November 13,
2007
MEDICAID ACTION ALERT
Please Take Action Today!
Call Senator Elizabeth Dole and Senator Richard Burr!
Urge Our Senators to Support the Moratorium on the Proposed
Regulations on Medicaid's Rehab Option and School Based Services by Signing the
Sanders-Collins-Casey "Dear Colleague" Letter.
Background:
The Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued two proposed Medicaid regulations which,
if implemented, would have a severe impact on children and adults with
intellectual and other developmental disabilities. One would limit habilitation
services for people with developmental disabilities under Medicaid's
rehabilitative services option. The other would limit school based services and
transportation for Medicaid eligible children receiving IDEA services.
A two year moratorium on these proposed regulations, which would
prevent CMS from taking any action to implement them, is part of the SCHIP
reauthorization bill. However it is unclear whether that bill will become law
this year.
Status:
Senators Sanders (D-VT),
Collins (R-ME), and Casey (D-PA_ are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter
urging their colleagues to sign a letter to Finance Committee Chairman Max
Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) urging them to include
the two-year Medicaid regulation moratorium in the a forthcoming Medicare bill.
(Congress will soon be considering a bill on Medicare reimbursements to
physicians).
It is important that as many Senators as possible sign this
letter. Hearing from their constituents will encourage them to do so.
The deadline for Senators to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter is
close of business Thursday, November 15th.
Action Needed!
Call your Senators' Washington offices before Thursday,
November 15.
You can: Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
and ask for your Senators' office OR Call Senator Elizabeth Dole's office at
(202) 224-6342, Senator Richard Burr's office at (202) 224-3154.
Talking points
-
May I please speak with the staff person who handles
Medicaid or health care?
-
I am calling to urge the Senator to sign on to the
"Sanders-Collins-Casey" Dear Colleague Letter. This letter urges the Finance
Committee to include a two-year moratorium on proposed Medicaid regulations
in the Medicare bill. If implemented, these regulations would severely limit
services which are critical to children and adults with developmental
disabilities.
-
If the Senator has not seen the letter, has questions,
or is willing to sign on, he/she should call Abby Driscoll in Senator
Sanders' office (for Democratic offices) or Priscilla Hanley in Senator
Collins' office (for Republican offices). The deadline for Senators to sign
the letter is close of business Thursday, November 15th.
Thank you for your advocacy!
Julia Leggett
Policy Coordinator
The Arc of North
Carolina
343 E. Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
E-mail
jleggett@arcnc.org
Policy Blog
www.thearcnc.blogspot.com
Late Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Legislative Update: Representative Bob Etheridge Will Vote
for the Override.
The News and Observer's Blog, Under the Dome, is
reporting that Representative Bob Etheridge has decided to vote to override
President Bush's veto of SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program).
The Arc of North Carolina has issued a series of Action Alerts requesting
Representative Etheridge vote for the reauthorization and expansion of SCHIP and
vote to override the veto.
On Tuesday, Representative Mike McIntyre announced that he
would vote to override the veto, switching his previous vote.
The Arc of North Carolina has been partnering in this effort
with Action for Children and the North Carolina Health Access Coalition.
Read the Under the Dome report:
http://projects.newsobserver.com/dome
October
16, 2007
SCHIP ACTION ALERT: Take Action Wednesday October
17!
Help Protect
the Health of Children by Supporting the State Children's Health Insurance
Program.
On Wednesday,
October 17, 2007, we need you to call the offices of Representative Bob
Etheridge (D, 2nd District) and Representative Robin Hayes (R, 8th District).
Background:
Thursday, October
18th, the U.S. House of Representatives is schedule to vote on overriding
President Bush's veto of legislation to reauthorize and expand SCHIP.
This important
legislation does provide health insurance for over 1,300 children in North
Carolina with special needs. This legislation also includes a six-month
moratorium on proposed regulations to limit habilitation services under
Medicaid's rehabilitative services option.
Here is what is
at stake:
-
Health
insurance for children in families with incomes up 250% of the federal
poverty level.
-
No exclusion
from coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
-
Coverage of
dental care.
-
Parity for
mental health services.
-
A provision
for a 6-month moratorium on proposed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services regulations on Medicaid's rehabilitation option and school based
services for Medicaid-eligible children with disabilities. These regulations
would result in billions of dollars in cuts for services for children with
disabilities.
We need your voices to help the
House of Representatives override the Presidential veto of SCHIP.
If you live in
the following House members' districts we need you to call them.
-
Representative Bob Etheridge (D, 2nd District)
Representative Robin Hayes (R, 8th District)
CALL 1-800-828-0498
ASK to be connected to the office of
Representative Etheridge or Hayes.
TELL THEM:
-
To change
their vote against kids into a vote for kids.
-
Please vote
for uninsured children in our district and vote to override President Bush's
veto of the expansion of the children's health insurance program.
-
Children with
special needs are currently served by SCHIP and we need to serve more
children with special needs. This expansion legislation will help make that
happen.
-
This
legislation includes a 6 month moratorium on CMS rules that would limit
habilitation services under Medicaid's rehabilitative services option. This
moratorium is important to people with disabilities and their families.
-
North
Carolina did not have enough money to cover families of 4 making under
$41,300 because so many lower-income kids in NC need coverage. The program
was saved in NC by shifting younger children into Medicaid. We need this
new money just to cover the lowest income children in the state.
