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January 16, 2012 

Health Mandate Going to Supreme Court

On March 26, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments in the 26 lawsuits filed by opponents of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The suits challenge the validity of the Medicaid expansion and the individual insurance mandate. The U.S. Department of Justice asserts that the mandate is needed to break the cycle of "cost-shifting" that makes health insurance more expensive for everyone. Read more.

Justices Decline Appeals on Special Education

By Mark Walsh

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear appeals in cases involving special education and Title IX. In one case, the justices declined to hear the appeal of a school district ordered to provide compensatory tutoring because it failed to identify a student's disability. Read the article.

Essential Health Benefits: Balancing State Flexibility with Consumer Protections  

By Sara R. Collins, The Commonwealth Fund, Stateline: State Policy & Politics

In December,, 2011, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an Essential Health Benefits Bulletin that says states will have flexibility to create a state-specific benefit plan. The Essential Health Benefits package describes the services that individual and small group health insurers, as well as health plans in the state exchanges, will have to provide. Each state plan must cover services in the following ten categories:   

1. Ambulatory patient services
2. Emergency services
3. Hospitalization
4. Maternity and newborn care
5. Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
6. Prescription drugs
7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
8. Laboratory services
9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management, and
10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

States will select one of the following as a benchmark plan:

• one of the three largest small group plans in the state by enrollment, or
• one of the three largest state employee health plans by enrollment, or
• one of the three largest federal employee health plan options by enrollment, or
• the largest HMO plan offered in the state's commercial market by enrollment

If a state's benchmark plan does not provide services in one or more of the 10 categories, states can pick a second plan to complete its health benefits package. This will allow insurers to continue covering a state's mandated benefits without the state incurring the cost of those services which fall outside of the Essential Health Benefits package. Public input to HHS is encouraged. The deadline for comments is January 31, 2012. Send comments to: EssentialHealthBenefits@cms.hhs.gov

Download a Fact Sheet on Essential Health Benefits from Raising Special Kids' website.

More background on Essential Health Benefits

In "A Children's Health Policy Blog" by the Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families, Joan Alker offers her insights in an article titled Essential Health Benefits: A Children's Perspective.

She notes "...small group coverage is actually very similar to large group coverage - and indeed all of the listed benchmarks according to the guidance are in terms of benefits covered.

Significant differences may occur in the area of cost-sharing -- and the EHB guidance does not address the issue of cost-sharing." Cost sharing means services that insurance policies require consumers to pay (co-pays and deductibles.) Read the article.

Impact

Impact is a newsletter containing strategies, research, and success stories related to persons with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. It provides practical information useful to professionals in a variety of fields, including educators, community service providers, policymakers, and advocates, as well as persons with disabilities and their families.

Scholarship Portal

Arizona Community Foundation has a new online scholarship portal that allows students throughout Arizona to apply for more than 60 scholarship awards with a single online application.

The online system automatically matches each student applicant with every scholarship opportunity for which he or she qualifies. High school seniors, current college students and/or graduate-level students attending schools anywhere in the United States can apply. Scholarships are available for two-year and four-year colleges and universities as well as technical schools.

Students should apply early to qualify for the most awards.

KEEN - Kids Enjoy Exercise Now

KEEN provides free recreational and sports programs for children and young adults with more profound and severe mental and physical disabilities. Visit www.keenphoenix.org 

Free Developmental Screening (Northern Arizona)

Children Ages: Birth to 3 years

Children will be screened in developmental areas: Cognitive, Communication, Social/Emotional, Physical and Self-help skills

WHERE: Hopi Tribal Complex;

Risk Management Conference Room, Kykotsmovi, Arizona

WHEN: January 25, 2012, at 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Contact: Crystal Kewanimptewa, Phone: (928) 734-3418

Free Dental Clinic for kids 0-5

Wednesday January 18, 9-11:30am

Kyrene de la Colina Elementary, 13612 S. 36th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85044

* Dental clinic is completely FREE, no income or insurance requirements.

