Florida ARF Recognizes March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Tallahassee, FL (March 20, 2019) Florida ARF joined with other stakeholders to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness month.  We were pleased to attend Governor DeSantis’ March 12th Cabinet and support the Agency for Persons with Disabilities as our Governor presented a resolution declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Florida.  President and CEO Suzanne Sewell, along with Florida ARF and RESPECT of Florida staff, participated in DD Days at the Capitol on March 20th, and many of our members were in attendance.  Sewell encouraged attendees to educate their lawmakers on the hiring crisis providers are facing and to explain the need for wage increases for direct care staff so they can earn fair wages.  Following the DD Day events, Florida ARF member agencies met with their lawmakers and attended forum sessions to review policies and concerns with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.  The above initiatives were all great opportunities to raise awareness about the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Florida ARF Represents Member Agencies on Governor DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Health & Wellness

Tallahassee, FL (January 30, 2019) Florida ARF President & CEO Suzanne Sewell was pleased to serve on Governor Ron DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness.  The committee was comprised of a diverse group of health care experts from a variety of different medical fields, as well as health care providers, addiction counselors, and mental health professionals, in addition to current and former leaders of Florida’s health care system.  Sewell and the other committee members advised the Transition Team as they developed their plan to implement Governor DeSantis’ vision of empowering patients and expanding provider reach, fighting addiction and mental health problems, and protecting Florida’s most vulnerable populations while lowering costs and respecting taxpayers’ money.

On behalf of the membership, Sewell submitted the following recommendations to the new Administration:
 

• Address the Direct Care Hiring Crisis,
• Adopt a “Substantial Compliance” Concept for iBudget Medicaid Waiver Services,
• Conduct a Comprehensive Review of Regulatory Requirements to Eliminate Documentation Requirements That Are Overly Burdensome and Do Not Have a Clear Relationship to Client Health, Safety, and Quality of Care,
• Task Involved Agencies (APD, DBPR Building Code, and the Department of Insurance - State Fire Marshal) to Resolve Contradictory Requirements for Licensure of Homes that Serve Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,
• Fund Cost of Medicaid Transportation Services for Providers, and
• Pursue Use of Remote Technology.

Florida ARF looks forward to working with the new Administration to address these and other issues that affect the lives of individuals with disabilities and the provider agencies that exist to provide quality services for individuals with disabilities.