-
A 61 cent
increase in the federal cigarette tax to fund the program means 3-4 times
more money for NC in increased funding for children's health insurance than
we will ever lose from the increase in the cost of cigarettes.
Thank you for
your advocacy.
Julia
Leggett-Policy Coordinator, The Arc of NC
SCHIP ACTION ALERT
October 10, 2007
SCHIP (State
Children's Health Insurance Program) expansion legislation, which was vetoed by
President Bush, will be returning to the U.S. House the week of October 15th..
Leadership in
the House has been working to secure enough votes to override the veto.
In North Carolina, only five members of Congress voted to support the expansion
of SCHIP. That means ten members of Congress voted against expanding health
insurance to children in our state.
We need
your voices to help the House of Representatives override the Presidential veto
of SCHIP.
Action
Needed
If you live in
the following House member's districts we need you to call them.
-
Representative Bob Etherdridge (D, 2nd
District)
-
Representative McIntyre (D, 7thDistrict)
-
Representative Hayes (R, 8th District)
CALL
1-800-828-0498 and ask to be connected to the office of Representatives McIntyre,
Etheridge or Hayes.
TELL THEM:
To change their vote against
kids into a vote FOR kids.
-
Please
vote for uninsured children in our district and vote to override President
Bush's veto of the expansion of the children's health insurance program.
-
Children
with disabilities are currently served by SCHIP and we need to serve more
children with disabilities. This expansion legislation will help make that
happen.
-
A 61
cents increase in the federal cigarette tax to fund the program means 3-4
times more money for NC in increased funding for children's health insurance
than we will ever lose from the increase in the cost of cigarettes.
-
NC farmers
and quota holders are in the process of getting over $11 billion in direct
payments from the tobacco buyout and the national tobacco settlement.
-
Isn't it
about time we helped children -especially of workers in other
industries who are losing health care?
Thank you for
your advocacy.
Julia Leggett,
Policy Coordinator, The Arc of NC
Check
out The Arc's Policy Blog at:
http://www.thearcnc.blogspot.com/
URGENT! September 25, 2007
Calls Needed Today to Support SCHIP bill!
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the State
Children's Health Insurance Program bill this afternoon - Tuesday, September 25.
Background: This vote will be on a House-Senate agreement to
reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). By providing
$35 billion over 5 years, it will continue coverage for the approximately 6
million children in the program including eligible children with disabilities.
This funding increase will add an additional 4 million children.
The agreement also includes a 6 month moratorium on proposed
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations on Medicaid's
rehabilitation option and school based services for Medicaid eligible children
with disabilities. A moratorium was a high priority of the disability community.
President Bush has threatened to veto the SCHIP bill. A strong
vote in the House will show that the President's veto can be overridden.
Take Action Please Call your Representative Now!
The vote on the SCHIP agreement is only hours away.
Call toll-free: 1-800-828-0498. You will be connected to the
Capitol Switchboard -ask for your Representative's office (to find your
Representative's name: enter your zip code at
http://www.house.gov/ (you'll find the box at the top left).
Tell your Representative: "Please vote for the State Children's
Health Insurance Program bill! I'm a constituent"
Thank you for your action! Every phone call matters!
Have You Visited our
New Policy
Blog Page Yet?
The Arc of North Carolina is proud and excited to introduce
its official policy Blog. The Blog offers in depth coverage of policy issues
affecting people with cognitive and developmental disabilities in North
Carolina. The Blog features posts on state and federal policy as well as a
special section titled "Julia's Musings" where our Policy Coordinator will give
her "spin" on the issues.
http://www.thearcnc.blogspot.com/
NC LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
URGENT ACTION REQUESTED!
CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY
Please Take Action Immediately on House
Bill 1366
The School Violence Prevention Act
August 2, 2007
On August 1, 2007, The Senate passed
a gutted version of the School Violence Prevention Act (HB 1366), removing the
enumerated categories, including children with disabilities. This bill no longer
offers specific protection to the most vulnerable students in our schools.
There is Hope.....We Still
Have Time to Act.....
Please Call or Email your House member today!
The Message:
Tell your Representative to NOT
CONCUR with the Senate's weakened version of the bill.
If the House members reject the Senate's
gutted version, a committee of legislators will be appointed by both
chambers and will be able to adopt a version of the bill that does offer the
protections specified by the original bill.
To find out who your representative is by zip
code:
http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html
To contact your representative
by telephone use the General Assembly Switchboard 919-733-4111
Thank you for helping protect students with
disabilities from bullying in schools!
As always, please call The Arc of NC
with questions 1-800-662-8706
NC LEGISLATIVE ACTION-ALERT URGENT
ACTION REQUESTED!
July 26, 2007
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES NEED YOU
TO SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT!
PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL THE SENATOR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY!!
House Bill 1366 (the bullying bill) passed the House
with your help (thank you!) and now we need to get it through the
Senate Judiciary Meeting. Students with disabilities across our state
expressed their concerns over being bullied and harassed in school. This
bill will protect the most vulnerable students in our state.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN: PLEASE E-MAIL THESE SENATORS NOW
Chair:
Chairman Sen. Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr,
Fletcherh@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Sen.Austin
M. Allran, Austina@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Sen. Doug
Berger, Dougb@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Sen. Ed
Jones, Dougb@ncleg.net
Members:
Senator Tom Apodaca
Toma@ncleg.net , Senator Bob Atwater
Boba@ncleg.net
Senator Stan Bingham
Stanb@ncleg.net, Senator Walter H. Dalton
Walterd@ncleg.net
Senator Charlie S.