* For any child under the age of 6 years old.

* Oral health screening is done by a hygienist, visual exam only, no instruments.

* Fluoride Varnish is applied (painted on the teeth) and protects teeth for up to six months.

* Whole process takes under 5 minutes.

* Fluoride varnish can reverse early damage to teeth

* Children can receive these services every THREE months.  

1st Annual African American Disabilities Outreach Conference

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

7:30 am - 4:00pm

Where: Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona - Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center

5025 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) will be hosting the 1st Annual African-American Disabilities Outreach Conference for individuals throughout Arizona. The mission is to reach out to individuals in underserved communities to provide information related to employment, mental health, special education, legislative advocacy, as well as community programs and services.

No Registration Charge

Go to http://africanamericanoutreachconference.eventbrite.com/ to register online. For questions and/or assistance with registration please contact David Carey at davidc@abil.org or call 602-443-0723. Registration deadline will be Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012!

Public Meeting - Acute Care RFP

Thursday Jan 18, 2012

2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Disability Empowerment Center, 5025 E. Washington St., #204, Phoenix, AZ 85034.

AHCCCS will hold a public meeting on January 18, 2012, to provide the public with information about the upcoming Request for Proposal for managed care contracts.

RSVP/ send questions to: alma.torres@azahcccs.gov

Public Meeting
RFP Information

Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors Summit
Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Holiday Inn Hotel, 777 N. Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande, AZ

View/download the flyer.

In Arizona, more than 100,000 kids are being raised by their grandparents. Grandparents - and other adult relatives - step in for parents who are disabled or have died, are in prison, or experiencing mental illness, or substance abuse.

Registration is free but seating is limited. RSVP to Elaine Wilder at (520) 820-8949 or wilder.e@gmail.com. Lunch and child care are also provided free of charge.

Valley Metro Transportation Presentation (FREE Ride on Bus/Light Rail)

Have you wanted to use the Valley Metro transit system but didn't know where to start?  Topics included: overview of the system, how to plan your bus/rail trip, fare policy, Dial-A-Ride, changes in ADA certification and the new mobility center.  Learn about options such as cab programs and mileage reimbursement available in some cities.  Bring your questions!  Valley Metro will provide all participants with an All Day Pass for the ride on the bus and light rail.

Guest Speaker:   Dolores Nolan, Valley Metro

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: Disability Empowerment Center (DEC), 5025 E. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85034 - Classroom A - 2nd Floor

Sharon Landay and Sophia

Sharon Landay became acquainted with Raising Special Kids early in her daughter's life. Sophia, now 11, was born with omphalocele which required immediate surgery. Sophia has had multiple physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.

A hospital social worker referred Sharon to Raising Special Kids, and she was connected through the Parent to Parent program with a trained Parent Mentor who was also the parent of a child like Sophia. Sharon felt encouraged by "the reassurance that other families live this too. There are families ready and willing to help and resources are available."

Even though Sharon has a background in special education, she welcomed Raising Special Kids' training and assistance when it came time to prepare her daughter's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). "It was frustrating to struggle to get appropriate services," she explained.

From her experiences, Sharon decided to become part of the Parent Leader network for supporting and mentoring new parents.

Raising Special Kids needs your help to serve more families like Sharon and Sophia. Please make your donation today through our secure online system. A donation of any amount is greatly appreciated.

Help other parents, share your experience and knowledge with professionals, and learn how to advocate for improvement in our systems of care.

For information about Parent Leader Training and opportunities to make a difference, contact Janna Murrell at Raising Special Kids 602-242-4366 or jannam@raisingspecialkids.org.

"I guess our son's dreams and skills have taken him to a place that makes folks uncomfortable. He just doesn't want to take the easy path. By the time I called you on Friday, I was completely frazzled. Thank you so much for jumping right on this. I am so impressed!"

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