A publication of ID Action in partnership with Iowa s DD Council

Transcription

1 2012 Issue #1 January 23, 2012 A publication of ID Action in partnership with Iowa s DD Council Interested in Having a Local Capitol Day? Advocate for the issues you care about and join others from your community in doing it. Contact ID Action if you are interested in having a local advocacy day at the Capitol. Dates are limited, so contact us soon for more information at Make 2012 the Year of the Advocate Rik Shannon is the Public Policy Manager for Iowa s DD Council In this Issue On behalf of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council and the ID Action project, welcome back to a new year of infonet. Your support and enthusiasm have helped to grow the number of Iowans infonet reaches and we know from your survey responses and testimonials that more and more of you are using that information to advocate for change. PAGE 2 Legislature Back for The last year has also taught us that we are a group that is being heard is shaping up to be a critical year for Iowans with disabilities and their families. Mental health and disability services redesign is near the top of the Iowa Legislature's to- do list and another major election is only months away. PAGE 4 Bills Introduced The decisions that will be made in the coming year may affect us for many years to come so this is not the time to be silent. Change that creates real opportunities for Iowans with disabilities will take strong and determined advocates who are committed to making a difference. Shorter Session PAGE 3 MH/DS REDESIGN Update This Week PAGE 5 Retiring Legislators (so far) PAGE Session Calendar Together let's make 2012 the year that we all go from taking notice to taking action. It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action. Honore de Balzac, French Writer

2 The 2011 legislative session was the second longest in the history of our state. The session ended on June 30, months after their pay ran out. It s pretty darn hard to find anyone that wants a repeat of the 2011 session this year. The 2012 session got started on Monday, January 9 with legislators promising to end session on time, if not earlier. To prove they are serious, they moved several deadlines (called funnels ) up by one week. They hope this will help them get done by the 90th day of session (April 7). Legislature Back for SHORTER Session The first funnel deadline is now be February 24. Bills need to be voted out of their assigned committee before this deadline, or they will be set aside and no longer debated. The second funnel deadline is now March 16. To stay alive for the rest of session, bills need to be voted out of one chamber (House or Senate), and out of committee in the opposite chamber. So House bills need to be voted out of Senate Committees, and Senate bills need to be voted out of House Committees. The Governor gave his annual "Condition of the State" speech on Tuesday, January 10. His focus was on jobs, economic development, property tax reform and education reform. No mention of the other reform mental health and disability services. The Governor presented a $6.24 billion budget. While this is a $230 million increase, most of that extra money will be directed to Medicaid (it won't increase access or create new programs; this money is needed just to keep up with expanded demand, increased costs, and to supplement the loss of enhanced federal matching dollars that have now ended). For perspective, 75% of the budget increases come from seven areas: 2 Medicaid ($48.8 million) Economic Development ($25 million) State Foundation School Aid ($24.7 million) State Universities/Regents ($20 million) Mental Health Growth Factor ($20 million) Mental Health Redesign ($17.8 million) Governor's Education Reform ($17 million) The $20 million in additional funds for the MH/DS Growth Factor is really not an increase it replaces one- time funds used last year to pay for growth. So this increase really just maintains the current level of funding. The Governor also recommends $17.8 million to start the transition to the proposed new MH/DS system, but the need is closer to $60 million. How (and if) the Legislature fills in that gap will be a major point of discussion this session. Here are a few other highlights from the Governor s budget: The Governor takes the $5.02 million that is left in the MH/DS Risk Pool, and puts it back in Medicaid. Several counties need these funds to preserve services and avoid waiting lists so the Iowa State Association of Counties is asking that these funds be left in the Risk Pool and allocated to counties in need. The Governor recommends having the state take over payment for the non- federal share of Medicaid services, Habilitation Services, Targeted Case Management, and a portion of the ICF/MR payments beginning July 1, The Governor has proposed doing this with a $17.75 million appropriation, and $12.25 million in additional cost savings. It is important to note that there is not agreement on the amount of money needed to buyout