Dannelly Charlied@ncleg.net, Senator
Katie G. Dorsett Katied@ncleg.net
Senator Don East
Done@ncleg.net , Senator W. Edward (Eddie)
Goodall Eddieg@ncleg.net
Senator Jim Jacumin
Jimja@ncleg.net, Senator John H. Kerr III
Johnk@ncleg.net
Senator Joe Sam Queen
Joeq@ncleg.net, Senator John Snow
Johns@ncleg.net
Senator A.B. Swindell
Abs@ncleg.net
TELL THEM:
-
Vote YES for the BILL
-
HB 1366 enumerates protected categories to protect children
most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the
needs of students with disabilities.
-
To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently
in this important legislation.
-
Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in
Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with
bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders
recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a
protected category for students with disabilities.
-
This legislation will support students with disabilities by
utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with
disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be
protected from bullying and harassment.
-
Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all
students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or
ability are valued and deserve protection.
To Find Your Senator by
Zip Code follow the link below
http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html
House Bill 1366: School
Violence Prevention Act.
Primary Sponsors:
Representatives Glazier, Fisher, Justice, and Stiller An Act to enact the school
violence prevention act.
To read H1366:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1366v1.html
Thank you for your
advocacy and as always call The Arc of NC with any questions at 1-800-662-8706.
Legislative Alert-
Action Needed on Bullying in School
July 23, 2007
ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED! TAKE ACTION NOW! CALL AND EMAIL YOUR
SENATOR TODAY!!!!
The Senate Votes on House Bill 1366: School Violence Prevention
Act.
House Bill 1366: The school Violence Prevention Act will be in
the Senate Judiciary II committee on Tuesday, July 24, 2007.
This bill passed the House with your help and now we need to get
it through the Senate. Students with disabilities across our state expressed
their concerns over being bullied and harassed in school. This bill will protect
the most vulnerable students in our state.
Just to remind you how important this is we are sharing this
reflection from a North Carolina Youth Leadership Network member and advocate:
"Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if
the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak
clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their
junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding
and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation."
ACTION TO BE TAKEN: PLEASE EMAIL your Senator NOW!!!!
TELL THEM:
-
VOTE YES FOR HB 1366
-
HB 1366 enumerates protected categories to protect children
most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the
needs of students with disabilities.
-
To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently
in this important legislation.
-
Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered
in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing
with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders
recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a
protected category for students with disabilities.
-
This legislation will support students with disabilities by
utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with
disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be
protected from bullying and harassment.
-
Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all
students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or
ability are valued and deserve protection.
Find Your Senator by Zip Code by following the link below:
http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html
Read the bill H1366 by following the link below:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1366v1.html
Thank you for helping students with disabilities gain the
protections they need from bullying and harassment in school.
As always, please call The Arc of NC with any questions at
1-800-662-8706.
Legislative Alert-
Action Needed on Equitable Health Coverage
June 26, 2007
As many of you know, The Arc of North Carolina has been
following and supporting a bill this session that would require insurance
companies to cover mental health needs in the same way they cover physical
illnesses. For example, duration limits, co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles,
etc. would be the same for medical services as for mental health services.
The Equitable Mental Health Coverage Bill (H973) passed the
House and is now under consideration by the Senate. However, there is an effort
in the Senate to pass equitable coverage only for certain diagnoses. This will
continue the current discrimination in terms of coverage of mental health needs,
especially for children.
While some insurance companies correctly view autism and other
disabilities as neurological disorders and not mental illness, the reality is
that many families with children with a variety of disabilities need to access
mental health services.
Individuals with disabilities access mental health services for
behavioral and medical issues and should have equitable coverage for these
services. For example, the House bill would ensure that visits to a psychiatrist
would be covered at the same level as a visit to the pediatrician.
Under a proposal to limit equitable coverage to 9 mental
illnesses, many diagnoses used for treatment of children would not be covered,
such as: Autism, Anxiety, Attachment disorders of early childhood, Mild or
moderate depression, ADHD, Adjustment disorders
We think it is wrong to exclude any diagnosis.
Please contact your Senator and ask them to support the House
version of Equitable Mental Health Coverage (H973). It is not fair to continue
to exclude groups of individuals from equitable coverage.
To search for your State Senator, click here to visit the Who
Represents Me? page on the NC Legislature website at www.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us or you can call the General Assembly switchboard
at 919-733-4111
Phone calls and emails do make a difference! Thank you in
advance for your action on this matter.
E-Alert
May 29, 2007
The Senate budget provides no additional funding for
developmental disabilities services. It follows the trends of the House budget
by realigning funding for existing developmental disabilities services. A
realignment is a cut! Special provisions in the Senate bill have the potential
to destroy the developmental disabilities system. A few of the most ominous
provision include requiring co-pays for CAP/DD and CAP-C. This will put our most
vulnerable population at risk. This budget also allows for reverted service
dollars to be utilized for LME administrative costs. This budget realigns
developmental therapies budget without regard to actual services provided or
needed. This budget requires three additional (Piedmont) waivers. After a
quickly released and pushed Senate budget our initial review is that there will
be additional provisions that will negatively impact the DD system.
