MRDD/CAFS Information

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of ASO:

Information on: 1. an upcoming MRDD Forum, 2. Issues facing County Boards, and 3. an update on issues facing those receiving services from County Boards of MRDD. FYI - Please share.

Sincerely,

Barbara C. YavorcikPresidentAutism Society of Ohio701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...home: byavorcik@...web: www.autismohio.org2005 ASO Bi-Annual Conference"Reaching Beyond the Horizon - Challenging the Autism Spectrum"Friday and Saturday, October 14-15, 2005 Kingsgate Marriott in Cincinnati, Ohio Please note: This is provided for information purposes only. The ASO does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services. Providing this information should not be construed as an endorsement by the ASO, either explicit or impiled.

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Please share this notice with anyone who might be affected by MRDD services, now or in the future. Ohio's legislature is considering major cuts in all programs that fund services for people with disabilities. How these cuts turn out will determine what MRDDs can offer people currently receiving services, as well as anyone who may require them in the future - waivers, service coordination, residential placement, early intervention, sheltered workshops, job coaching, behavior interevention, transportation, senior services, the medically fragile units, even self-determination budgets. It would be nice to fill the room with parents. We can no longer afford to live as if it's not important for us to know how programs that serve our children are funded- the ones who get service are going to be the ones who are well-informed!

Spread the word, and please attend!

Families Urgedto Get Involved and Understand the Issues

"Perhaps at no time in the history of Ohio boards of mental retardation has it been more important for family members to learn about and understand the issues that boards face," said Superintendent Trunk.

"Funding issues could jeopardize our ability to maintain existing services and programs."

Of primary concern is the loss of revenue from the Medicaid Community Alternative Funding System (CAFS) on June 30. "We estimate the Lucas County Board of MR/DD could lose up to $10 million dollars year," said Mr. Trunk. CAFS is being terminated because of systemic problems identified by the federal government.

As of this writing, the State of Ohio has not presented an alternative funding proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"And for all practical purposes we expect no increase in state support."

A meeting has been scheduled for April 12 for family members and advocates to learn how to keep informed and how to become politically active. That meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the EduCare Center, 1932 Birchwood in Toledo.

"The information we have changes on almost a daily basis," said Mr. Trunk. "I feel it is very important for family members to attend this meeting."

Lon Public Information ManagerLucas County Board of MR/DD1154 Larc Lane, Toledo, Ohio 43614419-380-4048L@...www.lucasmrdd.com

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Please find the following internet addresses to review the mostup-to-date and comprehensive information regarding the issues currentlyfacing the county boards of MR/DD. Department of Jobs & Family Services @ http://jfs.ohio.gov Ohio Department of MR/DD @ http://odmrdd.state.oh.us MR/DD Awareness @ http://www.mrddawareness.com

