Policy Initiatives for 112th Congress

The Council for Exceptional Children has released its Public Policy Agenda for the 112th U.S. Congress. Learn which special education issues and federal policy objectives it will be working to achieve.

Continue reading here

After working through the night, the House approved a budget which reflects a compromise between the House, Senate and Governor's Office. 

AHCCCS

The timing of the budget coincided with the Governor's submission of her Medicaid reform plan to the U.S. Health and Human Services Director Kathleen Sebelius (available on the AHCCCS website). The plan includes an enrollment freeze that removes 130,000 people - 100,000 childless adults and 30,000 parents - from Arizona's Medicaid rolls through attrition in FY 2012.  The budget savings are about $500 million, along with another $62 million in savings associated with the 5% provider rate reduction effective April 1. Some of the significant changes: 

• Implementation of premiums and copayments, subject to CMS approval:
  A monthly premium of $15, not to exceed $60 per family;
  Copayment of $5 for each office visit;
  Copayment of $10 for each urgent care visit;
  Copayment of $30 for each ER visit.
• Elimination of non-emergency medical transportation, except for stretcher vans and ambulance transportation with prior authorization and initiated pursuant to a physician's direction.
• Authorization for another 5% provider rate reduction for rates effective from October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012.
• Transfer of responsibility for the Children's Rehabilitative Service (CRS) Program from DHS to AHCCCS. 

Department of Economic Security

The budget includes an appropriation of $92 million from the general fund for DDD caseload growth, and without any new DDD program cuts or reductions. The budget reduces lifetime eligibility for TANF benefits from 36 months to 24 months (saving $8.6 million), and eliminates the state general fund subsidy for child care (saving $14 million).  

Department of Health Services

The DHS budget reflects reductions associated with the AHCCCS eligibility reductions, the provider rate reduction effective April 1, and the transfer of CRS Program to AHCCCS.     

K-12 Education

Total K-12 reductions in the compromise budget are about $140 million. 

With the budget out of the way, the regular session may end within the next few weeks. 

Have you missed seeing the legislature in action?

Here is video showing the vote on the amendment to SB1619 to enable private funds to be used to fund coverage of transplant services:

http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=9037

Setting the Record Straight:  

FREE - 2nd Annual Disability Empowerment Center Health and Wellness Fair

April 9, 2011,    9 am -  4 pm

Disability Empowerment Center

5025 E. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85034

The fair will feature six presentations held in the Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center on the topics of

• assistive technology
• depression in chronic illness
• naturopathic medicine
• diabetes
• special needs trusts
• relationships & intimacy

More info: http://www.abil.org/wellness.

Public comment period on the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan: 2011-2015

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced an open public comment period on the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan: 2011-2015 ("the Plan"). Despite the benefits, today only 25-percent of physician offices and 15-percent of hospitals take advantage of electronic health records (EHRs). Two major pieces of legislation, enacted over the past two years, are providing an opportunity to modernize the way care is delivered.

Read more

Free conference on Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome: New Research, New Treatments

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

Franciscan Renewal Center

5802 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

For further information and to R.S.V.P. please contact Heather L. Strouse, Ph.D. at hlstrouse@yahoo.com  or (480) 200-9736 by April 25th

Arizona Community Living NOW a program administered by the Sonoran UCEDD and supported by grant funds from the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), addresses the issue of how to give families the information they need to create affordable and accessible community living situations for themselves and their family members with developmental disabilities. The following 6 educational sessions address needs around housing.  Video and transcripts of each session are available at http://azcommunitylivingnow.org

• Community Services and Supports: What We Have and What We Need : video and transcripts available at http://azcommunitylivingnow.org
• Transitions: My Chosen Life and What it Means to Me. Video and transcripts available at http://azcommunitylivingnow.org
• Consumer Controlled Housing: Making Informed Choices in Rental and Home Ownership. Video and transcripts available at
• Shared Living: Important Discussions about Daily Life. Video and transcripts available at http://azcommunitylivingnow.org
• Special Needs Planning: Guardianship and Living Trusts (April 11, 2011, 2-4pm)
• Financial Education and Planning

Study about child care

Study needs parents of children under six to share their stories, experiences and concerns about child care in Arizona. In an hour-long interview, parents will be asked to discuss their current child care arrangements and what issues they are facing in terms of cost, quality and availability and if their child care needs are being met. Information gained in the study will help the community plan better options for meeting child care needs in Arizona.

Contact 1-877-508-4435 or azchildcarestudy@gmail.com

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Research on inclusion for children with autism

National Inclusive Education Initiative for Students with Autism and Related Disabilities

The NIEI is focused on improving educational services and outcomes for students with autism and related disabilities through efforts in the areas of leadership development, personnel preparation, professional development, model demonstration, clinical evaluation services, and research and policy. This project is supported by the Fund for the Improvement of Education and is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

New: Children's Developmental Center

Easter Seals Southwest Human Development has opened a comprehensive facility serving Arizona children ages birth to five with disabilities and behavioral challenges. The center offers coordinated care between different disciplines so families can receive varied therapies and treatment in one location. 
Visit the website to learn about services like:
·    Comprehensive developmental assessments
·    A feeding program for infants and young children
·    Autism services
·    Occupational, physical and speech therapy
·    Psychology and counseling services
·    Assistive technology services

Archived Webinars on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services

The Friday Morning Collaborative is a coalition of national aging and disability organizations working to protect and strengthen Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). With support from The SCAN Foundation, the coalition is hosting a series of webinars to provide information and resources that may assist state advocates in preventing cuts to HCBS. Below is a list of archived and upcoming webinars. 

Budgets: Challenges and Opportunities for Home and Community Based Services

February 25, 2011

Speakers:

Judy Solomon (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

Wendy Fox-Grage (AARP Public Policy Institute)

Jerry Reilly (Eldercare Alliance -Washington State)

Diane Justice (National Academy for State Health Policy) 

Archive of the webinar: http://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=bg19fh  

Cost-Effectiveness of Home and Community Based Services 

March 25, 2011

Speakers:  

Stephen Kaye (Center for Personal Assistance Services, University of California San Francisco)

Lisa Alecxih (The Lewin Group)

K. Charlie Lakin (Research and Training Center on Community Living, University of Minnesota)

Dee Mahan (Families USA)

Archive of webinar: http://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=gpm4s1

Developmental Assets

Need ideas to connect with your children, help foster their self-esteem, and ensure they grow to be responsible, caring adults? The Search Institute has a list of developmental assets by age/stage of development, and ways for promoting these common sense ideas at http://www.search-institute.org/developmental-assets (English en Español).

How do children fare in your community?
The raw U.S. Census numbers recently made available for Arizona and have updated them to the Children's Action Alliance KIDS COUNT Data Center site. If you go to the Data Center, you can now look up how many children under 18 are living in your county, Congressional District, and in several cities and other places in Arizona. In addition, you can see how diverse your community is racially and ethnically. Keep checking the Data Center year-round to review updated statistics on a variety of indicators that show how children fare in your community.

April 04, 2011 Bully-Free Environments-Family Partners 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Learn how to recognize bullying, effectively respond, and build positive solutions.  

April 06, 2011 IEP Basics 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM  Learn about the purpose of IEP's, parent's role in the process, and how to prepare for meetings.

En Español

Abril 08, 2011 Familias Resistentes 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

La Estructura mas Básica para una Relación de Familia Saludable La habilidad de volver de un trauma o una situación difícil.

Collaborative Therapies Conference - Free

"I really like this new weekly format. It's easy to read on my blackberry and the info is organized so it is timely, but not overwhelming in content. It has been consistent in those areas since you rolled it out."