation Waiver
Program/Community Habilitation and Support
Services Public Notice
▪Disproportionate Share Hospital Presentation
and Initial Adoption of DSH Public Notice

2. Director, Health Planning - Clyde Reese
▪Initial Adoption of Certificate of Need Rules

3. Chief, State Health Benefit Plan - Nancy Goldstein
▪SHBP Strategy

G. New Business and Chairman’s Closing Comments - Richard Holmes
H. Adjourn

Next Meeting
Thursday, November 8, 2007, 10:30 a.m.
Twin Towers Building
20th Floor, West Tower, Floyd Room
200 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Updates/Reminders from the R5 Office:

~It is expected that the DCH Program Integrity Unit will be reviewing up to 90% of waiver approved providers.

~Remember that your programs need to be in compliance with both Part I and the Part II General Guidelines sections of the DCH Provider Manual.

~Remember the three manuals to follow: DCH, DHR, ORS.

~DHR plans to publish revisions to the Provider Manual on a quarterly basis.

~Provider application backlog: DCH and the Office of DD have added temporary staff to address this. The general prioritizing method being used is as follows: 1) Addition of sites/services for current providers, 2) Brand New Providers,3) SOURCE Providers coming into DHR.

~DHR is working to streamline the Provider Application process where possible.

Thanks and have a good week.

Charles Ringling
Region 5 Coordinator

Monday, October 01, 2007

Education RESOURCES

Draft Language for No Child Left Behind Act
Reauthorization Is Available

The House Education and Labor Committee, chaired by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), released a staff discussion draft of all titles of the No Child Left Behind Act in early September. The Senate has set a target date of Oct. 4 for releasing its version of the bill. The House draft language is available online.

Special Education, Parent Resources Update: Yes I Can! Award
Each year the Council for Exceptional Children honors 27 students who have excelled despite their disability. Since the programs inception in 1982, more than 30,000 children and youth have been recognized for their achievements and received the Yes I Can! Award. Nomination deadline is October 16, 2007. This information has recently been updated, and can be accessed by clicking here

Technology News & Events Update: IDEAS 2007
IDEAS 2007 is the Federal government's annual conference on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1998, which requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. This year's conference will be held on October 31-November 1, 2007 at the Washington, DC Convention Center. This information has recently been updated, and can be accessed by clicking here.

Aging & Developmental Disabilities Resources

National Institute on Aging Website
SUMMARY: Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NIA website offers up-to-date information on aging research. Visit the site to find out the latest research and which clinical trials are recruiting as well as funding opportunities. Studies are related to aging issues such as Alzheimer's, muscular diseases, Osteoarthritis, Insulin Resistance, High Blood Pressure, Caregiver Stress, Mobility Limitation, Sleep Disorders and more. The site is also now available in Spanish.
TOPIC(S): Aging Issues
Source: National Institute on Aging
MORE INFO: www.hcbs.org

Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants Program Press Release
SUMMARY: HHS announced an $8.8 million investment to help states provide more affordable choices to individuals struggling to remain in their homes and communities as they age. A total of $5.7 million in federal funding was awarded to 12 states for grants for this nursing home diversion program that will improve state efforts to assist individuals avoid unnecessary nursing home placement, impoverishment and spend-down to Medicaid.
TOPIC(S): Aging Issues, Consumer Direction, Financing HCBS, Money Follows the Person, Transition/ Diversion from Institutions
Source: AoA, HHS
MORE INFO: www.hcbs.org

Oklahoma Partnership Manual Handouts
SUMMARY: The fundamental structure to both of Oklahoma's Real Choice System Change grants is an infrastructure that supports a service delivery system that is accountable to Oklahoma long-term care stakeholders. Grant monies will be used to create and support an Oklahoma Partnerships consisting of consumers and advocates. This handout offers an introduction to the system and terms used in the grant partnership.
TOPIC(S): Long-Term Care
Source: Grantee produced, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Long Term Care Authority
MORE INFO: www.hcbs.org

Partnership Development: Aging and Developmental Disability Coalition
SUMMARY: Diverse partnerships ensure that the needs and interests of all aging and developmental disability client groups are represented. The Georgia ADRC developed this resource to help organizations build partnerships between Aging and Developmental Disability groups. Partnerships often emerge naturally between individuals and organizations who share a common vision or concern. This resource provides a series of questions and points to consider when partnering organizations and networks.
TOPIC(S): Aging Issues, Developmental/Psychiatric Disabilities, Resource Center
Source: Grantee produced, Georgia
MORE INFO: www.hcbs.org

Panel Urges Broader Coverage of Home and Community Based Care

AAPD--American Association of People with Disabilities

State health care officials and other witnesses told the Senate Finance Committee Sept. 25 that there is "an institutional bias" in the Medicaid program that places people with disabilities and the elderly in nursing homes, instead of allowing them to live in their own homes with home and community based care.

Speaking at a Sept. 25 committee hearing on "Home and Community Based Care: Expanding Options for Long Term Care," panelists urged support of the Community Care Act (S. 799) that would give Medicaid beneficiaries the choice of either going to a nursing home or getting personal care attendant services in their own homes.

Bill sponsor Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told the committee that "there is a Medicaid bias where two-thirds of the money goes to nursing homes and a third goes to community care."

He added that home and community based services (HCBS) would provide personal attendance services that allow people to live independently and fully participate in their communities, goals he said were part of the Americans With Disabilities Act that became law 17 years ago.

'Mandatory' Option

Although Iowa and other states have Medicaid waivers to offer HCBS, Harkin said there are "bureaucratic entanglements" for participating in the services, including a Medicaid spending cap and long waiting lists.

"It is time to move beyond the waivers and have broad-based community care," Harkin said.

The deputy secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, and the director of Montana Fair Housing echoed the request that Congress pass a law making HCBS a mandatory option offered under the Medicaid program.

"By making HCBS a mandatory benefit it would greatly reduce the institutional bias," said Mitchell La Plante, associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Social and Behavioral Science.
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Panel Urges Broader Coverage