Persons with disabilities:

‘So Many Moving Parts’ To Fit Together

By David Gorn, California Healthline, 5/10/13

The Department of Health Care Services announced this week that the Cal MediConnect duals demonstration project will not start until at least January, 2014, a delay from its previous expected launch date in October, 2013.

Advocates for seniors’ health care yesterday praised the decision, saying the extra three months will go a long way toward pulling all of the disparate pieces of Cal MediConnect into place.  Read more

Protect Homecare! Stop the Giveaways.

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You hear it too often in Washington, and we’re just plain sick of it.

“We have to cut programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to reduce the federal deficit.”

We are alerting you because these programs are of vital importance to most IHSS providers and their clients.  If Medicaid is cut it will impact IHSS homecare as well as medical care for IHSS clients.  And of course many of you are also affected by Social Security and Medicare. Read the rest of this entry »

Legislature Gears Up for Budget Subcommittee Hearings In Early March – Senate Releases Schedule – All Eyes on Health Care Reform/Medi-Cal Expansion and Education Funding – and Governor’s May Budget Revisions

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT 
CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#009-2013 – February 12, 2013 – Tuesday Night

California State Budget:

LEGISLATURE GEARS UP FOR BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS BEGINNING IN EARLY MARCH

  • State Senate Budget Subcommittee Hearing Schedule Released
  • Education Funding and Health Care Reform Implementation Including Changes to Medi-Cal Program Are Budget Main Issues For Policymakers
  • Feb 28th Informational Hearing by Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services and Assembly Health Committee on Healthy Families Transition to Medi-Cal Program and Update on Transition of Community-Based Adult Services Program that Replaced the Now Eliminated Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal Benefit

  Read the rest of this entry »

Riverside County: Free Local Income Tax Preparation

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Community Action Partnership of Riverside County

FREE TAX PREPARATION SITES
Open Jan.30, 2013

Information (English)

Information (Spanish)

Locations (English)

Locations (Spanish)

Appointments to Commission on Long-Term Care

Reid and Pelosi Appoint Members of LTC Commission
Leading Age, February 6, 2013

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have announced their appointments to the Long-Term Care Commission created by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 in lieu of the CLASS Act insurance program.  Read the rest of this entry »

Home Care Aides Await Decision On New Labor Rules

National Public Radio
All Things Considered  February 3, 2013

The industry has changed rapidly, but amendments on minimum wage and overtime have not.

Home health care aides are waiting to find out if they will be entitled to receive minimum wage. A decades-old amendment in labor law means that the workers, approximately 2.5 million people, do not always receive minimum wage or overtime.

The Obama administration has yet to formally approve revisions to the Fair Labor Standards Act that would change that classification.
On Dec. 15, 2011, Obama announced the proposal, and then-Labor Secretary Hilda Solis offered her support for the revisions in the Labor Department’s blog:

“This new rule would ensure that these hardworking professionals who provide valuable services to American families would receive the protections of minimum wage and overtime pay that nearly every employee in the United States already receives under the FLSA.”

The guidelines would affect a growing industry (revenues for home health care services nearly doubled to $55 billion between 2001 and 2009, according to the U.S. Census).  Read more

Listen to radio broadcast 

UDW Demands That State Stop Rollout Of Problem Plagued IHSS Payroll System; Cites Potential Financial Hardship For Thousands

Español

San Diego (Oct. 29) – Problems with a new payroll system for the nearly 400,000 In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) home care providers may spell financial hardship for thousands of these low-wage workers, according to early reports from two of the three counties where the system has been unveiled. 

Because of this, the UDW Homecare Providers Union has demanded that the rollout of the system be halted immediately until these serious problems can be addressed.