TAKE ACTION: We need you to call and email the Senators
listed below now!!! This budget is moving quickly through the Senate and
leadership needs to hear from you today.
TELL THEM:
1.The Senate budget released today is the worst budget that
people with developmental disabilities have seen in the past two decades.
2. This budget will create chaos.
3. This budget ignores the basic service needs of North
Carolinians with developmental disabilities and their families.
4. This budget provides no expansion of services and has the
potential to reduce services for people with developmental disabilities.
Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee :
Senate Appropriations on Health and Human Services
To contact any of these Legislators, please call the switchboard at
919-733-4111
CAROLINA LEGAL ASSISTANCE DESIGNATED AS NORTH CAROLINA'S
PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM
Date May 21, 2007
Contact: Jill Warren Lucas Phone: 919-807-2496
Release Immediate
C
AROLINA LEGAL ASSISTANCE DESIGNATED AS NORTH CAROLINA'S
PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM
CLA will assume responsibilities on July 2, 2007
RALEIGH - North Carolina's Protection and Advocacy
System was today redesignated to Carolina Legal Assistance (CLA).
CLA will assume the protection and advocacy responsibilities on July
2, 2007. These services are currently provided by the Governor's
Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities (GACPD), a division
of the N.C. Department of Administration.
This action was taken at the request of the
disability community and after consulting with the GACPD governing
board. Feedback determined that advocacy services can be provided
more efficiently and effectively in an independent agency. CLA is
independent of the state and will be exclusively responsible for
advocating for people with disabilities in North Carolina.
CLA meets all of the requirements of a statewide
Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and shall have all of the
powers and duties vested in it by applicable federal statutes and
regulations. There will be no charge for P&A services.
P&As are required to have the authority to pursue
legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies or approaches
to ensure the protection of, and advocacy for, the rights of such
individuals within the state who are or who may be eligible for
treatment, services, or habilitation, or who are being considered
for a change in living arrangements, with particular attention to
members of ethnic and racial minority groups; and provide
information on and referral to programs and services addressing the
needs of individuals with disabilities. P&As have the authority to
investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with
disabilities if the incidents are reported to the system or if there
is probable cause to believe that the incidents occurred.
###
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS UPDATE
May
18, 2007
Budget
The Senate has been meeting behind closed doors working on their
budget. Indications are that the initial budget is worse than the House
budget. This is due to the Senate's leadership decision to let the 1/2
cent sales tax sunset. We anticipate that this will be next week. At
that time, we will ask you to respond with calls to the Senate.
Policy
House Bill 1366- School Violence Prevention Act or the
Bullying Bill. The House Committee on Education debated and finally
passed HB1366 this week. The bill clarifies what is bullying and
harassing behavior. It provides schools with a clear guideline on how to
create policy that addresses bullying and how to prevent school
violence. This bill includes a list of students who are most vulnerable
to bullying in our schools. The list includes students with mental,
physical, sensory and developmental disabilities. House Bill 1366 will
now move to the House Judiciary 1 committee and then on to the House
floor for a full vote.
House Bill 1428 - Students w/Disabilities/No long-term Suspension
is scheduled for the House Committee on Education next week. This
bill protects children with IEPs who were suspended from school for more
than 10 days and have been denied the Functional Behavior Assessments
and Behavior Intervention Plans that are required. The bill prevents
schools from suspending students with disabilities when schools have
failed to provide assessments and needed interventions.
House Bill 973- Mental Health Parity- Mental Health
Equitable Coverage. This bill will eliminate discrimination in
health coverage for mental illness and chemical dependency/addictive
disorders. This bill will be in the House Insurance Committee on
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 11:00 am in Room 1228 of the Legislative
Building.
May 11, 2007
House
Finds Money For State Employees, County Relief on Medicaid and other
Priorities but Can't find Money for People with Disabilities
The house finalized its budget on Thursday without
addressing the needs of people with disabilities served through the
MH/DD/SA. House members cite the potential of over 90 million dollars in
unspent state dollars as the rationale for providing little if any
additional funding for the MH/DD/SA system. This rationale of course
punishes the citizens of the state rather than fixing the problem. In
addition to the unspent funds house appropriations leadership indicated
to us on several occasions that there was "no money". Of course that was
just a line to avoid the truth that they had other priorities.
It is important to know that you did your job.
Legislators have told us that they heard from you in large numbers; they
just chose to ignore your needs.
Though the House did not have the conscience to do
the right thing we still have an opportunity on the Senate side. We are
working on very specific recommendations to give to Senate leaders on
the inability to spend issue and clear concise recommendations on
spending priorities. The Coalition rally comes at an important time.
The House budget will be final and we can help the senate see what
really matters. Your presence and voice are very important. If you are
planning to come great, if you are not, we really encourage you to
reconsider. Hundreds of people with disabilities and their families in
Raleigh will create a clear picture of what the House did not do!
Since the House budget passed early this morning,
we do not have all of the final details. We will by Monday have that in
place and e-mail to you. I will also be available at the Rally.
Scroll down for the rally schedule and information.
On a positive note, the House did add 5 million
dollars to the Special Education budget which will add to the funding
each school district will receive for Special Education students.
Below please find the list of key Senators, facts
about where to park for the Rally, talking points for the Coalition and
The Arc cell phone numbers for The Arc staff at the Rally.
NAMI is sponsoring a March at the end of the
Coalition Rally. We have not sent this information out because we did
not want to add another event to the Rally. If you want information on
this, please call us.
