April 22, 2007

Dearest Advocates:

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that participated in making this a very successful legislative session this year for individuals with disabilities.

Here is a short list of just some of the issues that have been addressed this legislative session due to our efforts in advocating for change:

1. The Aged, Blind and Disabled populations were being proposed to be placed in a “Managed Care” model.  This has been REMOVED from the budget being submitted to the Governor for signature!   THIS IS BIG NEWS.  The last thing we need for this vulnerable population is be placed in a managed care model that does not work and just adds additional layers of management without benefit to those individuals that need the care. (Again, thank you so much for those 25 people that came out to the Capitol on Monday morning to help in this effort, as well as, those that made the necessary phone calls and emails to the legislators).  We need to continue to make sure our voices are heard on this issue i n the future!

2. House Bill 549 was approved in the House and Senate and is now at the Governor’s office for signature.  Basically, House Bill 549 will help alleviate many of the issues with the prior approval process for therapy in the Medicaid system.  It streamlines the paperwork, defines medical necessity, changes the prior approval process to every six months instead of three and allows 16 units of therapy per discipline before the prior approval process kicks in.  There were some changes in the original language but overall this is a step in the right directions.

I do want to clarify that there is mention of a Care Managed Organization (CMO) in the final version of this bill. This DOES NOT mean that those families with disability waivers will be in care management. They just placed this language in there for those that have Peachcare that are under the CMO’s. 

Many thanks to everyone that flooded key legislators phone lines on Friday morning in support of this bill!  Our voices were heard loud and clear! 

3. SB 10- Basically, this is the bill that would allow families to be able to use vouchers for their children’s education. I have not been as involved with this bill since others have taken the lead of advocacy for this.  This Bill is now at the Governor’s desk for signature as well.

I hope you can see that our voices are being heard.  I hope that in the future more people get involved.  Keep up the great work. 

Our children’s Healthcare/Education and Future depend on our advocacy efforts of today.

UNITED… WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Sincerely,

Heidi