In San Diego and Merced Counties, hundreds of provider time sheets are being bounced back.   Scores of providers haven’t been paid in a month or more.   Many are in danger of losing their health insurance.  Many other face late payment penalties and even eviction because they can’t pay their bills. Read the rest of this entry »

Adult Day Health Care Transition to New “Community-Based Adult Services” Program Focus of Sept 24th Hearing

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#156-2012 – September 20, 2012 – Thursday

California Budget Crisis:

TRANSITION OF 35,000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES & SENIORS FROM ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE TO NEW “COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT SERVICES” PROGRAM FOCUS OF SEPT 24TH LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT HEARING
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  • Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee Will Hear from Brown Administration and People with Disabilities & Seniors and Families, Disability & Senior Advocacy Groups and Providers
  • Major Concerns Raised by Several Disability and Senior Advocacy Groups and Adult Day Health Care Providers on Transition Including Conversion of Community-Based Adult Services Program as a Medi-Cal Managed Care Benefit Scheduled for Oct 1
  • Oversight Hearing Set As Brown Administration Faces Legal Action by Advocates for Alleged Violations of Court Approved Settlement Agreement That Set Requirements on Elimination of Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal Benefit & Transition to New Program Read the rest of this entry »

Illinois Sued by Disabled Adults for Cutting In-Home Nursing Funding at Age 21

Submitted by Courthouse News on Sep 10, 2012
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CHICAGO (CN) – Illinois illegally, and drastically, cuts in-home nursing funding for disabled people when they turn 21, though numerous lawsuits have successfully challenged the policy, a class action claims in Federal Court.     

Lead plaintiff Don Harris, through his mother Lisa Jorgensen, sued Julie Hamos, director of the Illinois Department of Health and Services, in federal court.     

Harris, who will turn 21 this month, is blind, developmentally disabled, and has seizures, spastic quadriplegia and severe scoliosis, his mother says in the complaint.      Read the rest of this entry »

Coping with the Challenges of Home Health Care

Sacramento Press, June 13, 2012
by Idell O’Leary


Photo credit: Sacramento Press

Thousands of IHSS workers and consumers from both ends of California ringed the capitol today in a continuation of their 10 day campaign to convince the governor and the legislature to end the financial assault on home care in California.

I spoke to care providers from around the state while preparations were being made for the march around the capitol. I learned that from Los Angeles County alone, forty buses, with fifty passengers apiece, had travelled all night to bring caregivers and some of their disabled clients to Sacramento for this demonstration.  Read more

Trouble-Shooting on June 5: Disability Rights California Operates Hotline for Primary Voters with Disabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Fred Nisen
  Disability Rights California
  Phone: (510) 267-1200
  E-Mail: Fred.Nisen@disabilityrightsca.org
   
  Hillary Sklar
  Disability Rights California
  Phone: (213) 213-8000
  E-Mail: Hillary.Sklar@disabilityrightsca.org

Thursday, May 31, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. – Californians with disabilities who are voting in the primary election on June 5 have an ally in ensuring that they have full and equal access to the process.  With funding from the Help America Vote Act, Disability Rights California will operate a toll-free hotline for voters with disabilities who have difficulty accessing polling places, casting ballots or simply have questions about voting. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t forget to care for the caregiver

Dr. Gary Levinson
Credit: UT San Diego, May 15, 2012

The typical family caregiver is a college-educated, married and employed 49-year-old woman who juggles several important duties. She is likely caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who lives nearby, and there is a 37 percent chance that her children or grandchildren are living with her. And as a consequence of these selfless efforts to care for others, she is compromising her own health.

Approximately 66 percent of family caregivers are women, according to a 2009 study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) in collaboration with AARP.

Working middle-aged women are not the only ones facing health challenges as a result of caregiving: A 2010 MetLife study of working caregivers demonstrates a clear impact of caregiving on the health of employees ages 18 to 39, as well as those ages 50 and older. With older relatives living longer, but with chronic illnesses, this may be a continuing trend. Read the rest of this entry »

Governor Will Release Budget Revisions May 14th – Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing Today at 4 PM on Caregiver Resource Centers, Community Treatment Facilities; Hearing on May 9th Update on DDS Reductions

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT 
CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#080-2012 – MAY 7, 2012 –  MONDAY

State Budget Crisis:
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET REVISIONS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE MAY 14TH – BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEES CONTINUE MEETINGS THIS WEEK BUT ACTIONS ON MAJOR ISSUES NOT EXPECTED UNTIL AFTER RELEASE OF GOVERNOR’S BUDGET REVISIONS

  • Today at 1:30 PM – Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health Budget Issues Including Caregiver Resource Centers and Community Treatment Facilities
  • Today at 2:00 PM – Department of Health Care Services Stakeholder Meeting on Governor’s Proposal to Continue AB 1629 Nursing Home Quality Assurance Fee and Method of Setting Rates
  • May 9th at 1:30 PM – Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing on “Open” Issues Including Update on Department of Developmental Services Budget Issues

