Medicaid Waiver-Tier System

Got Questions? Get Answers!

The meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, was attended by more than 125 individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, providers, support coordinators, and other stakeholders. After FCC Chair, Lynn Carper, opened the forum, Dr. Dave Robinson presented a PowerPoint slideshow that attempted to simplify the cumbersome tier system. A detailed discussion and Question & Answer session followed, with questions being fielded by Dr. Robinson and Patty Houghland, Chair of the Family Care Council Florida.

For more detailed coverage of the meeting, please click on Medicaid Tier System Minutes. For a copy of the PowerPoint presentation made by Dr. Robinson, click Area 1 End of Year Update

WHEN:         WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2008

 TIME:           6:00 - 8:00 pm

 WHERE:      WORKMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL*
                       6299 LANIER DRIVE
                       PENSACOLA, FL 32504
                       SCHOOL CAFETERIA

For more information contact:
Family Care Council
Lynn Carper, Chair
P. O. Box 17391
Pensacola, FL 32522
Day Phone: (850) 432-1596
E-mail: info@fcc-area1.org
Web: www.fcc-area1.org
 

Financial and Life Planning for People with Developmental Disabilities

When parents have a child (adult or underage) with disabilities, one of the most important questions they ask themselves is, "What is going to happen to my child when I am no longer here?" Children with disabilities are living longer, making it essential for parents to plan for their child's long term support and well being.

There are several different types of trusts that can be established—self-funded trusts, 1^st and 3^rd party trusts, pooled trusts, etc. It can be quite complicated and overwhelming. Furthermore, an improperly created trust could comprise the individual's eligibility for public benefits.

An attorney who specializes in estate planning for families with a child with special needs can help families establish a special needs trust and life plan. Insurance agents, financial planners, and other financial professionals who specialize in needs planning, guidance counselors and other parents of children with special needs also are good resources.

The following resources provide more information about life and financial planning for people with disabilities. Talk to families that receive services from your affiliate and make sure they are aware of this most important topic.

Resources:

• » MetDesk (Read the UCPeople Article about MetDesk)
• » Exceptional Parent Financial and Life Planning Information
• » With Open Arms: Embracing a Bright Financial Future for You and Your Child with Disabilities
• » Life Planning and Down Syndrome
• » Academy of Special Needs Planners
• » Special Needs Alliance

Grants Available for Families Struggling with Child Health-Related Costs

The United Healthcare Children's Foundation has announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical health care treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans.

UHCCF provides grants to families to help pay for child health care services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.

Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for child medical services and equipment by completing an online application at the UHCCF Web site.

To be eligible for grants, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and be covered by a commercial health benefit plan.

For further information on the grants, go to www.uhccf.org to be taken to their website.

Updated: Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Advocacy Center Files Petition on Tier Administrative Rule

The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities has filed a proposed rule challenge on the Medicaid-Waiver tier rules in Florida. Remember that last year the Legislature changed the law to require a four-tier waiver system for individuals receiving Medicaid Waiver services from APD. The tier system is to go into effect July 1, 2008

For more information on the rule challenge filed, click on Advocacy Center to be taken to their website. You will also be able to view the actual petition as it was filed on Monday, May 5.

To view APD's Talking Points on the Tier Waivers, click on APD to be directed to their website.

Updated: Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Disability Rally -- April 28, 2008

Pensacola, FL -- A new state funding system that pays for services for the developmentally disabled has advocacy groups worried.

Legislators passed it as a way to contain costs, but some say the new system could force families to make some tough decisions.

Lynn Carper's 23-year-old son, Chris, has cerebral palsy.

He now lives in a group home where he gets constant care for everything from feeding to bathing.

He also gets special training for adults with disabilities.

Under the state's new tier funding system, the state may no longer cover all the services Chris gets now, forcing his mom to decide which ones he keeps.

"It's not a good thing to have to choose between services that are going to give your child the quality of life that they deserve," said Carper.

Advocacy groups for the disabled held a press conference to protest the new tiered system.

It caps how much money is spent on services depending on which tier a person falls under.

Advocates say the tier assignment doesn't do enough to take individual needs into account.

Donna Fassett is the Executive Dircector ARC Gateway in Pensacola.

"The biggest concern is that people who are getting basic services." Fassett explained. "A place to live, a safe place to be, transportation, a meaningful activity during the day, are going to have to make some very difficult choices. They're not going to have the funds available to pay for all that."

In addition, the state also passed a five and a half percent provider rate cut and some employees could be out of a job.

Advocates hope the governor will at least raise the monetary caps for each tier, otherwise they say they it's going to be hard to keep some programs going.

Parents like Lynn Carper hope he's listening.

"Our individuals do not fit in these nice, neat, little boxes as the tiers are set up," said Carper, "and there are hopefully more effective ways for cost containment."

The new tiered funding system is scheduled to take effect July first.

Reprinted from www.weartv.com:  Last Updated: Monday, April 28 2008, 08:22 PM

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/x_stories/story2.shtml

Law could cut $120 million for services to disabled

The Florida Legislature is proposing a change in the law that would cut more than $120 million from the budget for services for people with developmental disabilities.

A coalition of at least six local nonprofits that assist disabled residents, along with advocates and families, are calling for the legislature to reconsider the cuts, which would leave some disabled residents homeless, said Donna Fassett, executive director of ARC Gateway.

The news was announced today at the Pollak Training Center at ARC Gateway in Pensacola.

“There are so many things they (legislature) don’t understand,” said Dave Miller, CEO of Horizons of Okaloosa County. “We are afraid many people are going to have their services cut and we’re not sure what’s going to happen to those people.”

The legislature is looking at moving to a tier funding system for those with disabilities. Depending on which tier they fall in, based on their needs, the cuts will be significant in three of the four categories.

Ruth Brassow of Pensacola has a 29-year-old son, Paul, who has a developmental disability. He lives in a group home with five other men who are like family to him, she said. Paul also attends an adult day training program, where he learns jobs skills and earns some money of his own.

Under the cuts, Paul would be $7,000 short of covering the costs of his basic services, not including medical supplies or dental care. However, during the past year, Paul has had to have extensive dental work.

“In the future, he will have to choose between his home, his job and dental care,” Ruth Brassow said. “The choices we face leave us with no easy answers, and in some cases with no answers or solutions at all.”

Recently, a House and Senate committee agreed on an additional 5.5 percent reduction to funding to these organizations, on top of the $120 million cut, said Sherry White, CEO of UCP of Northwest Florida.

“The combination of the tiers and the rate reduction will have ramifications that we’ve only begun to determine,” White said. “We do understand that this is a very difficult financial year and that we are not the only group facing challenges, but we have endured many years of rate reductions.”

White said the proposed cuts would leave no choice but to discontinue certain services. 

Reprinted from www.pnj.com:  Last Updated: Monday, April 28 2008

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/NEWS01/80428020

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