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AFSCME sponsored Townhall Meeting

UDW San Diego County Held an AFSCME sponsored Townhall Meeting to connect local members/supporters with upcoming political candidates and meet with legislators.
The event was held at the Loma Verde Recreation Center in Chula Vista, Monday, November 21st, 2011

Brown Administration Releases Instructions to Counties to Implement 20% Cut

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT
CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#192-2011 – NOVEMBER 29, 2011 – MONDAY

California Budget Crisis:
BROWN ADMINISTRATION RELEASES INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNTIES TO IMPLEMENT 20% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT IN IHSS HOURS IF STATE BUDGET TRIGGER IS PULLED - PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS

Governor’s Department of Finance Will Determine By December 15th If State Budget Trigger Cut Will Be Pulled – Reduction Would Take Effect January 1, 2012 – Lawsuit To Block Cut Will Likely Be Filed If Cut Is Implemented

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 11/292011 09:55 PM] - Under the shadow of a projected $13 billion budget deficit the Department of Social Services under the Brown Administration released today official instructions to the counties – called an “All County Letter” or ACL regarding implementation of a 20% across the board reduction in service hours to all persons receiving In-Home Supportive Services, effective January 1, 2012 if the State Budget “trigger cut” is pulled. (the state budget “trigger cuts” are different from the federal budget “trigger cuts”). [CDCAN Note - the 19 page document is attached to this CDCAN Report titled "20111129 - All County Letter (ACL) 11-81 - IHSS - 20 Percent Reduction.pdf" The document was saved as a document pdf file, so persons who are blind or sight impaired should be able to view it using a screen reading device.] There are major exemptions to the reduction (see below) which are detailed in the notice released today. Read the rest of this entry »

UDW 2011 Legislative Report Card

Home > State Legislation Impacting IHSS > State Budget News

Click to see full report (pdf)

November 2011

UDW Brothers and Sisters,

UDW advocates on issues of importance to providers and consumers of California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. The IHSS program provides in-home care to people who cannot safely remain in their home without assistance. Under this program, approximately 360,000 home care workers provide personal care, paramedical, domestic and related services to approximately 435,000 aged, blind or disabled Californians. IHSS is the foundation of California’s efforts to comply with the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision, which requires public agencies to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the individual.

This report focuses on UDW’s priority bills in 2011 – the first year of the 2011-2012 legislative session. It is a review of votes cast on legislation affecting IHSS issues such as provider wages and benefits as well as availability and quality of homecare services. It is a measure of the performance of Assembly and Senate members and is intended to promote accountability. The vote record reveals each legislator’s attitudes and actions on issues of importance to both IHSS providers and consumers. Read the rest of this entry »

Fair Pay for Hard Work

New York Times, November 28, 2011

Something akin to justice may finally be at hand for the nation’s nearly two million home care aides.

It has been four years since the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Evelyn Coke, who then was a 73-year-old home care aide for the elderly who had sued her employer — a for-profit agency — for years of unpaid overtime. No one disputed that Ms. Coke had worked extra hours for no extra pay. But a 1974 regulation defined home care aides as “companions,” like teenage baby sitters, a definition that exempts home care agencies from having to pay the federal minimum wage or time-and-a-half for overtime. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal?

If so, the State of California wants to learn more about your needs, concerns and priorities as it works to improve care coordination for people in your situation, who commonly are called “dual eligibles” or “Medi-Medis.” Please take 10 minutes to complete an electronic survey developed Harbage Consulting as part of its work supporting the State’s efforts to collect consumer input.

Access the survey through this link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/CalDuals

This survey collects information from people who have BOTH Medicare and Medi-Cal about their health care experiences. Your answers will inform California’s planning. Family members and caregivers are encouraged to complete this survey based on the experience of their relative/friend/client. Responses will be collected through December 20, 2011.

For more information about this project, you can visit the website www.CalDuals.org. Stay updated by following the group on Twitter @CalDuals.

URGENT: Attention all UDW Members!!!

UPDATED JANUARY 13, 2012

On December 13th, 2011, state officials pulled the budget “trigger”. This authorizes a 20% cut in IHSS service hours.

