Proposed Change to IDEA Regulations   

Changes are being proposed to the IDEA Part B regulations for using a child's or parent's public benefits or insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to pay for Part B services. The proposed amendments address the rights of parents and children as well as concerns raised by educational agencies regarding burdens imposed by the current regulation.  The official version of this document will be published in the Federal Register in the next couple of weeks.

Under current IDEA Part B regulations, the district must get parental consent (a) to release a child's information to Medicaid, and (b) to bill Medicaid (if the child is enrolled in Medicaid).  This parental consent to bill Medicaid is only valid for the services outlined in the current IEP for the period specified in the IEP, and if the IEP services or the cost of providing those services change, the school must obtain their consent each time services are revised or costs change in order to bill Medicaid.

The proposed change would still require the district to get parental consent to release a child's information to Medicaid (which is required in order to bill Medicaid).  Districts would still provide parents with written notice that their consent is needed to release their child's information for billing purposes and their consent may be withdrawn. If the parents do not provide or withdraw consent, the school must still provide IDEA services at no cost to the family. The notice must also inform parents that they cannot be required to incur an out-of-pocket expense such as a deductible or co-pay in filing a claim for services, and that the school may not use Medicaid benefits if that use would

• (i)  decrease lifetime coverage or any other insured benefit,
• (ii)  result in the family paying for services that would otherwise be covered by Medicaid and that are required for the child outside of school, increase premiums or lead to discontinuation of benefits or insurance, or
• (iii) risk loss of eligibility for home and community-based waivers

The proposed change would mean that the school would no longer be required to obtain parental consent each time that it seeks access to Medicaid. This means each time there is a change in services or in the cost of services billed to Medicaid.

The Part B notice of proposed rulemaking is posted at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/news.html.

Deficit Reduction Super Committee
The first public hearing of the the Deficit Reduction "super committee" was scheduled for Tuesday, September 13. It is open to the media and the general public and includes testimony from Congressional Budget Office on "The History and Drivers of Our Nation's Debt and Its Threats."
The committee, created by the law that raised the debt limit in early August, is tasked with proposing at least $1.2 trillion in debt reduction by November 23, which both houses of Congress are required to vote on by December 23. Sources say that health care and entitlement spending cuts will be on the table for the committee.
Important dates for the super committee:
* October 14: Deadline for standing committees to forward their recommendations to joint committee.
* November 23: Deadline for joint committee to vote on legislative proposals, with a 10-year deficit reduction goal of $1.5 trillion.
* December 2: Deadline for joint committee to formally report proposals.
* December 23: Deadline for House and Senate to vote on proposals, without amendment.
* January 15: Deadline for enactment of at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, or across-the-board spending cuts will be triggered.
* January 2, 2013: If triggered, across-the-board cuts will take effect.
  Click here to get more information on the super committee's meetings from the National Journal. 

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act   

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee unanimously passed the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) during its committee meeting. The bill can now be debated on the Senate floor. More information

Republican Governors Want to Change Medicaid

In a report released by the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC) last week, Republican Governors called for fewer restrictions on how states spend money on health care for people with disabilities and people who are poor. The governors argued that states should be allowed to design their own Medicaid programs and operate them with block grants. Block grants provide a fixed lump sum of money for each state, and would change the individual entitlement to Medicaid services based on income or disability. Block grants would provide states with the freedom to custom-design Medicaid programs using a set amount of funding to cover services for children, the poor, and disabled without federal rules and the waivers. Click here to view the article and here to view the complete report.

AHCCCS Members Enrolled in the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

You may have heard about a 5% rate reduction for AHCCCS health care providers. The 5% rate reduction for providers does not affect your benefits. The only reduction to benefits for families in the DDD system has been in the area of respite care services. A reduction in the total number of hours - from 720 hours per year to 600 hours per year - will become effective on October 1. 

If you are being told that your provider is closing its doors or that your provider is cutting your benefits, you may want to contact AHCCCS and let them know.  AHCCCS and DDD are required to monitor access to services for their members. See DDDMembers@azahcccs.gov. Your name and contact information are not shared.

Partners in Policymaking
 FREE Leadership Training for self-advocates and parents of children with disabilities.

Partners in Policymaking is a leadership training program for parents of children with disabilities and for adults with disabilities. The program provides information, training, resources and skill building. Participants learn how the legislative process works at the local, state and national levels. The goal of the training is to develop productive partnerships between people who need and use services and those in a position to make policy and law. APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 7, 2011.

Contact: Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona 1-520-324-3150 / Toll Free 1-877-365-7220 or visit http://www.pilotparents.org/partners.htm

Talking Book Library Open House
Friday, October 21, 2011 - 9:00 To 3:00
Arizona Braille & Talking Book Library
Arizona State Library, a Division of the Secretary of State
1030 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the National Library Service and Reading Our Way to The Arizona Centennial
Tours of the library every 10 minutes starting at 9 am · RSVP by Oct. 17, 2011
Groups of 8 or more must call for a reservation - Group tours start at 10:30 am
RSVP 602-255-5578 or 1-800-255-5578 · btbl@lib.az.us

Open House Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing is having an Open house
New Location
4 - 7 p.m., September 22, 2011
100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite 104, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
RSVP no later than September 19 to:
Voice: (602) 542-3323
Video Phone: (866) 948-7035
Voice/TTY: (800) 352-8161 (520 and 928 Area Codes Only)
TTY: (602) 364-0990 

www.acdhh.org

September is Recovery Month
This highlights the benefits of treatment and recovery for not only the individual, but for their family, friends, workplace, and society. Because mental health is part of your overall health and wellness, this year, as part of National Recovery Month, SAMHSA will launch the first National Wellness Week from September 19-25, 2011 to promote the many ways wellness can improve quality of life and increase life expectancy for people with mental health and substance use disorders. Join ADHS/DBHS and the Arizona Stigma Reduction Committee, along with T/RBHAs and local behavioral health partnering organizations to celebrate recovery and wellness during September. Several events will take place this month - check out the statewide online calendar. Additionally, ADHS/DBHS invites you to show your support by participating in the Line Dance for Wellness on September 23rd at 10:10 am. All details are available at www.azdhs.gov/bhs/ .

Please register for all workshops. To register, click on the name of the workshop or call 602-242-4366 or 800-237-3007.

Location: 5025 E. Washington St., Suite 204, Phoenix, AZ 85034

IEP Basics
 September 15, 2011
 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
 Learn about the purpose of IEP's, parents' role in the process, and how to prepare for meetings.

En Español 

Al cumplir los 18 anos, que sigue?
September 15, 2011
 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
 Tutela: Tomando la Decision y Entendiendo el Porceso. Aprenda lo que la Tutela implica y sus alternativas antes de que su adolescente cumpla los 18 anos de edad.  

El Comportamiento Positivo
 September 19, 2011
 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
 El vinculo entre las familias y las intervenciones y el apoyo conductal positivo es muy importante.  

Al cumplir los 3 anos, que sigue?
 September 19, 2011
 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
 Intervencion Temprana Aprenda sobre los requerimientos para la transicion e ideas para lograr un proceso mas facil.

"Wonderful, helpful speakers! This has been a great seminar for training on Positive Behavior Support."