Senate Appropriations on Health and Human
Services
Co-Chairs
Sen. Doug Berger
Dougb@ncleg.net
Sen. William
Purcell
Williamp@ncleg.net
Members
Sen. Harris Blake
Harrisb@ncleg.net
Sen. Charlie S. Dannelly
Charlied@ncleg.net
Sen. James
Forrester
Jamesf@ncleg.net
Sen. Steve
Goss
Steveg@ncleg.net
Senate
Appropriations/Base Budget Committee
Co-Chairs
Sen. Walter Dalton
Walterd@ncleg.net
Sen. Linda Garrou
Lindag@ncleg.net
Sen. Kay Hagan
Kayh@ncleg.net
Legislative Rally Schedule
8:00 am - Registration
Begins - back portico of Legislative Building - You will receive
information about the day and talking points for talking with
legislators for the day.
8:30 am - Attend Joint
Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee meetings -
schedule available at registration.
10 am to 11:30 am - Meet
with members of your legislative delegation. (See below for talking
points and how to schedule a meeting).
11:30 to 1 pm - HOT DOG RALLY - on the lawn by the
Legislative Office Building - with food,
entertainment, talks by legislators and more
Afternoon: Continue visits
with legislators and attend House and Senate sessions
PARKING
FOR PERSONS
IN WHEELCHAIRS - please note that we will have limited transportation
with wheelchair accessibility so it is suggested that those in a
wheelchair be dropped off directly at the front of the Legislative
Building and that drivers of those vehicles use the shuttle service
after parking their cars/vans at the Fairgrounds.
Talking Points for The Arc of
North Carolina
We support
the Coalition budget proposals
People
with disabilities should not be punished because of problems with "the
system"
The Arc's
specific priorities:
-
660
CAP/DD slots-10 million dollars (brings in 20 million in federal
funds)
-
20
million dollars in CAP/DD funding
-
1.7
million dollars funding for First in Families
-
Funding for services in the Housing 400 Program
The Arc of North Carolina Staff
on Site for the Coalition Rally
Dave
Richard - 280-3272
Ellen
Russell - 280-3878
Linda
Guzman - 280-7270
Julia
Leggett - 830-5457
Ricky
Terry - 971-6583
If you
cannot find us and need information, please call us.
April 25, 2007
The Arc of North Carolina E-Alert URGENT
House Proposal provides Only 2 CAP
Slots per County and little else for people with Developmental
Disabilities!
On Tuesday afternoon the House Sub-Committee on Health and Human
Services unveiled its proposed budget. Chairperson Verla Insko stated
that members of the committee had until tomorrow to suggest changes to
the proposed budget with a vote scheduled for Thursday.
Though the MH/DD/SA expansion total is listed at 34 million dollars,
very little funding is targeted for people with developmental
disabilities. In fact, LME Administrative increases of 9 million dollars
are triple the targeted funding for individuals with developmental
disabilities.
In the proposal, only 200 new CAP slots would be made available
statewide, that's two per county. No funding is included for Respite or
First in Families. People with developmental disabilities would benefit
from a 3 million dollar increase in supported employment and could
possibly benefit from the funding for housing.
The committee chooses not to include Medicaid inflation increases,
instead leaving that decision to the House leadership. One exception was
funding inflation for state institutions.
Click here to read a word document that contains the budget proposals of
particular interest
ACTION NEEDED
Members of the House Sub-Committee and the Chairs of the full
appropriations committee must hear from constituents concerning this
budget. Our message is simple.....People with developmental
disabilities deserve and need the support of the General Assembly!
The General Assembly should fund:
- 660 CAP slots
- 2.5 million dollars in state funds for respite services
- Increase the First in Families program.
- Service dollars must be a higher priority that administrative
funding
Remind them that 200 CAP slots will only support 2 new people in each
county.....add any information that will give members a personal story
about why these services are needed.
Calls are best but e-mails will have an effect.
Please call your member if they are on the target
list and e-mail the rest of the list. If you can only
send 3 e-mails please send them to the three Chairs of the
Sub-Committee. If you have questions please call The Arc of NC.
To contact any of these Legislators, please call the switchboard at
919-733-4111
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
Chairs
Rep. Beverly
Earle
Beverlye@ncleg.net
Rep. Bob
England
Bobe@ncleg.net
Rep. Verla
Insko Verlai@ncleg.net
Vice Chairs
Rep. Jeff
Barnhart Jeffba@ncleg.net
Rep. Debbie
Clary
Debbiec@ncleg.net
Rep. Linda
Coleman
Lindac@ncleg.net
Members
Rep. William
Brisson
Williambr@ncleg.net
Rep. Wil
Neumann
Wiln@ncleg.net
Rep. Charles
Thomas Charlest@ncleg.net
House Full Appropriations Committee
Chairs
Rep. Alma
Adams
Almaa@ncleg.net
Rep. Martha
Alexander Marthaa@ncleg.net
Rep. James
Crawford Jimcr@ncleg.net
Rep. Phillip
Haire Philliph@ncleg.net
Rep. Maggie
Jeffus Maggiej@ncleg.net
Rep. Henry M. Michaux,
Jr. Mickeym@ncleg.net
Rep. Joe
Tolson
Joet@ncleg.net
Rep. Douglas
Yongue Douglasy@ncleg.net
April 2, 2007
The Governor has announced his intent to redesignate
the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities to Carolina
Legal Assistance!