UDW and other advocates have taken legal action to stop the cuts, resulting in a favorable but provisional restraining order (TRO). While we are pleased with the recent court decision delaying the Jan. 1^st implementation of cuts, remember that it is only TEMPORARY. Our clients and our jobs are still at risk. Please use the resources below to get prepared:

Hear audio recording from Trigger Cuts Informational Training held on December 7th

IHSS Care Supplement Info

If cuts still go through you must be informed about how to apply for the Care Supplement, and ready to act. Read the rest of this entry »

Health Fair & Provider Appreciation Day

Riverside County Health Fair & Provider Appreciation Day, Saturday – November 19th, 2011.

Hundreds UDW members and community residents attended the first annual UDW Riverside Health Fair in Moreno Valley on Saturday, September 19th. Some 50 exhibitors provided free blood pressure checks, blood testing, massages, zumba dance and other health services were provided to the attendees. Click here to view photos>>

Giving Thanks to Those Who Care

California Progress Report, November 19, 2011

By Assemblymember Mariko Yamada

November is Alzheimer’s Disease and Awareness Month, National Home Care and Hospice Month, and Family Caregiver Month. It also marks the beginning of the traditional season of thanksgiving, taking stock of our blessings, sharing with those less fortunate, and caring for those who are unable to care for themselves. As families come together this holiday season, I urge you to take an opportunity to discuss future long-term health needs with your loved ones. The increase in our senior population, along with the reduction in community-based care programs, requires greater attention to the services needed for those with terminal illnesses and those, both paid and unpaid, who provide care.

Over the past two years, the State has retreated from its support for elder and disabled adults, their families and their caregivers. With assistance decreasing, the need for in-home caregiving is increasing. An estimated one in four California families is currently involved in caring for a loved one with a disability. Caring for a family member who has dementia or who has multiple chronic health conditions can be quite complex, yet most families receive little or no training, assistance or appreciation in their caregiving tasks. Millions of Californians are juggling job and caregiver responsibilities, and those numbers are growing. In 2010, 14.9 million family and friends provided 17 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The economic value of the unpaid care provided totaled $202.6 billion. Read More

Humboldt County braces itself for midyear budget cuts; health services continue to be negatively impacted

Megan Hansen/Times-Standard
Posted: 11/20/2011 02:18:49 AM PST

Humboldt County health officials are bracing themselves for additional budget cuts after a recent economic assessment listed the state’s budget shortfall at $3.7 billion through the end of the fiscal year.

According to the report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan group that provides fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature, the deficit is expected to grow to a $10 billion operating shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Director Phillip Crandall said this is not a good sign, as budget shortfalls will equal cuts to local programs.

”California’s economy isn’t recovering at a pace that will relieve this operating deficit the state continues to be functioning at,” Crandall said.

As a result of lacking revenues, the state is enacting a series of trigger cuts that were included in the 2011-2012 budget package. These cuts translate into $2 billion in reduced funding for education, colleges, health services and local libraries. The exact amount of cuts to K-14 education is expected to be finalized by the state Department of Finance when it issues a revenue report on Dec. 15.

These cuts will go into effect Jan. 1 and will include $100 million from In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, $10 million from the IHSS anti-fraud program, $15 million from Medi-Cal program providers and $100 million from the Department of Developmental Services. Read more

UDW 14TH Constitutional Convention Delegates and AFSCME 40th International Convention Delegate Election Results

Official Election Results – Certified by the American Arbitration Association on Tuesday November, 15, 2011

Any member in good standing may protest the conduct of the election for valid cause. All election protests should be filed with the Election Committee no later than 10 days from the posting of results, 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 26, 2011 in writing by mail to: Election Committee C/O Johanna Hester at UDW, Local 3930, 2760 Fifth Ave., Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92103 or Fax to: 619.624.9798; or email to: electioncommittee2012@udwa.org.

