RAUNER BUDGET THINKING LEAKED The Rauner administration is preparing budget cuts and we have the internal budget documents and some background. Cuts to human services have been highlighted including grants in developmental disabilities. Here is the link: https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/18/rauner-administration-preparing-cuts/. DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: Wage Implementation Continues Director Fenton last Friday further clarified the wage implementation. Here is... Read more »
Arc Policy and Advocacy Update Upcoming Advocacy Training: October 19, Carbondale Advocacy and Federal Medicaid Attacks Training will touch on what is self advocacy, advocacy tools as well as a brief overview of how Congress is trying to change Medicaid. There will be a 1-4 pm in depth training and 6-7:30 pm shorter training. For more information, email meg@thearcofil.org. CEUs... Read more »
We are all exhausted, but take a sip of coffee, flex those fingers and pick up the phone, email, social media today with stories of support for Medicaid! Within the next few days we expect to see some kind of significant movement on the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson healthcare bill (Graham-Cassidy bill for short). The U.S. Senate is... Read more »
New Threats to Medicaid: Action Needed Call Our Senators Now! This summer, advocates like you worked hard to defeat a dangerous health care bill that would have included massive cuts to Medicaid. We need your help to reinforce this message once again, as new proposals are being introduced that include similar threats. Key Senators and... Read more »
Arc Policy and Advocacy Update Still Time To Register for the Oct 3 Living with Autism Conference with Ron Suskind and Paula Kluth! Register here. Stipends available here. Register for the Sept 28 Federal Medicaid Policy and Advocacy Training here. This training is targeting individuals with disabilities and families, focusing on the importance of self... Read more »
Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services released information today about the implementation of the $0.75 per hour wage increase. Here is the HFS provider notice and the more detailed DHS bulletin. The highlights “include the $0.75 increase effective August 1, 2017 for front-line personnel, including, but not limited to, direct support persons,... Read more »
First, a quick note about the wage implementation. The They Deserve More Coalition heard this week that DHS is still working on the emergency rule needed to go along with the wage increase and that we should hear something “soon” about implementation. We are hearing that it will be an August 1 implementation start which... Read more »
Join The Arc of Illinois for a lunchtime learning opportunity! Our first lunchtime webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12th at noon, and will feature Corporation for Supportive Housing and the work they do to expand supportive housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Illinois. Who: The Arc of Illinois, Illinois Life Span... Read more »
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. Senate Healthcare Repeal/Replace Voted Down For Now Illinois Special Session *Mark your calendar for Sept 6 Executive Forum in Lisle! Registration is open for the... Read more »
Today or early tomorrow, the Senate is expected to vote on the misnamed “Skinny Repeal”, which still is estimated might affect 15 million people. The skinny repeal bill would remove the individual and employer mandates and roll back the tax on medical devices. If it passes, one of two things could happen, the House could... Read more »