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Ohio's most vulnerable population is facing a crisis. Immediate action isneeded by the state government to prevent erosion in the quality of life forchildren and adults with developmental disabilities.The termination of the Community Alternative Funding System (CAFS) on June30, 2005 will mean a potential loss of $200 million in federal funds toOhio. The Lucas County Board of MR/DD could lose as much as $10.4 millionannually.Since the early 1990's, the State of Ohio has used CAFS to draw down federaldollars to assist in the payment of services to individuals with MR/DD whoare Medicaid eligible. The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Servicesmanages this program.The administration has known for years there were problems with the CAFSprogram and have not come up with an alternative. Because of theseproblems, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) will stop theflow of funds effective June 30. It is not an issue of better services orimprovements in care. It is simply a cutoff of federal funds because theState of Ohio has not developed an alternative to CAFS. To allow the June30th deadline to arrive without an identified solution is unconscionable.In addition to the CAFS elimination, the State of Ohio is also proposing toeliminate the ICF/MR (residential services) program and convert it to awaiver without identifying how existing services and living environmentswill be maintained. This program provides residential funding for over 400persons in Lucas County. Like CAFS, millions of dollars in federal fundscould by lost in this transition, as well.As advocates and providers who work on the front lines every day withthousands of individuals, we feel an obligation to demand:* A program replacing CAFS be put in place by June 30th to insureand protect services to individuals who are now receiving them and acommitment from the State to maintain the current level of federal funds;* That they (State officials) demonstrate to families and advocatesthat current services and current environments will be possible under anICF/MR waiver by creating a pilot program prior to making a final decisionto eliminate the program.Quality services cannot be maintained if we lose CAFS and ICF/MR funding.And what about hundreds of individuals who are now on waiting lists forservices? We are committed to participate in any efforts to retain federaldollars and prevent the subsequent erosion of services, but state officials,hear us! The time for action is now. ----2. Five Thousand Expected For Human Services Rally More than 5,000 Ohioans concerned about proposed cuts in key human servicesprograms are expected at an April 12 Statehouse rally organized by theCampaign to Protect Ohio's Future."We are opposed to a state budget that will eliminate health care for 25,000working parents; deny early learning programs to 6,000 three- andfour-year-olds; end medical assistance for 15,000 adults with disabilities;refuse dental and vision services for 800,000 Ohioans and create waitinglists for elderly Ohioans who need such long-term care services ashome-delivered meals," said Gayle Channing Tenenbaum, of the Public ChildrenServices Association of Ohio.Leaders of the campaign are urging Ohioans to urge their lawmakers to rejectproposed cuts regarding education, health care, food and housing. They willurge legislators to invest in the state, rather that implement an"incomplete and unfair" tax proposal.Ohioans attending the rally will travel on buses departing from Cincinnati,Dayton, Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Athens, Piketon andIronton.-----3. Choice Wins! RFW to Close, IO to Grow The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approvedOhio's plan for the conversion of Residential Facility Waiver (RFW)enrollees to the Individual Options (IO) program. The ResidentialFacilities Waiver is a home and community based waiver for people who livein group homes licensed by ODMR/DD. The IO waiver provides some servicescomparable to RFW, such as homemaker/personal care and transportation;however it also allows access to a broader array of services, greaterflexibility and provides people more choice.There will be no interruption of services. "Conversion" simply means thatthe person will disenroll from RFW and re-enroll on IO through a transfer.This conversion is more consistent with the ODMR/DD direction regardingself-determination and choice. CMS has also approved an amendment to the IOwaiver to increase the number of people served to accommodate thesetransfers. "I am proud of the strides we are making to improve services to individualswith disabilities," said ODMR/DD Director Ritchey. "The best thingwe can do for individuals and their families is to provide them greaterchoice and options. In 1999, the RFW was found to be federally noncompliant in a number of keyareas including its lack of statewide availability and that the "slots" weretied to licensed beds as opposed to waiver enrollees. These areas hadsignificant ramifications for individuals' choice. ODMR/DD has developed the RFW conversion plan in concert with a group ofdiverse takeholders over the last year. The plan contains the requirementsthat must be met in order for people to transfer to the IO Program. ODMR/DDconducted trainings on these requirements both last summer and earlier thismonth. At the direction of CMS, the RFW transfers must be completed by June30, 2005, coinciding with the end of the program. This move will affectapproximately 2500 people enrolled on RFW. The approved conversion plan andrelated materials are posted on the ODMR/DD web page at:http://odmrdd.state.oh.us/Includes/RFW/RFWConversion.htm. The CMS approvalletters are attached to this alert in PDF format. Here's w hat advocates are saying about the CMS approval to covert RFW:"We are very excited to learn of CMS' approval of the conversion of theRFWprogram to the Individual Options waiver. This change supports thefurther implementation of self-determination in Ohio. People who live inhomes funded through RFW will have more freedom to choose where and withwhom they live and new opportunities to explore community life. Research hasdemonstrated that when individuals have more choice and control over thefunds used for their services they have higher levels of satisfaction withtheir lives and they use funds more cost-effectively. This is a great stepfor Ohio and Ohioans with developmental disabilities." - Beverly ,Executive Director, Cerebral Palsy Association of Ohio"People with disabilities will be able to choose where they want to live andfrom whom they get their services and that's what self-determination is allabout." -Cheryl Phipps, President, Ohio Self Determination Association "I am extremely pleased to learn that the conversion of the RFW Waiverservices to Individual Options Waiver services is imminent. The RFW Waiverserved an important purpose when it was first initiated. The conversion isa consistent and important objective of the Ohio DD Council - to fund andsupport people instead of facilities. It will give this segment of thepopulation more freedom to select quality providers who, in many cases, willbe the same providers who assist them so well today." - A. Zwyer,Executive Director, Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council"CMS approval represents a positive step forward in giving people choice andin allowing money to follow the person. There is a direct corollary betweenindividuals having more choices and quality." - Ron Kozlowski, ExecutiveDirector, Advocacy and Protective Services, Inc."The Arc has always supported money following the person. While it tooklonger than we had hoped, we are pleased that individuals living in an RFWwill now be transitioned to the Individual Options waiver." - Tonks,Executive Director, The Arc of Ohio