The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is seeking your input and offering several ways for you to learn about upcoming policy changes that will impact services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These are opportunities for you TO BE HEARD. Please consider carefully how you can participate.
New Medicaid Rules - Public Information Seesions & Surveys
Almost all of the community-based services provided by The Arc Baltimore (and other providers) are funded through a special program operated by the Federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This is often referred to as the "Waiver" or the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver. CMS has recently issued new guidelines for the Waiver programs that are meant to ensure that individuals with disabilities are integrated into and have full access to the greater community in work and community life - with free choice as to where they live and who provides them services. These new regulations clarify that HCBS will not pay for services provided in places where people with disabilities are segregated from their communities.
Early next year, the DDA/Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) must submit a statewide transition plan to meet the new CMS criteria. DDA/DHMH wants you to be aware of the regulations and wants to hear from you regarding these changes and suggestions you might have to ensure that the transition plan reflects your priorities.
The input sessions for Marylanders in the DDA Central Region (which includes residents of Baltimore City and Baltimore County) will be held on:
Wednesday, October 15th, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM AND 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Meeting House at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center
5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD 21045
To RSVP for the 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM time slot, click here and for the 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM session click here.
SURVEY AND INFO ABOUT NEW GUIDELINES
In addition to the above meeting, DHMH also has on-line surveys to learn more about where and how individuals are currently being supported in community living and in their daytime or employment setting. The deadline for completion is Friday, October 31st.
To complete the survey about supports in community living click on Survey for Participants or Caregivers. The purpose of this survey is to collect information about a participants' plan of service and settings where they receive services.
For background on the new rules and their implications, see the attached fact sheet - "How you want to live?" - prepared by the MD Disability Law Center.
DDA Waiver Listening Tour
Monday, October 27th
5:30-6:30 - Family/Guardians/Friends;
6:45-7:45 - Self-Advocates
The Meeting House at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center
5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD 21045
If you currently receive community and family supports through the DDA Waiver - or you are on the DDA Waiting List, please attend. DDA wants to know what works and what can be improved.
If you can attend the Listening Tour and wish to speak, please consider the following outline to prepare your talking points:
Suggested Talking Points for Families and Persons with Disabilities
- Prepare your comments for 3-5 minutes if possible.
- State name and county where you live. Be sure to mention if you receive supports from a local chapter of The Arc and state the name of the chapter, including if you receive early intervention, special education advocacy support, family support, housing, employment, etc.
- Short description of family/self. Try to be brief and concise.
- Start with a positive statement/example about how the DD waiver has impacted your life.
- Share any suggestions you have about problems and ways that could be improved.
- What is your vision for your life and what would you like to see in the waiver?
- Thank DDA for taking the time to listen to you.
If you cannot attend, consider emailing your story, concerns, and suggestions to Richard Davis at The Arc Maryland at rdavis@thearcmd.org so that he can incorporate your needs into written testimony. He welcomes your stories and photos! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Richard Davis at rdavis@thearcmd.org or (410) 571-9320.
