Special Session Begins

(Tallahassee, FL  December 5, 2005) Today, lawmakers returned to Tallahassee to pass legislation that will overhaul the Medicaid health care system and allow slot machines in Broward County. 

The Bush administration’s Medicaid Reform proposal moves Medicaid from a system where the state reimburses hospitals and doctors for care to one where recipients would be part of a health network, or a health maintenance organization.  At this point, the Senate appears to be proposing adoption of model demonstration projects that were outlined in the States’ Medicaid Reform proposal and recently approved by the Federal Government.  The House proposal is broader.  Lobbying have been added to the agenda to address ethical practices within the lobbying industry.  Also, Minimum Wage amendments are being proposed within the House to clarify the state's new minimum wage - including allowing the state to use the Consumer Price Index to adjust the wage annually and exemptions. The Minimum Wage bill also sets limits on how workers can make claims against employees if they believe they have been underpaid.

Other bills that may be taken up this week include county options to extend the time property owners can make discounted payments on their annual property tax bills in counties impacted by the recent hurricanes and creation of a new NASCAR license plate to fund a NASCAR Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach.  Some lawmakers have been pushing for a package of hurricane relief issues including unemployment assistance and help for cities facing budget crunches because of hurricane clean-up costs. 

Please stay tuned to Capitol Breaking News for more information about the Special Session.

• Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities
  
  The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is accepting applications for new grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) , Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities (CFDA 84.328) The purpose of this program is to ensure that parents of children with disabilities receive training and information to help improve results for their children.   The deadline for Transmittal of Applications is January 3, 2006.   Read more...

• Parent Leadership Development Project
  
  (Miami, FL.  November 21, 2005)   We recently received information about a program affiliated with the University of Miami called the Parent Leadership Development Project that is of interest to community agencies serving children in the Miami area.  If you would like to learn more about the PLD project, go to:  www.miami.edu/pld
  
  At a November meeting, the attached handouts were provided by PLD and were deemed to be of interest to Children’s Forum members.
  • Handout 1
  • Handout 2

• National Assessment of Educational Progress Exclusion Rates for Students with Disabilities
  
  Recent government studies, National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) data indicate more could be done to improve inclusion options. NAEP references a Government Accounting Office (GAO) study that determined exclusion rates for students with disabilities was much higher than previously reported, with about 40 percent of the students with disabilities who were part of the 2002 NAEP reading assessment sample excluded from the actual testing.  Read More...

• Grant Alert
   
  (Tallahassee, FL  November 16, 2005)  The attached grant alert was provided to our office by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.  The information is being forwarded to you in the event you are not on their mailing list.  Please note, at least some of the grants are due in early January 2006.   Read more...

Managed Care Training for Community Agencies

(Tallahassee, FL  December 5, 2005)   Florida ARF has entered into a cooperative agreement with ARC Florida to offer managed care training for community agencies.  The one-day training session will be held on January 25, 2006, and will be provided by Health Management Associates of Tallahassee.  The session, entitled Medicaid Reform: What It Means to You and Your Agency, is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of Medicaid Managed Care for Persons with disabilities and elders.  The training will include a review of the Florida Medicaid Reform Waiver, managed care trends, current models, implications of Medicaid Reform for DD providers, and a discussion of future directions.  The cost is $100 per individual.  Reservations should be made by January 2, 2006.  The training will be held at the Embassy Suites, Orlando – North at 225 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL.  It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end by 4:00 p.m.  If you would like to make reservations to stay at the hotel, please call 407-834-2400 prior to January 2, 2006.  Nightly hotel room rates are $99.  Managed care will also be an agenda topic at the Florida ARF quarterly meeting to be held in Tallahassee on February 20-22, 2006.

Community Supports Announcements:

• DON'T FORGET the Community Supports Forum meeting to be held in Tampa at the Palms Restaurant on Monday, December 12, 2005.  Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. followed by the Community Supports Forum meeting.  Questions may be directed to Max Sonnenschein at 850-251-6292.

• Medicaid Reform in the News
  
  (Tallahassee, FL  December 5, 2005)  If you are interested in seeing some of the materials the Medicaid Commission is reviewing regarding Medicaid Reform, go to the attached paper and summaries.  The attachments include a paper developed by staff from the George Washington University School of Public Policy on Health (Change in Challenging Times) and two summaries on current Medicaid Reform initiatives that are being reviewed by the Commission.
   
  • Additional Materials December 2005
  • Change in Challenging Times
  • Medicaid Reform Proposals
  • Medicaid Reform Proposal Summaries

• Division Regarding Medicaid Cut
   
  (Washington, D.C.  November 28, 2005)  Marc Kilmer from the American Congress of Community Supports and Employment Services (ACCSES) forwarded an  article from the November 28, 2005,  Washington Post about the division between Congressional Democrats and Democratic Governors over Medicaid cuts.  According to Kilmer, while House Democrats are opposing these cuts, many Democrat governors are quietly supporting them.  These governors are facing pressure on state budgets from Medicaid spending and are looking for ways to save money.   Read more...

