The County Welfare Directors Association of California and the California State Association of Counties took the Governor’s op-ed piece in the LA Times on July 3rd, 2009 and dissected it. They found some myths and busted them. Monterey County Director of Social and Employment Services says there are a lot of contradictions in the request [...]

UDW Brothers and Sisters, The UDW advocates with the California State Legislature and Administration on issues of importance to providers and consumers of California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. This report for the first year of the 2009-2010 legislative session focuses on California legislators’ votes on UDW’s priority bills. The IHSS program provides personal care and domestic [...]

We are relying on you this year, as we have in the past, to save the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, one of the most valuable, life-saving, cost-effective programs in our state. We are writing to you now because, sadly, we already know what Gov. Schwarzenegger will say about IHSS in his State of [...]

1. FUNCTIONAL INDEX CUTS. These are cuts to consumer’s eligibility or authorized hours based on their Functional Index Score. This issue is presently under litigation. [...]

You may have received new enrollment forms (SOC 426) along with updates on the fingerprinting requirement, mandatory provider orientation, and other information in the mail. Some of this information, which has been sent by the state to the counties, has been confusing, contradictory, incomplete or, in some cases, possibly illegal. UDW is working with the counties and [...]

Last year’s state budget mandated many changes in IHSS including cuts and new eligibility requirements. Not all of these changes have been implemented due to lawsuits brought forth by advocacy groups (including UDW). Detail below. These lawsuits are still winding their way through the courts and each have separate schedules and hearing dates, but most will takes [...]

March 18, 2010. Sacramento The hearing will be focusing on the “trigger” cuts (the complete elimination of the program if $6.9 billion is not received from the federal government by July 15th). Public Testimony Will Be Heard We are asking those members that live near Sacramento to turn out for the hearing if you are able, and if [...]

IHSS Teleconference March 17th by Department of Social Services This is a chance for stakeholders to have their voices heard and questions answered. Department of Social Services has scheduled for Wednesday, March 17th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, a statewide teleconference on the In-Home Supportive Services Program, Integrity and Fraud Prevention Stakeholder Process. The Toll free line [...]

California Healthline  On Wednesday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued four rulings that upheld previous court decisions blocking state budget cuts to Medi-Cal reimbursement rates and wages for In-Home Supportive Services workers, the Sacramento Bee ’s “ Capitol Alert ” reports…Previous Cuts…Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and state lawmakers included the cuts in various budget packages during the past [...]

Snapshot of Governor’s proposed cuts to IHSS The Governor is proposing to completely eliminate the IHSS program if the federal government does not produce $6.9 billion in additional funding for California’s budget by July 15, 2010.  If the federal government does provide the requested $6.9 billion in new funds, the Governor is still proposing to cut [...]

UDW EXECUTIVE BOARD Laura Reyes, President Rose Nguyen, Secretary/Treasurer Rosalina Flores, Vice President Russell Jones , Butte County – Addus Amy Day, El Dorado County Margarita Jaramillo, Kern County Edward Huddleston, Merced County Christine Nguyen, Orange County William Reed , Placer County Martha Martinez, Riverside County Rosa Ramirez, Riverside County – Addus Editha Adams, San Diego County Gerald Ashby, San Diego County Paula Fisk, San Luis Obispo County Feel Good, [...]

Let the people who need services make the choice — homecare dollars should not have to compete with institutional care, but instead should be an equally funded choice for the consumer. Every year those of us in California who depend on In Home Supportive Services have to wait, worry and wonder if the funding will be [...]

The elderly and disabled say that recent cuts to IHSS are literally life-threatening. But the bungling of the administration’s "fraud prevention measures" may be an equal threat for some, who need a provider right away and now can’t get one because counties are unable to process the new requirements. In spite of protests [...]

If you have an IHSS client that is employed or wants to work, the client may transfer some hours from their home to the workplace so you can care for them at their place of employment. The new improvements to the California Working Disabled legislaiton make it possible for consumers to work, save, and improve [...]

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California signed AB 1269 into law just a few hours before the legal deadline on October 11, 2009. Staff for the bill’s author, Assemblymember Julia Brownley (Santa Monica), informed the bill’s sponsor, World Institute on Disability, WID, shortly after the bill became law. California residents who work and use Medi-Cal services reacted [...]

“Green Wave” Rolls to State Capitol to Protest IHSS Cuts April 1st Rally, Capitol Steps, [...]