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March 12, 2012

NAMI CAN!
Medi-Cal Dual Eligibles Demonstration Project

Thank you to California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN) for this comprehensive report of the March 7th joint meeting of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services and the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee.  Urged by virtually all advocates on the various stakeholder panels that the State should "slow down" on new proposals to expand efforts to shift people with disabilities and seniors eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal - referred to as "dual eligibles" - the Assembly groups adjourned a nearly 6 hour informational hearing on the Governor's controversial proposal to expand from 4 to 10 counties in 2013 and all counties by the end of 2015, an existing demonstration project proposal to shift those "dual eligible" from Medi-Cal "fee-for-service" to Medi-Cal managed care type plans.  No action was taken at the joint hearing.

 

The Brown Administration is calling the proposed expansion plan the "Care Coordination Initiative" which includes proposals to integrate several long term supports and services such as In-Home Supportive Services, the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP).

 

Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat - Los Angeles), chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services opened the informational hearing with Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (Democrat - Davis), chair of the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee.  Mitchell and several members of the two committees stayed for most of the hearing, though at the end, Assemblymember Yamada chaired and adjourned the hearing at 7:39 PM, and was the sole member left for about the last hour or so. 

 

CDCAN will issue a more details and a full report on the hearing in a separate report later.  

 

No Action Taken At Informational Hearing

  • No action was taken by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee or the Assembly Aging and Long Term Committee following the public comments made by seven panels and dozens of other persons, including many recipients or providers of Medi-Cal and Medicare and In-Home Supportive Services and the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) who provided public testimony in the middle and at the end of the hearing. 
  • Several members of the subcommittee and committee - including the two chairs - while supporting the concept of the 4 county pilot that the Legislature authorized in SB 208 last year and the general idea of integrating long term care services, expressed reservations about the Governor's proposed expansion of the demonstration project. Less clear was their position on the Governor's proposal regarding shifting In-Home Supportive Services in the counties selected as part of the demonstration project as a Medi-Cal managed care benefit or the issue of integrating the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP).
  • Assemblymember Yamada, in her closing comments before adjourning the informational hearing, said that the proposals by the Governor "...on this proposed budget that is really attempting to enact policy without a full policy review is not something I would support".   She assured the remaining audience that "...this is only the beginning of this conversation for the rest of this budget season.  The very reason we chose - Chair Mitchell and I chose - to do this hearing together today - was to really insert the policy discussion into the budget review."

California Has Over 1.2 Million "Dual Eligibles"

  • California has over 1.2 million people with disabilities and seniors who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal - though it is not clear yet how many of that population would be impacted by the existing demonstration project until the specific counties are selected by the State in the coming weeks - and the actual proposal is submitted to and approved by the federal government.  That number also includes thousands of people with developmental disabilities. 
  • More persons would be impacted if the Legislature approves - as part of the 2012-2013 State Budget process that should conclude sometime by the end of June - the Governor's proposals to expand the existing demonstration project and integrate various long term care supports and services as Medi-Cal managed care-type benefits. 

Governor Proposing Expansion of "Dual Eligible" Demonstration Project From 4 to 10 Counties

  • As previously reported, the Governor is also proposing, as part of the proposal to expand the "dual eligible" demonstration project from 4 to 10 counties in 2013 and statewide by 2015, that the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program will become a Medi-Cal managed care benefit for persons in the demonstration project counties.  While the proposal is coming from Brown - the Obama Administration is putting pressure on the states to reduce spending in the Medicare - and also Medicaid programs, and is encouraging efforts by the states to shift the "dual eligible" populations into managed care type plans. 
  • Brown Administration officials at today's hearing and a similar hearing held by the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on February 23rd, said that rights,  assessments, eligibility, and services under the current IHSS program would be the same under the Governor's proposal to shift the program as a Medi-Cal managed care benefit even in the subsequent years of the demonstration project.  
  • The Governor's plan also proposes to integrate the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), keeping the program as is in 2013, but then propose that by 2015, MSSP would only be available as a Medi-Cal managed care plan benefit in all counties and would use a uniform assessment tool - assuming the Legislature approves the Governor's proposal. 
  • The Governor's plan also includes integrating institutional nursing facility and home and community-based waiver programs (though not the developmental services waiver) as Medi-Cal managed care benefits in the demonstration counties.

Next Steps for Legislature

  • The Governor's plan to expand the existing demonstration project proposal and to make IHSS and the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) a Medi-Cal managed care benefit for those in the project, would need approval from the Legislature first before those changes can be included in the demonstration project proposal that the Brown Administration will be submitting to the federal government sometime later this spring for approval. 
  • The budget subcommittees of both the Assembly and State Senate will hear these issues again - along with the Brown Administration's proposed budget related legislative language - referred to as "budget trailer bill language" - in April (see separate CDCAN Report on upcoming hearings), where some action on those issues might take place. 
  • The Brown Administration did release on February 7th budget related legislative language on the Governor's proposal that outlined the general concepts - but has not yet released language with details, including the proposal to make IHSS a Medi-Cal managed care benefit within the demonstration project.  The Brown Administration, in a public conference call held on Feb 22nd, indicated it is still finalizing draft language and will soon be releasing proposed legislative language in the coming weeks to the Legislature and to the public, including more details and specifics regarding the proposal impacting IHSS.
  • Final action by the budget subcommittees - and full budget committees - is not expected until after the Governor releases his revisions to his proposed 2012-2013 State Budget plan in mid-May - known as the "May Revise". 
Understanding the California Health Benefit Exchange
We will soon witness the greatest transformation of the health care system in our nation's history. California is on the frontlines and the first state in the country to create a program to implement the federal Affordable Care Act. The California Health Benefit Exchange will be an online marketplace for eligible individuals to purchase coverage, a universe also comprised of small businesses that is estimated to be more than eight million by 2016, according to University of California, Berkeley.