• Transition of Dual Eligible Populations from Medicaid to Medicare Part D
  
  (Baltimore, Maryland  December 1, 2005)  From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid:  Beginning January 1, 2006, responsibility for the prescription drug coverage for over 6 million low-income Medicare beneficiaries who also are enrolled in Medicaid shifts from the states to the federal government in accordance with the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.  The attached document explains steps CMS is taking to ensure appropriate transition coverage.  Read more...

• The National Council of State Legislatures has posted a great deal of information on its website regarding Medicaid Reform and other health care related matters.  To read more, GO HERE

• Governor’s Accessible Electronic and Information Technology Task Force Public Hearing
  
  (Tallahassee, FL  November 17, 2005)  The Governor's Accessible Electronic and Information Technology (AeIT)Task Force will meet December 13-14, 2005.  A public comment period will be held. On December 14, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  The meeting and hearing will be held at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper Beach Hotel, 1140 Seabreeze Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, FL  33316; (954)467-1110.  The intent is to make recommendations on increasing accessibility to the state's electronic and information technology systems for persons with disabilities.

• Panel on the Non-Profit Sector

  (Washington, D.C.  November 18, 2005)  Early today, the Senate passed reconciliation tax legislation known as the “Tax Relief Act of 2005,” (S. 2020). The bill contains extensions of expiring tax provisions, additional relief for hurricane-affected areas, and charitable giving incentives and a number of significant charitable reforms.  Read more...

• Medicaid Coalition
  
  (Washington D.C. December 5, 2005) Governors continue to support the provisions in the house and Senate bills that reflect the recommendations put forth by the National Governors Association (NGA) earlier this year.  Medicaid is a vital health care safety net and provides important services to those who can get care from no other source. NGA's recommendations reflect sound policies designed to improve and strengthen the Medicaid program for the future.  The National Governor’s Council has released a new budget letter which addresses Medicaid.  To see the letter, GO HERE 

• RESPECT of Florida Hosts Town Hall Meeting in Jacksonville to Bring Attention to High Unemployment Rate
  
  (Jacksonville, FL  November 17, 2005) RESPECT of Florida convened a town hall meeting in Jacksonville, Florida to bring attention to providing job opportunities to persons with disabilities throughout northeastern Florida.  The event was held in collaboration with The Arc of Jacksonville and numerous local dignitaries also attended;  other community agencies who participated in the event were:  Pine Castle, Inc., Cerebral Palsy of Northeast Florida, Inc., Goodwill North Florida, ARC/Nassau County, Inc., Angel Wood, Inc., and Eidetik-Amelia Island Care Center.  Read More...

• House Bill Raises Welfare Work Requirement
  By Jonathan Weisman
  Washington Post Staff Writer
  Sunday, November 27, 2005; A10
  
  (Washington, D.C. November 27, 2005)  The House has included a major restructuring of the nation's welfare system in its massive budget cutting bill, which would substantially increase the hours of work, training and community service the poor would have to perform to qualify for assistance.
  
  President Bush has sought the changes for nearly four years but has been unable to get them through the Senate. Now Republicans have slipped them into a voluminous bill designed to save nearly $50 billion over five years by imposing new costs on Medicaid recipients, squeezing student lenders, cutting federal child support enforcement, narrowing eligibility for food stamps and trimming agriculture subsidies.  Read more...

ICF/DD Announcments:

• ICF/DD Licensure Rule Update
  
  (Tallahassee, FL  December 5, 2005)  The ICF/DD proposed licensure rule (59A-26) is still circulating internally within the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).  Agency staff indicate Hurricane Wilma slowed down the review process. According to AHCA analyst Kimberly Smoak, once the rule has been signed by all internal staff, AHCA will schedule a Public Rule Hearing and everyone will receive a copy of the rule.

• AHCA Releases List of Top Deficiencies
  
  (Tallahassee, FL  November 21, 2005)  AHCA Analyst Kimberly Smoak asked us to forward to ICF/DDs the  latest list of deficiencies noted during the review process.  She also asks that we remind ICF/DD providers that surveyors are continuing to find problems related to reporting incidents immediately to administrators and thorough investigations of the incidents. These specific requirements are found in section 483.420 Client Protections in the federal regulations 42 CFR 483 Subpart I.  If any provider needs a copy of the federal requirements  GO HERE

• Message from AHCA Analyst Kimberly Smoak:
  
  (Tallahassee, FL  November 21, 2005)  "Please thank all the ICF facilities that were affected by Hurricane Wilma for their time and patience as I called them daily or more sometimes to check on their status. Also do let them know any concerns or problems they had during or after the storm that were shared with me I passed to my supervisors."
   
• Senate Committee Releases Interim Report on Nursing Home Bed Moratorium
  
  (Tallahassee, FL  December 5, 2005)  In September 2005, the Senate Health Care Committee released an interim report on extending the moratorium for Certificates of Need (CON) for additional nursing home beds.  In essence, the report recommends extending the CON process for nursing home beds through 2011, but does allow for exceptions to the moratorium when a 96 percent or greater occupancy rate exists.  Further, it is recommended that the moratorium and exemption be included in Chapter 408.036(3), Florida Statutes, which is the Certificate of Need legislation.  While the report does not specifically address ICF/DDs, it will be interesting to see if the same principles will be applied to ICF/DD certificates of need.  Read more...