 

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 05/07/2012  08:00 AM]  -  In what will likely be a pivotal moment in this year’s budget process, Governor Jerry Brown is scheduled to release his revisions and updated revenue and spending numbers to his proposed 2012-2013 State Budget on May 14th, Monday, that will likely show the budget shortfall growing worse and hoped for increased revenue numbers falling short of expectations.  Read the rest of this entry »

AFSCME Organizing Home Care Workers in Vermont

by Helen Cox  |  April 25, 2012

BURLINGTON, Vt. – This past week, AFSCME members came together in Vermont to support the efforts of caregivers in forming their union, Vermont Homecare United/AFSCME.

In-Home Care Workers from Vermont.

Melissa Matoushek, Robin Calabria and Patti Cilwick (left to right) contacted caregivers across Vermont to help form their union, Vermont Homecare United/AFSCME. (Photo by Helen Cox)

Members from Pennsylvania, Kentucky and right here in Vermont have already reached hundreds of caregivers at their homes and have significantly grown our Council 93 family.

“Visiting caregivers to talk about their work is an amazing experience and the first step in ensuring that they can continue providing quality care and maintaining strong programs in our state.” said Patti Cilwick, a social worker at HowardCenter, a local non-profit. “All of our voices are stronger when we come together with AFSCME.”

More than 5,000 caregivers in the Green Mountain State provide Medicaid-funded in-home services to children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Since January, caregivers have come together to stand up for quality care and respect for the care they provide. Read the rest of this entry »

Coordinated care key to saving health care for seniors

San Jose Mercury News, April 24 2012
By Gary Passmore, Vice President of the Congress of California Seniors

Rising health care costs and the downturn in the economy have meant disaster for California’s seniors, resulting in huge budget cuts to health care programs that serve our vulnerable population.

As reported in the Mercury News last week, Gov. Jerry Brown has attempted to stop the bleeding by proposing to restructure state health care programs for the poor. His plan represents an opportunity for California to deliver more care for the dollar through better coordinated, more effective care.

However, we believe his plan must be improved upon by investing in the tools seniors need to proactively manage our health and maintaining our choices when it comes to directing our care. Read the rest of this entry »

Statewide Conference Call by Dept of Health Care Services April 10th Tuesday 2 to 3:30 PM on Proposed “Dual Eligible” Demonstration Project Proposal

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#069-2012 – APRIL 9, 2012 –  MONDAY NIGHT 

State Budget Crisis:

4 County “Dual Eligibles” Demonstration Project Proposal Statewide Conference Call by Department of Health Care Services Tuesday Afternoon From 2:00 to 3:30 PM

  • Demonstration Project Proposal Released April 4th By Brown Administration For 30 Day Public Commen
  • Counties Selected Are Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and San Mateo Where People with Disabilities & Seniors Eligible for Both Medicare and Medi-Cal Would Be Transitioned Into Medi-Cal Managed Care-Type Plans Beginning January 2013 If Federal Government Approves Proposal
  • Governor Wants to Expand That Proposal from 4 to 10 Counties in 2013 and All Counties in 2015 Which Requires Approval by Legislature

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 04/09/2012  06:00 PM]  -  As previously announced late last week, the Department of Health Care Services will hold a 90 minute statewide conference call open to interested persons and organizations, on Tuesday afternoon, April 10th, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM (Pacific Time) to review and answer questions regarding a demonstration project proposal that the Brown Administration will submit next month to the federal government for approval that seeks to transition people with disabilities and seniors eligible in four counties for both Medicare and Medi-Cal – referred to as “Dual Eligibles” – from “fee for service” health care to Medi-Cal managed care-type plans beginning in January 2013.  Read the rest of this entry »

UDW & IHSS Coalition Oppose 20% Trigger Cuts in Letter to Assembly Budget Subcommittee