This informative seminar will include discussions about the sources of health insurance in the state, the rising costs of health care, the Exchange's vision, mission and values, and issues and obstacles facing the execution of health care reform in the state. CEU credits available.

Guest Speaker: Kim Belsh�
Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute of California
California Health Benefit Exchange Board Member


Details:
Sacramento
Tuesday, April 3, 2012

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
CSAC Conference Center
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Riverside
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.  
Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
The Bourns Boardroom
3985 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501

RSVP Required
Please RSVP to Maria Eligon at (916) 658-0144 or [email protected]

NAMI Family Program Trainings

We are excited to be offering these family program trainings in the next few months.

 

Please see the schedule below:

 

Northern California 

NAMI Family to Family Training

Date: May 18-20, 2012

City: Santa Clara

 

Southern California  

Spanish de Familia a Familia Teacher Training

Date: March 30-April 1, 2012

City: Santa Ana 

 

Interested in volunteering? Please contact your local affiliate for details.

 

--Lynn Cathy

Director of Family Programs

[email protected] 

 

MHSA Community Forum, April 4, Chico 

A Community Forum will be held April 4, 2012, to discuss the impact of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), in Butte and neighboring counties. The Community Forum is sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), and facilitated by two MHSOAC committees, the Client and Family Leadership Committee and the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Committee.

 

The Community Forum will be held from 2:30 to 6:00 PM.

 

            Location: Chico Masonic Family Center

            1110 West East Avenue

            Chico, California 95926

            Phone: (530) 342-7143 (Directions only)

                            

Specifically, the MHSOAC is interested in hearing from stakeholders about how MHSA services and supports that were funded as a result of Proposition 63 have made a difference for them, their families or their community. MHSOAC Committee members and staff will facilitate a semi-structured discussion with attending stakeholders designed to elicit feedback and diverse views.  

 

Information and stories gleaned through this discussion will be summarized annually and used to provide feedback to the MHSOAC about how persons have experienced the MHSA in local communities throughout California. This information will be considered by the MHSOAC in shaping future policy direction.

 

Interpreters will be made available upon request. Please contact the MHSOAC at [email protected] or (916) 445-8696 for these requests and provide at least 7 days notice to help ensure availability. Late requests will be honored if possible.

 

Because space is limited we would appreciate an RSVP if you are planning on attending or attending with a group of participants. Please RSVP to [email protected] or (916) 445-8696.

CMH Offers Small Counties Webinar Series on Wellness Centers and Peer Driven Programs

Please join CMH for a series of webinars outlining best practices, models and strategies for developing and implementing wellness centers and peer-driven programs in small counties on March 30, April 27, and May 18. The first webinar was held March 2. 

 

Webinar 2: Wellness Centers: Models and Programming

(Facilitator: Anne MacRae; Invited speakers from various counties):
Infrastructure, Financial Sustainability, Special Issues

Date: Friday, March 30

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Webinar 3: Employees with Lived Experience within County Systems

(Facilitator and presenter - Anne MacRae; additional presentations by invited speakers):
Models of employment, Supervision versus mentoring, Employment evaluations

Date: Friday, April 27

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Webinar 4: Sustainability and Funding Streams

(Facilitator: Anne MacRae)

Funding and Sustainability, Outcome measures, Closure and Action Plan: Where do we go from here?

Date: Friday, May 18

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Reserve your Webinar seats now.

 

Click here to register for the entire series. 


or register for individual sessions:   

 

Webinar #2, March 30:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/707160017 

 

Webinar #3, April 27:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/662991592

 

Webinar #4, May 18:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/371038289

 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

 

For more information, contact:

Shoshana Zatz

Associate II

California Institute for Mental Health

2125 19th Street, 2nd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95818

(916) 556-3480, ext. 141 (office)

(530) 219-0862 (cell)

 

[email protected]   

www.cimh.org 

NAMI California's 2012 Annual Conference: Applications for Workshops

NAMI California's 2012 Annual Conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California on Friday August 17th & Saturday August 18th. We are now accepting applications for workshops. This year's theme is "All of Us Together: Advocacy in Action".

 

All applications must be submitted with this attached form.

 

Please include a brief biographical sketch of each presenter, along with the title and proposed objective for your workshop. The may be up to a total of four presenters per workshop. You are responsible for your own LCD projectors; TVs and VCRs may be rented at the hotel.

 

Completed forms must be received by April 6th, 2012.

Fax or email them to:

 

NAMI California

Attn: Nikki Townsend

[email protected] 

(916) 567-0163 office   (916) 567-1757 fax

 

TAY Unconvention, Stockton 

The Central Region Partnership Stars Behavioral Healthcare and the California Youth Empowerment Network are organizing the "TAY Unconvention" In Stockton, March 16, 2012. 

Topics are of interest to TAY Peer to Peer workers, Tay providers, agency and county staff in the field of Tay mental health. Come be a teacher or student on how Tay can improve services in the central region.

To register, go to http://centralregiontayuncon.eventbrite.com.

For more details, visit the TAY Facebook page.

Contact: Jordan Moniz by email or at (916) 482-2370, ext 313. 

Save the Date!   

2012 NAMI CA Annual Statewide Conference

When: Friday, August 17th & Saturday, August 18th

Where: Marriot Hotel, Irvine, CA

More information to come!

 

Hope to see you there!

Join Our Mailing List!

Contact Information

Weekly Report

NAMI California
1010 Hurley Way

Suite 195
Sacramento, CA, 95825 

Phone: 916-567-0163 Fax: 916-567-1757
 

www.namicalifornia.org


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