Fwd: REQUEST FOR FLORIDA AUTISM COMMUNITY TO TAKE ACTION! Please forward to friends and family!

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Date: Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 3:16 PMSubject: REQUEST FOR FLORIDA AUTISM COMMUNITY TO TAKE ACTION! Please forward to friends and family!To: CARD-ANNOUNCEMENTS@...

  

TIME SENSITIVE NOTICE - ACTION REQUIRED IN GREAT NUMBERS BY 3:00 TOMORROW!PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.  CLICK HERE TO STOP THIS VERY BAD BILL!

(Personalize your letter and Email everyone with one click!)SB 1516 is already in it's second committee and scheduled for a hearing tomorrow at 3:00.THIS BILL IS ON A FAST TRACK AND WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE THE MISSION OF APD, SETTING US BACK 50 YEARS IN OUR EFFORTS TO ASSIST OUR LOVED ONES WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. (see explanations below)

APD WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO DETERMINE CORE VS. NON-CORE UNDER THE GUISE OF EXTRAORDINARY NEED, THE MENU OF SERVICES WILL BE CUT TO INCLUDE ONLY HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICES AS DETERMINED BY THEM.  YOU MUST TAKE ACTION TO STOP THIS!   Please forward to all families with developmentally disabled loved ones.

Here are the basic changes the bill will make to the current system:·         Services designated as “supplemental programs” and “other services” will be funded through 'natural supports' and 'community resources'.  

 ·         Sixteen (16) services (including Adult Day Training (ADT), Personal Care Assistance, medical/dental, residential facility, respite, supported living & supported employment, and transportation) have been removed from statute as medically necessary services used to prevent institutionalization.

  ·         Rate reimbursements will be in accordance with rates adopted by AHCA and APD, and approved by the feds.  The change will result in arbitrary rate setting that will not cover the cost of care.  Actuarially sound rates must exist to maintain service quality.

 

·         The agency may not authorize services above the coverage limits of the Medicaid state plan, even though the waiver is designed to supplement the services offered by the Medicaid state plan. How can the state justify a DD Home and Community Based Services waiver with this language? 

 

·         A list of services will be used by the agency to evaluate a person’s “extraordinary needs” to determine individual funding levels 

 

The proposed language implements a core/non-core service delivery system without using the terminology.  If implemented, it will result in virtually no funding of cornerstone services such as ADT, transportation, medical/dental and respite services and will reduce services for at least half of the individuals served.  Florida already serves 72% of the DD waiver recipients in their own homes: Implementation of this concept will work against this accomplishment. The one-size-fits-all concept is not responsive to individuals who do not have extraordinary service needs.

 

·         The agency will determine a client’s initial iBudget by comparing the client’s algorithm allocation to their existing annual cost plan and the amount needed to fund the client’s “extraordinary need” services  

 

Set-asides determined necessary by the agency will be taken off-the-top of the appropriation before the algorithm (adjusted to Appropriation funding) is applied.  Implementing the changes at the current funding level, or lower, will result in disastrous results. 

The cost plan allocation methodology within this bill is complicated and subsequent cost plan reductions cannot be known.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Families will not be able to understand how their individual’s cost plan will be calculated and services will fluctuate based on available funding and the number of individuals brought onto the waiver.

 

    

  

  

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UM-NSU CARD is a state-funded resource and support program dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and related disabilities including deaf-blindness and pervasive developmental disorders. UM-NSU CARD does not endorse specific programs or points of view presented in this email.