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Coalition is emphatically opposed to the Governor’s budget proposal to eliminate domestic & related services for consumers in shared housing and the 20% across-the-board cut in IHSS hours. The IHSS Coalition is a group comprised of forty-seven organizations representing IHSS consumers, providers and advocates. Our common goals are (1) to ensure sufficient funding for In-Home Supportive Services and its interrelated aspects (2) to develop potential improvements for the program, (3) to disseminate information on homecare issues through public events and our website, and (4) to preserve and enhance consumerdirected
services.  Read letter (pdf)

Adult Day Health Care Recipients Ask Federal Court To Hold Brown Administration In Contempt

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#052-2012 – MARCH 23, 2012 –  FRIDAY

State Budget Crisis

ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE RECIPIENTS ASK FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT TO HOLD BROWN ADMINISTRATION IN CONTEMPT FOR VIOLATING COURT APPROVED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

Court Hearing Scheduled for March 29th in San Francisco – Motion for Contempt Against Brown Administration and Sanctions for Each Violation Filed by Disability Rights California – Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal Benefit Currently Scheduled To Be Eliminated March 31st With New Replacement “Community-Based Adult Services” To Begin April 1st

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 03/23/2012 11:45 AM ]  -  Disability Rights California (DRC), a disability, mental health and senior rights legal advocacy organization, filed legal documents yesterday asking a federal district court in San Francisco to hold the Brown Administration in contempt for failing to fully comply with a court approved agreement that settled a lawsuit between the State of California and people with disabilities and seniors who use Adult Day Health Care services as a Medi-Cal benefit.  The hearing is set for March 29, Thursday, at 09:00 AM before US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley, in the federal district court in San Francisco.  The Brown Administration has not yet issued a public response to the motion.  CDCAN will provide full report following that court hearing next week.  Read the rest of this entry »

March 29th Disability, Mental Health & Senior Rights “Olmstead Advisory Committee”

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#048-2012 – MARCH 19, 2012 – MONDAY NIGHT

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE
CA HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY SECRETARY DIANA DOOLEY TO CONVENE MARCH 29th DISABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH & SENIOR RIGHTS “OLMSTEAD ADVISORY COMMITTEE”

Focus of Advisory Committee Meeting on Progress of Mandatory Enrollment of “Medi-Cal Only” People With Disabilities and Seniors Into Medi-Cal Managed Care – Also Update on Transition of Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal Benefit That Ends March 31st To Be Replaced By “Community-Based Adult Services” Program Medi-Cal Managed Care Benefit on April 1st

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 03/19/2012 07:00 PM ] – The issue of Medi-Cal managed care and the mandatory enrollment of hundreds of thousands of “Medi-Cal only” people with disabilities and seniors will be the main focus of a key disability, mental health and senior rights advisory committee to California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana Dooley, known as the Olmstead Advisory Committee, that is scheduled to meet March 29, Thursday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the Department of Rehabilitation building, Room 242, 721 Capitol Mall in Sacramento. Interested persons who cannot attend the meeting can also participate via a toll free phone line:

1-888-232-0362 Passcode: 785453. Public comment is taken at various points during the meeting.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jonathan Glidden and Nicki Pecchenino: Legislature dismantling services for elderly, disabled

Santa Cruz Sentinel  March 11, 2012
Jonathan Glidden and Nicki Pecchenino

A program once hailed by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan as “A dynamic framework on which we shall build a comprehensive system to assure that people with disabilities develop to their potential” is now under attack, some 42 years later by his successors, both Republican and Democrat.

The legislation Gov. Reagan was lauding is now known as the Lanterman Act, the Bible by which services to persons with developmental disabilities are made available. Those disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and a host of other developmental delays.

A year ago, California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office [LAO], warned that the state was starting down the path toward decimation of our 42-year commitment to the developmentally disabled, some 250,000 Californians. Read the rest of this entry »

US Supreme Court Sends Back to Lower Federal Appeals Court 3 Medi-Cal Lawsuits for Further Review

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#027-2012 – FEBRUARY 22, 2012 – WEDNESDAY