The decisions of the Election Committee concerning all election protests are final. Read the rest of this entry »

San Luis Obispo Political Candidate Forum

UDW held an AFSCME sponsored Political Candidate Forum for San Luis Obispo County. Among the candates were:

Das Williams, running for State Assembly, 37th District
Hannah-Beth Jackson, running for State Senate 19th District
Bill Monning, running for State Senate; Covers 33rd district – SLO county
Jason Hodge, running for State Senate District 19

See more photos

$600 million more for jails; $600 million less for education and health

Press TV, Thu Nov 17, 2011

By Isaac Ontiveros

Photo Credit: Press TV

On Wednesday, California’s Legislative Analyst Office released grim news about the State’s financial health. The nonpartisan office projects a $13 billion deficit for 2012, and $3.7 billion revenue shortfall that could trigger at least $2 billion in service and program cuts.

Hit hardest will be education from kindergartens to colleges, as well as In-Home Support Services and library and Medi-Cal services. Wednesday’s dire forecast also predicts a continued drop in wages and an unemployment rate of over 10%. Read more

Adult Day Health Care Settlement: New Program for People at Risk of Institutionalization, December 1 Elimination Date Postponed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:	Elissa Gershon
	Senior Attorney
	Disability Rights California
	Phone: (510) 267-1200
	E-Mail: Elissa.Gershon@disabilityrightsca.org

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Oakland, CA –Today, seven plaintiffs who represent a class of 35,000 low-income people with disabilities, including older adults, and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit that challenged the State’s planned elimination of Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) as a Medi-Cal benefit on December 1, 2011 (Darling et al. v. Douglas C:09-03798 SBA ). The settlement ensures that even in these challenging economic times, critical community based services will be preserved and low income seniors and people with disabilities will avoid unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization. Read the rest of this entry »

Santa Barbara Political Candidate Forum

UDW held an AFSCME sponsored Political Candidate Forum November 14th, 2011 in Goleta, CA Among the candates were:

Das Williams, running for State Assembly, 37th District
Hannah-Beth Jackson, running for State Senate 19th District
Bill Monning, running for State Senate 33rd District
Jason Hodge, running for State Senate District 19

See more photos

Battleground Bulletin: Recall Season Opens in Wisconsin

As recall petitioning begins in Wisconsin this week, the Battleground Bulletin examines the plans to recall Governor Scott Walker and three anti-worker state senators.

Recall Season Opens in Wisconsin

Click here for information about the Recall Walker Kickoff Rally led by We Are Wisconsin and other progressive allies from the Badger State

November 15 marked the official beginning to the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. The recall effort is led by United Wisconsin, described on its website as “a grassroots coalition of more than 200,000 Wisconsinites & organizations who have united to recall Governor Scott Walker.” At midnight on Tuesday, United Wisconsin held more than 100 events across the state to commemorate the official start to the Walker recall petition drive.

United Wisconsin plans to use a series of events, and other battle-tested tactics such as drive-thru petitioning, to achieve their goal of collecting approximately 9,000 signatures each day. This Saturday at 1 p.m., the We Are Wisconsin coalition will hold a recall Walker kick-off rally outside the state capitol.

Walker opponents have until January 17, 2012 to collect 540,208 valid signatures to put Walker on the ballot. Accoring to an early November poll by Wisconsin Public Radio and St. Norbert College, 58 percent of Wisconsinites believe Walker should be recalled—including 24 percent of Badger State Republicans. Read the rest of this entry »

Legislative Analyst’s Office Releases Low Budget Figures

Wednesday, November 16 2011

Earlier today, the Legislative Analyst’s Office released its Fiscal Outlook for the next budget year Read Report. According to the report, the LAO forecasts state revenues will be $3.7 billion below the level assumed in the FY 11-12 budget. This is terrible news for those of us in the IHSS community because the “triggers” contained in the FY 11-12 budget are based on the LAO’s and the Department of Finance’s forecasts (whichever is higher). Though the Department of Finance projections are not yet released, this report by the LAO indicates that it is more likely than not that the budget triggers will be pulled in December. Read more about possible 20% cuts to IHSS