The Governor has officially announced his intent to redesignate the
Governor's Advocacy Council on Persons with Disabilities (The GACPD) to
Carolina Legal Assistance (CLA). The official announcement triggers a
federally required public comment period that ends on April 30, 2007.
The GACPD is North Carolina's federally mandated Protection and
Advocacy Agency (The P&A). The GACPD is housed in NC State Government in
the Department of Administration. To read the official announcement
click here.
The Arc of NC and many
other disability advocates and organizations believe that the agency
that is responsible for protecting and advancing the rights of people
with disabilities needs to be separate from state government. The Arc
has been advocating for the redesignation of GACPD to a private
non-profit for over ten years.
The Governor's decision to name Carolina Legal Assistance as the new
agency for the P&A is an excellent choice. CLA has an impressive history
of protecting and advancing the rights of people with disabilities in
our state through class action lawsuits, individual lawsuits, systems
and legislative advocacy and by creating and serving on
multi-disciplinary coalitions and task forces.
Please e-mail the Governor's office today and tell him
that you agree with his decision and that a P&A separate from State
Government will improve the lives of people with disabilities in North
Carolina. Please thank the Governor for taking this bold step. The
e-mail address is:
input.intent@ncmail.net.
Please copy Dave Richard, Executive Director, The Arc of NC at
Drichard@arcnc.org on your e-mail to the Governor.
The message can be this simple;
Dear Governor,
I am the parent of a child with a disability .......or..... I am a
person with a disability......or..... I work with people with
disabilities. Thank you for deciding to redesignate the GACPD to
Carolina Legal Assistance. North Carolinians with disabilities will
greatly benefit from redesignation.
.....add additional comments if you'd like, sign your name and hit
send.....
If you prefer you can write a letter and mail it to:
McKinley Wooten, Jr., Deputy
Secretary
Department of Administration
Internal Services and Programs
1301 Mail Services Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1301
Input from the public will
be accepted until April 30, 2007. Please write today thanking the
Governor for his decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
about the redesignation.
The Arc of NC 2007 Policy and Funding
Legislative Priorities
Print the
Priorities in a Pdf File or
click here to read them on-line
February 28, 2007
Implementation
Update #19 Parents/Guardians as Providers
WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED
The Division of MH/DD/SAS has posted
Implementation Update # 24 which details a new PROPOSED policy
that will allow some guardians/parents to provide paid CAP-MR/DD supports to
adults with disabilities. The
proposed policy that is mentioned in the memo is a separate attachment.
You can click on the underlined links above or visit the
MH/DD/SAS Website
to read all of the Division's official communications
February 23, 2007
The Arc of North Carolina E-Alert - Legislative Update
The Governor released his proposed budget on
Thursday. The budget contains very little for Mental
Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse. A quick review
indicates that the only service funding is 3.5 million dollars for
Mental Health/Substance Abuse community capacity. At this time, we are
unable to determine if any additional CAP slots are included in the
Medicaid budget, but we do not believe any additional funding is
included.
The Governor's budget proposal is only a proposal,
but having no funding in it makes our job more difficult. On Monday we
will send an "Action Plan" for the appropriations process.
On Wednesday, The Coalition Central Region
Legislative Breakfast was held. The Arc was well represented. Rebecca
Sorensen, a family member and member of The Arc of North Carolina Board
of Directors, did a wonderful job of showing Legislators why increased
funding is critical as she delivered The Coalition's speech. On
Wednesday, February 28th, the Western Region Legislative
Breakfast is scheduled. We still are lacking a significant turnout.
Please consider attending if you have not yet signed up!! If you need
additional information regarding the Breakfast, please contact Ricky
Terry at
rterry@arcnc.org or 1-800-662-8706.
February 21, 2007
The April 1, 2007 scheduled implementation of the new
Parents/Guardians as Providers policy has been postponed until further
notice. Please see page 4 of Update
#23 for more information.
The MH/DD/SAS
Division has posted
Implementation Update #23, a
memo that covers a variety of topics including: revisions to the CAP
Manual, prior authorizations, appeals process, Parents as Providers, EPSDT, and supervision of
Personal Care staff. To read all of the Division's Communication
Bulletins and Implementation Updates, visit the
MH/DD/SAS
Website.
February 16, 2007
March 7, 2007 - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
James Sprunt Community College
Kenansville, NC
The
purpose of these Town Hall meeting is to offer an opportunity for the
community to have a direct dialogue with representation from the
Division, share information and listen to concerns about system
transformation.
February 14, 2007
The Division of MH/DD/SAS
has posted a new communication.
State Plan
Communication Bulletin #69 Housing Initiatives.
To read all of the Division's official communications please visit
the
MH/DD/SAS
Website.
You will see the Communication Bulletins posted on that page. To read
information about service implementation updates, click on the link on
the right hand side titled
Enhanced Services Implementation Updates.
E-Alert: Action Needed
January 25, 2007
As the Legislature convenes, the needs of people with developmental
disabilities are being pushed aside by issues that are perceived to be
more critical. Every year we must struggle against high profile issues
like education, highways and tax cuts, but this year fueled by an
outlandish consultant report, we are also pitted against the needs of
people with mental illness and addictive diseases.
