Friday, Director Romano and I met with the Governor’s Chief of Staff Jack Lavin to discuss rebalancing and direct care staff wages. It was a very productive meeting.Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with JJ Hanley of JJ’s List! Our topic was how we could support each other’s advocacy efforts. JJ’s List offers a variety of supports for people with developmental disabilities including employment readiness, internet skills and disability awareness training for businesses to name a few. Check JJ out at www.jjslist.com and like them on facebook!
Today I head back to the Capitol with meetings with Tony Records, Ligas Court Monitor and tomorrow with Director’s Romano and Casey.
Back home on Friday to meet with my new Senator Michael Hastings.
Senator Hastings
As you know The Arc is closely following the state’s progress in implementing managed care for people with disabilities and has a Work Group on Managed Care.
Managed Care Phase One has gotten off to a slow start with shortages of hospitals and specialists refusing to sign on to the new Medicaid program. Phase Two which places all non-developmental disability services under the umbrella of managed care is meeting with a great deal of problems particularly for the Home Services and the Community Integration Program. The Arc remains opposed to Phase Three which would place all developmental disability services under the umbrella of managed care.
Here is a excellent new report on managed care and policy recommendations.
National Council on Disability (NDC) Recommends Ways to Implement Medicaid Managed Care without Harming People with Disabilities
Last week, The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency tasked with providing advice to the President and Congress on policy matters affecting the lives of people with disabilities, released a report titled “Medicaid Managed Care for People with Disabilities: Policy and Implementation Considerations for State and Federal Policymakers.”
More than two-thirds of the 70 million Medicaid beneficiaries receive at least a portion of their services through a managed care plan. Until recently, the vast majority of these enrollees have been people without disabilities, however, now more than half of states are enrolling adults and children with disabilities. In addition, the number of States utilizing Medicaid managed care for long-term services and supports jumped from 8 in 2004 to 16 in 2012. This trend will undoubtedly increase as the Affordable Care Act expands Medicaid eligibility in 2014. Against this backdrop, NCD’s report examines the implications, benefits, necessary principles, and operational features of Medicaid managed care for people with disabilities, and advances recommendations for state and federal policymakers. NCD’s report is based on 22 guiding principles (http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2012/Feb272012/) developed by NCD to assist in the design and implementation of managed care for people with disabilities. NCD recommends in the report that these principles be rigorously applied in designing and operating managed care services.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
