E-News Update December 15, 2015
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
E-News Update December 15, 2015 www.njacp.org Olmstead Update NJACP attended the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) quarterly Olmstead Advisory Committee meeting on December 11th. DDD’s Jonathan Seifried led the meeting with input from Tom Pappa, DDD Chief of Staff. Discussion centered on the Division’s powerpoint presentation regarding statistics, including appropriations data, on the progress and status of the Disability Rights New Jersey Olmstead settlements. Compared to previous years, the number of people moving into the community from institutions and money invested in community services has increased. The developmental center census continues to decline, with no new admissions. For more specific information, please see below (and view the presentation): As of July 1, 2015 28 individuals have transitioned from a developmental center into the community, with 54 more projected to transition by June 2016. Of the original 587 people living in institutions and in agreement to transition to the community by Fiscal Year 2017, 49 remain with 27 people linked to an agency and 22 who are not yet linked. Jonathan reported that just in the last month, 10 additional people from a variety of developmental centers have reached an agreement to move into the community. As of November 30, 2015 there were 1,550 people who continue to live in the state’s 5 developmental centers. Up front funding costs for moving people from the closure of Woodbridge and North Jersey Developmental Centers was all state money and savings have been reinvested back into the community. After individuals begin receiving services in the community the state begins to receive a federal match for the services, allowing more people to be served because of enhanced federal funding. Over the Fiscal Years 2011-2016, the state has increased community service funding by $400 million. Further, the final savings from the institutional closures is contained in this year’s budget. A small amount of funding is set aside to maintain the physical structures of the institutions until their future use is resolved. Also, some funding was returned to the developmental centers to serve individuals who chose to move to another institution and additional funding was diverted to enhance central office staff, including the establishment of a Trenton office. (Article continues on next page) Olmstead Update (continues) It was estimated savings from the two closures amounted to $120 million. Future savings from each individual’s transition to the community will be minimal without the closure of another institution. Please see page 4 of the power point presentation for a breakdown of appropriations within the DDD budget over fiscal years 2011-2016, note the reduction of the percentage of the budget dedicated to developmental centers from 33% in FY 2011 to 20% in FY 2016. Staff from the Community Living Education Project (CLEP) reported efforts continue to educate people living in institutions about the services available in the community. The next meeting of the Olmstead Advisory Committee will be held on March 11. The committee will begin to discuss, review and re-evaluate the future mission of the committee. Bill Update Both New Jersey Senate and Assembly committees held hearings on Thursday, December 10. Bill of interest to providers are listed below. Assembly Health and Senior Services A-3700, which provides for licensure of ambulatory care facilities to provide integrated primary care services including behavioral health care and is sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo (D-2) and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-37), was released from the committee. The bill allows ambulatory care facilities, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), to provide integrated primary health care services, including behavioral health care services, under a single license. NJACP supported the bill to provide increased access to behavioral health services. The bill now heads to the Assembly floor for final Legislative approval. A-4026, which establishes New Jersey Caregiver Task Force to evaluate and provide recommendations on caregiver support services, sponsored by Assemblywomen Pam Lampitt (D-6) and Valerie Huttle (D-37), was released from committee. The task force would be required to submit a report, to both the governor and legislature, containing its findings on the issues described above, and providing recommendations for legislation, or for regulatory or programmatic changes, that would be necessary to improve, expand, or supplement existing caregiver support service programs and systems in the state, in response to caregiver concerns. The report would need to be submitted within 12 months after the task force's organization, and the task force would dissolve, and the bill's provisions would expire, on the 30th day following the report's submission. NJACP supports the bill to continue to explore issues related to caregiving as the need increases. The bill heads to the Assembly floor for final Legislative approval. A-4639, which establishes Mike Adler Aphasia Task Force to assess needs of persons with aphasia, and their families, and ensure adequate provision of support services and information thereto, and is sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-37), was released from committee. NJACP supported the bill and it now heads to the Assembly floor for final Legislative approval. (Article continues on next page) Bill Update (continues) A-4790, which establishes a process to integrate certain health data and other data from publicly supported programs for population health research and is sponsored by Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-6) and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-37), was released from committee. The bill would create a system where state departments could easily share and make available data in a user friendly way. The effort was started by Dr. Jeffry Brenner from the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers in an effort to make information attainable and available so that data can be collected that will assist in evaluating the current healthcare system and supporting change to improve the system. Often, as NJACP has also experienced, it can be difficult to attain data from the State that is usable, which is critical as data is becoming necessary to form a foundation for advocacy for change. NJACP reached out to the Senate sponsors of the legislation with concerns about provider electronic compatibility with new State systems, however, the bill only pertains to interoffice communications by state departments and would not require change on the part of any third party contractor. NJACP actively supports the bill. The legislation is being fast-tracked through the Legislature and now heads to the Assembly floor for a vote. Senate Community and Urban Affairs A-1877, which permits a tenant to be removed from leased housing due to criminal activity under certain circumstances, and is sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-3), was released from committee. The bill provides some protections for landlords and NJACP is monitoring the bill given the providers new role as landlord in the transition to Fee for Service. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for final legislative approval. Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee S-2435, which provides Medicaid coverage for advance care planning, and is sponsored by Senators Richard Cody (D-27) and Joe Vitale (D-19), was released from committee. The bill provides Medicaid recipients with coverage for advance care planning, which NJACP supports. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for final Legislative approval. Senate Health and Human Services Committee S-1845, which establishes a Medicaid demonstration project to cover room and board services for certain terminally ill patients in the home or other non-institutional setting, and is sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-1). NJACP actively supports the bill as the beginning of a discussion of the need for room and board funding for some people who receive Medicaid benefits. Living in the community requires access to housing. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. S-3220, which establishes a process to integrate certain health data and other data from publicly supported programs for population health research and is sponsored by Senator Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Joe Vitale (D-19), was released from committee. The bill would create a system where state departments could easily share and make available data. The effort was started by Dr. Jeffry Brenner from the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers in an effort to make information attainable and available so that data can be collected that will assist in evaluating the current healthcare system and supporting change to improve the system. Often, as NJACP has also experienced, it can be difficult to attain data from the State that is usable, which is critical as data is becoming necessary to form a foundation for advocacy for change. NJACP reached out to the Senate sponsors of the legislation with concerns about provider electronic compatibility with new State systems, however, the bill only pertains to interoffice communications by state departments and would not require change on the part of any third party contractor. NJACP actively supports the bill. The legislation is being fast-tracked through the Legislature and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. Bill Update Part II Continuing to meet in “Lame Duck”, the Legislature again held committee hearings on December 14th. Please see bills of interest to providers and information regarding testimony on affordable housing below: Assembly Judiciary Committee A-4531, which creates new criminal offenses concerning endangering another person, and is sponsored by Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-29) and Assemblyman Dan Benson (D-14), in response to an incident involving Parker Drake, who was lured into the ocean at Manasquan in February because of his disability despite wearing a diabetic pump. The bill allows for penalties if a person intentionally lures another person with a disability. NJACP supported the bill to provide additional protections for people with disabilities.