The Arc has always been supportive of equitable funding for each
disability group and continues to support that position. But this year,
people with developmental disabilities, their families and supporters,
could end losing. We will need to be vocal about the needs for people
with developmental disabilities or risk being left behind.
The Legislative Oversight Committee (the LOC) on Mental
Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse is considering 19
proposals that would, if funded, add almost 300 million dollars to the
MH/DD/SA system.
Of the 300 million dollars, only 3 million dollars would be allocated
specifically for people with developmental disabilities. In the
recommendations, Developmental Disabilities would receive 5 million
dollars of inflationary increases and could participate in crisis
funding and housing subsidies.
The proposal for Targeted Developmental Disabilities funding would
only increase CAP-MR/DD Waiver slots by 100 and would only provide token
funding for additional vocational services. These recommendations will
not address the needs of individuals waiting for services.
Action Needed
While these are only proposals, we believe members of the Legislative
Oversight Committee should hear from constituents about the needs of
people with developmental disabilities.
If you have a member of the Legislative Oversight Committee from your
community (Committee Members and e-mail addresses are listed below),
please e-mail them with the following message:
- Acknowledge and thank them for their commitment to people in the
Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse system
- Ask that in their proposals, they address the critical needs for
services for people with developmental disabilities by:
1. Funding 660 new CAP-MR/DD slots
2. Fund the First in Families Program statewide
3.Provide adequate resources for the Early Intervention Program
- Thank them again for their commitment.
The Arc has a larger legislative agenda The Arc of NC 2007
Policy and Funding Legislative Priorities
which are posted below this E-Alert.
We will be working with the members of the General Assembly to
achieve these goals as the session continues, but believe that the three
items listed above best fit the Legislative Oversight Committee agenda.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Dave Richard at
1-919-782-4632 or 1-800-662-8706.
January 25, 2007
The Arc of NC 2007 Policy and Funding
Legislative Priorities
Print the
Priorities in a Pdf File
Direct Care
Worker Crisis
In NC we have a severe shortage of qualified direct
care workers to work with people with developmental disabilities. This
crisis is undermining the ability for families to provide quality care
for their family members. We recommend that NC enact legislation that
will allow for a direct salary pass through for these workers. In
addition we would encourage the General Assembly to explore methods
through which health care benefits could be accessed at a reasonable
rate for workers in this arena.
Family Support
and Respite
Many families who are on waiting lists for services
would be able to support their family member at home with a little
additional help. NC has a Family Support model, First in Families that
is highly successful but is not available statewide. We encourage the
General Assembly to fund expansion of the First in Families program
statewide. To do so is would cost 1.7 million dollars in state funding.
An additional service that would assist families who are waiting for
service is respite care. We would ask the General Assembly to provide
additional funds for respite.
The CAP-MR/DD
Waiver
This program is the most efficient method for NC to
provide needed community services for individuals with developmental
disabilities. NC is scheduled to have additional 660 slots available in
FY 2007-08. An additional appropriation of 9 million in state dollars
is needed to draw down the federal funds.
Housing
The Housing 400 Initiative recommended and funded
by the Legislature in 2006 is an important step in providing needed
housing. For some individuals with developmental disabilities, to take
advantage of this program, state funds will be needed to provide
services in the homes. Additionally The Arc, along with other
developmental disability agencies, has been awarded HUD grants for
additional housing units. The individuals in the units will require
state funds in order to live in the homes. Finally we would recommend
that the Legislature continue its work from last year by recommending
funding more units through the Housing Trust Fund.
Vocational
Services
The Division of MH/DD/SA has developed a new
service definition for vocational services. The definition will enhance
the ability of providers to move people with developmental disabilities
into the work force. We recommend the Legislature include funding in its
recommendation for this change.
Adult Care Homes
Many people with developmental disabilities are
inappropriately placed in Adult Care Homes. We encourage the General
Assembly to include people with developmental disabilities in any
proposals to assist individuals to move into community settings.
Early
Intervention
Services for young children with disabilities are a
critical step in alleviating future difficulties. We ask that the
General Assembly provide full funding for this program.
Dental Care
For individuals with developmental disabilities
access to quality dental care can be very difficult. The Access to
Dental Care program is a best practice model that should be expanded
statewide.
Mental
Retardation Centers
North Carolina continues to house more individuals
in our state mental retardation centers than most states. The General
Assembly should direct the Division of MH/DD/SA to develop and implement
a plan to downsize our facilities by at least 7% per year.
Crisis Services
Lack of adequate community crisis services
continues to create hardships for families and people with developmental
disabilities. The General Assembly should assure that these services are
in place and adequately funded for people with developmental
disabilities.
Public Education
A number of bills will likely be introduced as a
result of the recommendations of the House Select Committee on the
Education of Students with Disabilities. Some of these are related to
the recent re-write of the NC Special Education Law, known as Article
9. Issues of particular interest include: criteria for utilization of
homebound services, consideration of appropriateness of IEP and/or
placement in discipline procedures, discipline protection for
unidentified students whose past performance/behavior indicated need for
referral, study of teacher preparation programs, and Medicaid
reimbursement for school-based services. We will also be following and
supporting an anticipated bill addressing funding.
E-Alert January 24, 2007
The North Carolina General Assembly
Convenes
The North Carolina General Assembly opened today, January 24, 2007.
The Speaker of the House is Joe Hackney from Chapel Hill.
