State and Federal Update

Quick update about this week’s Medicaid votes and Illinois special session.  For the latest news, please like us on Facebook  or follow up on Twitter as well. 

Join the Arc of Illinois for the following events:

UNDERSTANDING DD SERVICES?! August 24, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM,  Park Lawn School and Activity Center, 10833 S. LaPorte, Oak Lawn, IL 60453 The Arc Information Session for individuals, families and providers will highlight opportunities in the Developmental Disabilities system including topics like person centered planning, self directed services, changes to Medicaid and much more! RSVP

EXECUTIVE FORUM – Sept 6, 10-1 pm, Ray Graham – Second Build (901 Warrenville Rd # 500, Lisle, IL 60532.  Kit O’Brien Cota from the Division on Developmental Disabilities will be there to give a three month update on the person center planning change and we can discuss what ISCs and providers are seeing on the ground.  We will also talk about budget implementation, federal issues and other important issues of the day.  Please RSVP to Meg at meg@thearcofil.org if you plan on attending so we can share this with Kit and order the right amount of lunch.  We are working on having webinar capacity for Kit’s presentation only so please RSVP to Meg if you want to receive the link.  If an exec is unable to come, please send another senior leader (or bring them along if you are) as we want to have a robust discussion with Kit).

Don’t forget to register today for today for:
September 14:  Healthcare Conference in Alsip Illinois.
Oct 3 Living with Autism Conference in Lisle, Illinois.

 

Moving On From Healthcare?!

Thank you to all the Advocates to called, emailed, posted personal stories and advocacy efforts to our Senators and all Senators and House members!  It is your voice that delayed vote after vote and ensure that 3 different bills went down!

What is next:

1) Thank our Senators who opposed the bill – Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth

2) Thank the Republican Senators who broke ranks:
Senator McCain
Senator Murkowski
Senator Collins

3) Keep vigilant – Medicaid is a tempting place to find savings to pay for other initiatives so we need to pay attention.  This advocacy effort, though exhausting and frightening offered amazing amount of education around the impact and reach of the program.  We will keep protecting it.  There are a number of proposals that are starting to come out that try to address some of the issues with exchanges so we will watch those as well as the budget and debt ceiling discussions to make sure Medicaid cuts stay far away from the conversation!

 

 

State Policy and Advocacy

Governor Rauner did an amendatory veto of SB 1, the school reform bill.  The ball is in the legislature’s court to decide whether to approve or try to override the veto.  The pressure is on because schools are coming up on the point of no return where if they do not receive funding, they might not be able to open on time!  Here is some of the coverage about the issue.

FY 18 Budget Implementation

Implementation of the budget remains slow the recommendations from the Governor’s Office on Management and Budget (GOMB) coming very slowing.  We are hearing that we should have some final implementation guidance about the wage bill this week (I know it is Friday) or early next including time frame and scope of staff.  We are still waiting to hear about the DD grants as well.

 

More Legislative Retirements

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, a Republican from near Decatur, announced he won’t run for re-election next year.

Earlier this week, deputy Republican leader Patti Bellock of Hinsdale similarly said she wouldn’t run again, and GOP Rep. Robert Pritchard of the DeKalb area also announced he wouldn’t return to Springfield.

Ligas – Oral Arguments on the Motion to Enforce today!

 

 

Important Dates!

  • September 6 – Executive Forum, Lisle
  • September 14 – Healthcare Conference, Alsip
  • October 3 – Living with Autism Conference, Lisle
  • October 30-November 1 – Speak Up Speak Out, Springfield