Two things I wanted to share. First from CMS regarding the new vision for Medicaid as well as new notices about how CMS will operate with states as it relates to 1115 waiver applications (important because Il has submitted one). Second is a notice about an opportunity to comment on a class action consent decree... Read more »
Help Direct the Arc’s Legislative Priorities for 2018! Every year the Arc of Illinois asks our members and key stakeholders to help us brainstorm key legislation Illinois needs to pass in order to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Please help us by letting us know what you think should be made into a... Read more »
The Arc of Illinois is in the beginning planning stages for the 2018 Annual Convention to be held on April 25-26, 2018, at the Hilton Hotel in Lisle, IL. We are looking for individuals or panels of individuals interested in sharing their experiences, expertise and goals in their important work in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.... Read more »
Arc Policy and Advocacy Update * Give us your ideas! Help the Arc Craft 2018 Legislative Agenda! * Still Time Left to Share Your Story of Person Centered Planning Survey For Individuals and Families: Here is the link. For ISCs, service providers and other professionals: Here is the link. * Families with Kids on Medicaid: We Need to... Read more »
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 »