This E-Alert is to thank you for your participation in The Arc of
North Carolina's advocacy network. We would like to give everyone some
background information as well as ask you to please forward this e-mail
on to someone else who is not currently on the E-Alert network and
enlist them to join our cause. Ask your friends, family and co-workers
to sign up and join us at www.arcnc.org.
Expect an Action Alert tomorrow.
The Arc of NC's 2007 Legislative Priorities will also be posted on
our website on Thursday. We will send you the link to the priorities in
tomorrow's E-Alert.
This year will be a critical year for people with intellectual and
related developmental disabilities in North Carolina. The DD community
will need to have a strong united voice.
People with disabilities continue to languish on waiting lists, their
parents aging, wondering who will help their son/daughter when they no
longer can. Young adults with intellectual disabilities are being
"placed" in rest homes that are designed for the elderly. School-aged
children continue to be segregated in separate classrooms. Infants and
toddlers are left waiting for early intervention services at the most
critical developmental point in their lives and our state continues to
utilize our large institutions at a higher rate than most of other
states in the nation, the "downsizing" plan just ink on paper.
The Arc of North Carolina's E-Alert network connects you to the
issues that are important to the developmental disability community. We
will send you background information on specific issues/legislation
along with possible talking points and contact information for the
people in the General Assembly that need to hear from you, their
constituent. The elected officials making the laws must hear directly
from people in their district how the decisions they make in Raleigh
will affect real people.
Please mark your calendar now for the Legislative Rally Day that
is scheduled for May 16, 2007. If you have never attended a rally,
make this year your first! It is an action-packed day where people with
disabilities and their families actively participate in our democratic
process. We need to have thousands of people with disabilities in
Raleigh to meet with their legislators face to face. The General
Assembly must hear from people with developmental disabilities and their
families. Information about the rally will follow as the date nears.
Here are some helpful hints to assist you in your advocacy.
To find out who represents you:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us
Just scroll down to the bottom right hand side of the page and type in
your zip code.
To look up bills:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us You can search by bill number or by bill
text. There is a search box on the right hand side of the page.
Driving directions to the Legislative Buildings:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/NCGAInfo/visitinglegcomplex.html
Thank you again for being part of the network that improves the lives
of people with disabilities and their families.
For questions you may contact The Arc of North Carolina advocacy
staff by telephone at 1-800-662-8706 or 919-782-4632 or via e-mail
Dave Richard, Executive Director,
drichard@arcnc.org Ellen Russell, Director of Advocacy and Chapter
Support, erussell@arcnc.org
Gerri Smith, Advocacy Specialist,
gsmith@arcnc.org Linda Guzman, Chapter and Advocacy Specialist,
lguzman@arcnc.org
December 21, 2006
Parents/Guardians as Providers Changes are Delayed!
Extension of Implementation Date of
CAP-MR/DD Waiver Changes.
This document along with other policy and service updates may also be found on the MH/DD/SAS
Website.
December 20, 2006
The Arc of North Carolina's Position on
Families as Providers Policy
Print the
Position in a Pdf File
Families of people with developmental disabilities have and will
continue to be critical support to their children with developmental
disabilities. The Arc of North Carolina reaffirms its commitment to
families to receive family support dollars to provide care to their
children in the home.
Often families are placed in the position of becoming the primary
paid caregiver for their child due to the lack of high quality
direct support work force. Parents who have provided this service
have done so because of their interest in ensuring high quality
service to their loved ones.
The Arc of North Carolina does understand the need for the State
of North Carolina to regulate services that utilize funds from the
CAP-MR/DD program. The policy adopted in Implementation Update #19
is generally consistent with the values and beliefs of our Board of
Directors. In order to implement this policy in a manner that is
fair to parents, people with developmental disabilities and the
citizens of North Carolina, we recommend that the Department of
Health and Human Services implement the policy in the follow manner:
- Create a quarterly limit of 520 hours (40 hours average per
week) to allow for maximum flexibility for parents
- Allow for a family to provide additional service through
temporary exceptions for specific situations such as a provider
going out of business, abuse by a provider agency staff, lack of
available direct support workers
- Allow for exception of the prohibition against guardian
being providers if needed provided that a second level review
process is in place to assure the interest of the person with
disabilities is being served
- Review the possibility of amending guardianship statute to
allow for limited guardianship for an individual's medical needs
- Change the implementation date to June 30, 2007 for everyone
affected to allow for transition
- Review the policy that allows AFL providers to be guardians
In addition, The Arc of North Carolina calls upon the General
Assembly and the Administration to address the crisis in available
direct support workers. Specifically, we recommend:
- Legislation that would create a direct pass-through rate
increase for direct care workers
- Create an option for direct care workers to "buy in" at a
reduced rate to the State Employee Health Plan
- Create an option that allows for direct care workers to
increase their pay by increasing participation in certified
training programs
The Arc of North Carolina intends to work with members of the
General Assembly, Administration, families and consumers to
implement these recommendations.
For more information, contact The Arc of North Carolina at (919)
782-4632 or (800)662-8706
12/9/06 Position adopted by The Arc of NC Board of
Directors
October 31, 2006
The MH/DD/SAS Division has posted a communication that outlines
the new rules governing parents as CAP providers for their children. Parents
of minor children may no longer provide CAP services. Please read
Implementation Update #19
for further information. To read all of the Division's Communication
Bulletins and Implementation Updates, visit the
MH/DD/SAS
Website.
North Carolina Action Alert
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