3 Shorter Session (from page 2) the Medicaid portion of the county system and ensure non- Medicaid services are funded at current levels (and services to people are preserved). The Governor recommends continued funding for the Newsline for the Blind ($50,000) and an increase of $100,000 for the Department of the Blind to help it draw down more federal dollars (about $300,000 more). The Governor is recommending increases for both Woodward & Glenwood State Resource Centers ($975,000 total) to replace lost federal funds. The Governor cuts AEAs by $10 million. AEAs are responsible for delivering special education and other specialized services to schools. The Governor keeps the $50,000 appropriation to help fund the Special Olympics. Usually legislators wait until mid to late February to start budget meetings but this year they started meeting the second week of session and have an aggressive schedule. Legislators say they will have budget targets by next week, and hope to have budgets done by late February. Their plan is to have budget done early in session, and save the last month of session for policy bills like property tax reform, education reform, and MH/DS reform. But as the poet Robert Burns said, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Maybe the more appropriate quote would be from Jennifer Aniston, I don t make plans. I make options. Cross your fingers, and hope these options all result in a timely end to two challenging budget years, and a reasonable and funded agreement on moving forward with MH/DS Redesign. 3 MH/DS Redesign Update The Mental Health & Disability Services Redesign Interim Committee met again this week to continue its work to create a more equitable, stable, and consistent mental health and disability services system. Usually interim committees meet in the interim the time when legislators are not in session. But this isn t your typical interim committee. The interim committee plans to meet weekly until a decision is reached on the redesign package. A draft of the bill implementing the redesign recommendations will be available next week, with a more refined working draft available in two weeks. The interim committee will meet weekly on Thursdays, 7:30 8:30 a.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chambers on the First Floor of the State Capitol in Des Moines. The public is welcome, and there will be an opportunity for public comment. Legislators are working on options for people that cannot make it to Des Moines (teleconferencing, audio broadcasting). If you have something to say about the MH/DS System or the proposed redesign don t wait. You can be heard in a number of ways: Call your legislators at the Capitol. your legislators. Call or the Governor. Go to a town hall meeting on the weekend. You can find the list on our website: Attend the interim committee and speak. Write a letter to the editor. How you advocate isn t important what matters is that you just do it! You can read more about the recommendations in the redesign report in our last two issues of INFONET.

4 Bills Introduced This Week Quick Reminder Because of space, this is the only time you ll see the full description of these bills unless they change dramatically. You may want to keep these issues of INFONET and refer back to them as session moves along. You can always find the most current status of bills (updated daily) on our online bill tracker: BILLS IN THE HOUSE HF Non- Resident Hunting Licenses/ Disabilities (Status: House Veterans Affairs Committee) Allows additional special hunting licenses, wild turkey hunting licenses, and any sex deer hunting licenses to be offered to nonresident disabled veterans for use on hunts conducted by nonprofit organizations that conduct hunting experiences in the state for disabled veterans. Introduced by Chambers, Kaufmann, and Lofgren. BILLS IN THE SENATE SF HCBS Waiver/Balancing Incentives Program (Status: Senate Human Resources Committee) - Directs the Department of Human Services to apply for a Medicaid Balancing Incentive Payments Program, which is part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (national health care reform). The program will provide funding for new or expanded Medicaid non- institutionally based long- term care services and supports, with the goal to rebalance long- term care spending (spending less on institution- based services and more on home and community based services). Beginning July 1, 2012, Medicaid home health care providers will be reimbursed based on the Medicare low utilization payment adjustment methodology rather than the cost- based methodology. In exchange for these funds, the Department of Human Services must develop a "no wrong door single point of entry system" so people can more easily access services; provide a conflict- free case management system so service decisions are based on need not funding; provide core standardized assessments so people get the services they need; and collect data to ensure quality and outcomes are met. Introduced by Hatch. SF 2032 Long Term Care Resident s Ombudsman Program (Status: Senate Appropriations Committee) Directs the Department on Aging to establish certified volunteer long- term 4 care resident s advocate programs to support and train long- term care resident s advocates. States the intent of the Legislature to increase the number of advocates each year until 15 local long- term care resident s advocates are available in the state. Appropriates $100,000 to support the program and directs the Department on Aging to convene a work group that includes consumers, providers, and appropriate state agencies. The group is to review national research and current practices, and make recommendations by 12/15/2012. HF 2058 RCF Property Tax Break (Status: House Ways & Means Committee) Exempts from property taxation property owned entirely by a non- profit organization, and operated as a residential care facility or nursing facility, elder group home, assisted living program, adult day services program, or a retirement facility. SSB 3035 Department on Aging Bill/Aging & Disability Resource Centers (Status: Senate Human Resources Committee) Links the definition of Aging and Disability Resource Centers with the federal Older Americans Act language. SSB 3037 Adult Day Services/Certification (Status: Senate Human Resources Committee) Allows federal all- inclusive care for the elderly programs to skip state certification as an adult day services provider. SSB 3054 Medicaid Private Nursing Home Room (Status: Senate Human Resources Committee) Directs the DHS to allow a nursing home resident or resident s family to pay extra for a private room (if the person is on Medicaid). Remember that we have a list of local legislative forums on the website at: bit.ly/eervk3 These are great places to talk to and meet your legislators!