The first tier of trigger reductions includes approximately $110 million in cuts to the IHSS program. This would occur through a 20% across the board reduction in service hours scheduled to implement on January 1, 2012. In preparation for this possibility, many weeks back UDW embarked on a statewide member education and training campaign. In addition, UDW activists have been hard at work visiting our Legislators in their district offices and asking for their support in the event that the budget trigger is pulled. We want them to give us more time to come up with alternative ways to achieve the necessary savings so that we can avoid the 20% across the board cuts. Read the rest of this entry »

National Family Caregivers Month Time To Applaud Caregivers and Help Them

Forbes, November 16, 2011

November is a time to applaud all those who contribute to caregiving and the National Family Caregivers Month. Caregivers play a crucial role in helping family members and friends get the care they need to overcome the daily challenges of a chronic or disabling condition. Many people are caregivers who graciously sacrifice their time and resources to provide for an ailing parent, sibling, or friend. Caregivers should know that there are state and federal resources out there to help them.

The Older Americans Act, which is part of the U.S. Administration on Aging, is a valuable resource that caregivers can connect to that offers caregiver support, home-delivery nutrition services, and specialized programs for Alzheimer’s disease, lifespan respite care, and community living assistance, for example.

Caregivers deserve a lot of praise and should know that there are resources in the health care, legal, and financial field that can help them adequately plan for their loved one’s long-term care. Various programs throughout New York help a caregiver address their loved one’s needs and also take the steps to help them plan for themselves.

Legislative Analyst Says California Budget Deficit Will be $13 Billion by July 1, 2012

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
Report #188-2011 – NOVEMBER 16, 2011 – WEDNESDAY

Non-Partisan Analyst for the Legislature Forecasts That Additional Revenue of $4 Billion Hoped For In the 2011-2012 State Budget Will Fall $3.7 Billion Short – Grim News Increases Possibility That State Budget “Trigger Cuts” Could Be Pulled

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 11/16/2011 10:00 AM] - The Legislature’s top budget analyst, the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office, reported this morning that the State’s budget deficit will likely swell to nearly $13 billion beginning July 1, 2012, unless action is taken by the Legislature and Governor. The grim news almost makes certain that Governor Brown’s budget for 2012-2013 will contain more spending cuts when he releases it on January 10th next year – and increases the possibility that the massive State budget “trigger cuts” will be pulled. Read the rest of this entry »

Brown Administration Will Hold off Implementing 10% Medi-Cal Provider Rate Cut Until After December 19th Federal Court Hearing on Lawsuit Seeking to Stop the Reductions

CDCAN Report #187-2011, NOVEMBER 15, 2011 – TUESDAY

Lawsuit Filed by Medicaid Defense Fund On Behalf of Several Medi-Cal Recipients, Disability and Senior Advocacy Organizations and Medi-Cal Providers - Obama Administration Gave Approval to California’s Request for 10% Cuts On October 27th – Reductions Were Part Of 2011-2012 State Budget Passed in March and June – Lawsuit Says Federal Government Violated Federal Law In Approving California’s Cuts

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 11/15/2011 11:00 AM] - The Brown Administration disclosed yesterday that it will not implement the 10% across-the-board Medi-Cal provider rate reductions as authorized in the 2011-2012 State Budget, until after December 19th federal court hearing in Los Angeles on a lawsuit that is seeking to stop the reductions. That federal district court however could issue an order that could further delay implementation beyond that date – or it could take other action that would allow the cuts to be implemented. Read the rest of this entry »

Call and Tweet Congress TODAY!

This is a message from Families USA

With a little over one week remaining until the super committee must present their final plan to Congress, now is the time to step up the pressure on both the super committee and Congress to ensure both Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are protected in the final deficit reduction package.

Call Congress TODAY!

1-888-876-6242

Tell them to protect Medicaid
and the Affordable Care Act!

Cutting or capping the Medicaid program should not be an option. Millions of Americans rely on it for access to health care, and if the program is cut or capped in any way, seniors will no longer be able to afford nursing home care, millions of children will lose access to doctor’s visits, and people with disabilities will lose the option to receive home- and community-based services.

Read the rest of this entry »

Who Will Care For The Caregiver?