California Budget Crisis – Breaking News:
High Court Ruling Means That Lawsuits Remain Alive and the Court Orders Blocking the 2008 and 2009 Medi-Cal Rate Reductions Will Remain In Place for Now – Ruling Has Impact on Several Other Medi-Cal and IHSS Cases Pending In the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 02/22/2012 08:10 AM]  – In a narrow 5 to 4 decision, the US Supreme Court today (February 22) sent back to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals the three Medi-Cal cases for further review, keeping those lawsuits alive – and for now, the lower court orders from those cases that continue to block the State from implementing Medi-Cal provider reductions.  Linked to those three Medi-Cal cases, which the US Supreme Court heard in oral arguments on October 3, 2012, are several other Medi-Cal related cases, including a 2009 lawsuit that blocked the State from rolling back State funding for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker wages. [CDCAN will issue a more detailed report later this morning on the US Supreme Court ruling] Read the rest of this entry »

Former UCLA Student Fights Budget Cuts to Disabled and Elderly

NBC Southern California, Friday February 17, 2012

Dr. Bruce Hensel talks to Raul Carranza, a young man with muscular dystrophy who had to drop out of school because he could no longer afford medical care. Carranza is fighting healthcare cuts proposed in the latest California State budget.

Governor Jerry Brown recently introduced a new state budget calling for deep cuts in many departments. Looking through the huge document, it’s easy to get lost in the fine print – the line items, the pie charts — and overlook the people who will actually be affected in a very real way.

Raul Carranza is one of these people. The 22 year old was born with muscular dystrophy and can’t move or breathe independently; but his mind is alert and he is determined to speak it.

“It’s how you deal with these obstacles that define you as a person,” he said in a recent YouTube video, speaking through a voice-enabled computer.  Read more

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS & HEARINGS Impacting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, The Blind, Seniors & Low Income Families

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
#020-2012 – FEBRUARY 06, 2012 – MONDAY

California Budget Crisis: 

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS & HEARINGS IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, THE BLIND, SENIORS & LOW INCOME FAMILIES

  • Feb 09 – Healthy Families Program Transition to Medi-Cal Meeting
  • Feb 23 – Autism Task Force on SB 946 Health Insurance Implementation
  • Feb 23 – Senate Budget Info Hearing on Governor’s Managed Care Proposals
  • Mar 07 – Assembly Info Hearing on Long Term Care & Managed Care Proposals 

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 02/06/2012 06:30 PM] – The following is the latest update on scheduled public legislative hearings and meetings by various state agencies that have some impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors or low income families.  CDCAN will issue an updated schedule every Monday on these statewide meetings.  Read the rest of this entry »

Financial Flexibility Could Be Key to Helping Seniors

California Healthline,  January 19, 2012 
by David Gorn, California Healthline Sacramento Bureau

San Mateo County has one of the highest numbers of seniors per capita in California. To Susan Ehrlich, CEO of San Mateo County Medical Center, that was a challenge that became an opportunity.

The medical facility’s Senior Care Center focuses on integrated care for seniors.

“There is no clinic, public or private, that does what we do,” Ehrlich said. “There are just a zillion things that are critical for this population, and we take care of all of it.”

About two-thirds of the Senior Care Center’s patients are eligible for benefits under Medicare and Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. That’s precisely the population California health care officials are targeting with a demonstration pilot effort to begin the transition of about 1.1 million dual-eligible Californians into managed care. The goal is to improve care and save money. Read the rest of this entry »

Consumers With Disabilities Seniors & Care Providers Will be Hurt by Southern CA Edison Rate Hikes

Southern California Edison is seeking to raise or redesign its electricity rates in a way that will harm the state’s low-income residents, including many people with disabilities who often live on a fixed incomes and rely on utilities more than the average Californian. The Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) is opposing the proposals before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). We are collecting individual consumer stories to help us persuade the CPUC to reject Southern California Edison’s proposed rate increases.

These stories will help decision-makers understand the real-world impact of increased utility bills on individuals with disabilities and fixed incomes. This type of information is essential in providing a complete picture to the PUC of the harmful effects of proposed rate hikes.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY

If anyone in your household has a disability, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund wants to hear from you.

• Do you struggle to pay your utility bills?

• Would an increase in utility rates harm your ability to pay for all yourmonthly expenses?

• Have you ever been forced to choose between paying your utility bill and a bill for another service?  What choices have you made?

Please share your real-world stories of consumers with disabilities no later than Friday, January 20, 2012, by contacting Nicolie Bolster at Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.  You can reach Nicolie at:.

You can reach Nicolie at:
Nicolie Bolster
800-348-4232 (Toll-Free)
Email: nbolster@dredf.org

 

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