5 Legislators Starting to Retire 2012 is a big election year. In November 2012, voters will choose a President, US Representative, State Senator and State Representative (along with many other local offices) is also the year elected officials will run in newly drawn districts. Many legislators will need to run in districts that are very different from the ones they represent now. Some were thrown together in the same district forcing someone to retire or move into another district to run. Others have decided that after decades of service, it s time to step down and let the younger generation step up. March 16 is the deadline for State Senators and State Representatives to file their papers, but legislators are starting to let people know they won t seek re-election and will retire at the end of their term in Here is the list so far: Representatives Not Running Again in 2012: Rich Anderson of Clarinda Betty DeBoef of What Cheer Lance Horbach of Tama Steve Lukan of New Vienna Kim Pearson of Altoona Scott Raecker of Urbandale Dave Tjepkes of Gowrie Senators Not Running Again in 2012: Gene Fraise of Fort Madison Tom Hancock of Epworth Steve Kettering of Lake View Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg Paul McKinley of Chariton Jim Seymour of Woodbine Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye Representatives Running for Senate in 2012: Janet Petersen of Des Moines Nate Willems of Mt. Vernon You can now WATCH live debate in the Iowa House of Representatives. Just go to ICE/default.asp?category=billinfo&Service=livevideo. You can still LISTEN to live debate in either the House or Senate. Just go to and click on Live Senate Audio or Live House Audio. Thanks again to the readers took our INFONET survey. Three of you were the lucky winners in our $25 gift card drawing. Congratulations and more importantly thanks for helping us make INFONET a great advocacy tool! Brenda De Van of Des Moines Adam Johannes of Council Bluffs Judy Meyers of Cedar Falls 5

6 infonet is a free publication of ID Action in partnership with Iowa s Developmental Disabilities Council. Please contact us to change your address, switch to , add a friend, or leave us a comment/suggestion. We encourage you to share infonet with others. If you use parts of infonet in another publication, we ask that you use the following citation: From infonet, PO Box Des Moines, Iowa / [First Name] [Last Name] OR CURRENT RESIDENT [Address 1] [Address 2] [City], [State/Province] [ZIP/Postal Code] Representing you in Congress are: Sen. Charles Grassley Sen. Tom Harkin [US Representative] Your State Representative is: [Representative] Home: [IAHouseHomePhone] [IAHouse ] Your State Senator is: [Senator] Home: [IASenateHomePhone] [IASenate ] 2012 Session Calendar JANUARY 9, 2012 JANUARY 20, 2012 FEBRUARY 24, 2012 MARCH 16, 2012 Legislative Session Begins Last day for legislators to request bills (committee chairs may still request bills) First Legislative Funnel Deadline (all bills need to be voted out of their assigned committees in order to stay alive, except bills that spend money or deal with taxes) Candidate Filing Deadline (legislators must file their papers to run for office by 5 p.m. on this day) Second Legislative Funnel Deadline (to stay alive, bills need to pass out of the House or the Senate, and out of committee in the other chamber so House bills need to pass out of Senate committees; and Senate bills out of House committees) APRIL 17, th Day of the Legislative Session Last Day of 6 Session (Final Paid Day)