Lee Woodruff, Huffington Post, November 11, 2011

Debbie Schultz, Photo Credit Huffington Post

On April 19, 2005, Debbie Schulz of Friendswood, Texas, got the call every parent of a service member in Iraq and Afghanistan dreads. Her child had been wounded. When she hung up the phone, in shock, all she knew was that her son was considered to be “VSI”, an acronym that she would later learn meant: “very seriously injured.”

More than 48 hours later Debbie began to learn some of the details. Her beloved eldest son, Steven Schulz, a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, had been patrolling Fallujah, Iraq when it happened. His unarmored humvee was hit by a roadside bomb, a mortar shell cleverly built into a concrete curb in order to elude detection. Insurgents remotely detonated the device and within the fraction of a second, thousands of pieces of shrapnel penetrated the vehicle. One piece of metal shrapnel flew into Steven’s face near his right eye and lodged in his brain. Doctors told the family that he had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and devastating damage to his right eye. Steven was paralyzed on his left side, lost most vision in his right eye as well as peripheral vision in his left. Read More

Working Families Win Big on Election Night

This week’s Battleground Bulletin—sent from the campaign trail in Canton, Ohio—sheds light on this week’s impressive victories for AFSCME members and working families across the nation.

Working families scored big victories in state and local elections across the nation this week. From the overwhelming rejection of anti-worker legislation in Ohio to critical special election wins in state legislative and municipal elections, the American people said no to the politicians pursuing a corporate-driven agenda and yes to a renewed focus on jobs.

In We Are Ohio‘s Canton office, US Senator Sherrod Brown makes GOTV calls urging Ohioans vote to No on Issue 2.

On Tuesday, Ohioans resoundingly rejected SB 5 and its biggest proponent, Governor John Kasich. Ohio voters notched a 22-point victory for the working class, as 61 percent of Buckeye State voters—including majorities in 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties—went to the polls to reject Kasich’s anti-worker law.”This night clearly sends a message,” said AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders to MSNBC host Ed Schultz. “It sends a message here in Ohio that working families and the middle class are fighting back, we are making our voices heard like never before. This will carry from Ohio across this country. We are back.” Read the rest of this entry »

State Budget Cuts Threaten Day Programs for Thousands of Seniors and the Disabled

By Sandy Kleffman
Contra Costa Times, Posted: 11/08/2011 09:12:40 PM PST
Mercury News.com

Budget cuts endanger adult care programs

Photo Credit Mercury News. Click to see more.

State budget cuts that go into effect Dec. 1 will eliminate funding for day programs for thousands of seniors and the disabled, creating angst among relatives who say their lives will be turned upside down.

Some fear they will have to send their elders to institutions. Others worry they will need to quit jobs to care for them.

Unless a pending lawsuit blocks the plan, the state will halt $169 million in annual Medi-Cal funding for 35,000 people in 287 adult day health care programs throughout California, jeopardizing many of the programs. Read more and comment MercuryNews.com

Controller Releases October 2010 Cash Update

PR10:37
11/10/2010

Contact: Garin Casaleggio
916-445-2636

SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang today released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in October. Receipts for the month were $232.3 million, or 4.6 percent, above the recently enacted State Budget estimates.

“The record 100 day budget stalemate pushed us past the point of having enough cash on hand to pay more than $8 billion in outstanding bills that came due when the budget was signed,” said Controller Chiang.” “Thankfully, the State received the proceeds from an interim cash flow borrowing that allowed us to start paying the $5.5 billion in payments delayed by the budget for tax refunds, community colleges and school districts.”

Corporate taxes were up $26.8 million (8.8 percent), personal income taxes came in $63.8 million above (1.8 percent) estimates, and Sales and use tax revenues were $108.7 million above (13.1 percent) estimates.

Expenditures for the fiscal year were $768 million more than Budget Act estimates. However, the budget assumed that billions of payments would be deferred from October to November until the State could obtain an external cash flow borrowing. The State obtained the proceeds of an interim cash flow borrowing on October 28, which allowed the Controller to make payments in October, and the variance will be offset in the future.

The State’s $17.5 billion cash deficit is being covered by $10.8 billion of internal borrowing and $6.7 billion in external borrowing.

October 2010′s financial statement and the summary analysis can be found on the Controller’s website at www.sco.ca.gov.

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