Arc NC Action Alert

From The Arc of North Carolina

Attend The Coalition Rally! Also, Calls & Emails Needed....

It’s crunch time. Legislators are considering changes to HB 916 this week, and we have an opportunity to suggest improvements to the 1915 b/c waiver. The Arc continues to work with legislators to create reasonable solutions to issues many of you are already experiencing with the implementation of the 1915 b/c waiver. Here’s what we’re working on:

First, restoring access to some form of independent case management for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is critical for the 1915 b/c waiver model to succeed. Second, individuals with CAP or Innovations slots need assurances that they can continue to use them regardless of where they live. Third, where a person originally received Medicaid should not be an impediment to receiving services today.

As we work on these issues, it is critical that legislators hear from you -- Nothing is more powerful than you telling your story.

Decisions on potential changes to HB 916 are being made this week. 

Please call & email:

• Your legislators
• Legislative leadership
• House DHHS appropriations sub-committee

Download my list with copy+paste contact info by Committee:

• Word Contact List
• PDF Contact List

Tell them:

• Restore Independent Case Management: People with I/DD need an independent case manager who works for them, not for the Managed Care Organization!
• Slow the pace of Managed Care – Get it right: There are many problems with the current managed care plan, as many of you can personally attest to. It is important that the pace of implementation be slowed so these problems can be addressed before they become an established part of the system.

The Coalition Rally (Tuesday, May 22)

If you can attend the Rally at the NC Legislative Building (16 W Jones Street) in Raleigh, please do so! Even if if you can only spare an hour …Call your legislator and ask to see them. It will make a difference. Registration Starts at 8:00 AM and the Rally itself is at noon. Details on the rally can be found here, including parking info.

The Arc will have staff avalible from 7:30 AM through the end of the day avalible to assist you in getting around. The Day of the event, please call 919.500.8382 if you have any questions or problems.

DHHS Waiver Advisory Committee Meeting (Tues, May 22, 1-3 PM)

If you can attend the DHHS Waiver Advisory Committee, please do so as well!! It will be meeting from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at the McKimmon Center (1101 Gorman Street) in Raleigh - a quick 10 minunte drive from where The Coalition Rally is taking place. There is plenty of free parking. Public Comments will be heard beginning at 2:30 PM. More information on the DWAC can be found here.

Again, if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Ben Akroyd at bakroyd@arcnc.org or 919.500.8382.

NCGA JLOC on HHS 5/15 Meeting Agenda

Note for those unable to attend:

Interested stakeholders unable to attend the JLOC HHS meeting (or any other legislative meetings) in Raleigh, may listen in via live Audio Broadcast on the NCGA website. 

In the event you are unable to listen live, the audio recording, as well as agenda and supporting documents, reports, etc. for this meeting will be posted afterward on the JLOC HHS webpage.

Meeting Agenda:

JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AGENDA

May 15, 2012

8:30 A.M.; Room 643, Legislative Office Building
Senator Louis Pate, Co-Chair, Presiding      

Personal Care Services and Medicaid I-Waiver Status Update ......... 8:30-9:10
   Albert Delia, Acting Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
   Tara Larson, Chief Clinical Operating Officer, Division of Medical Assistance

Overview of State County Special Assistance and In-Home Special Assistance  .........  9:10-9:35
   Suzanne Merrill, Adult Services Section Chief, Division of Aging and Adult Services
   Curtis Crouch, Section Chief, Cost Accounting/Financial Reporting, DHHS Controller's Office

Institutes of Mental Disease Status Update  .........  9:35-10:10
   Tara Larson, Chief Clinical Operating Officer, Division of Medical Assistance

US DOJ Investigation of Mental Health System Status Update  .........  10:10-10:55
   Emery Milliken, General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services

Medicaid 1915 b/c Waiver Status Update  .........  10:55-11:30
   Kelly Crosbie, Chief, Behavioral Health Policy Section, Division of Medical Assistance

Report of the Sub-Committee on LME Governance ......... 11:30-11:55
   Representative Nelson Dollar, Subcommittee Chair

DHHS Requested Statutory Changes- Provisional Licensure  ......... 11:55-12:10
   Beth Melcher, Assistant Secretary for MH/DD/SAS Development

JLOC-HHS - Recommended Legislation to the 2012 Regular Session ......... 12:10-12:30
   Committee Chairs

Adjourn.

Advocay Day & Popcorn Rally; Raleigh

Download flier.

In text:

THE MHDDSAS COALITION OF NORTH CAROLINA INVITES YOU TO OUR ANNUAL ADVOCACY DAY & POPCORN RALLY

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

ADVOCATE FOR SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH,
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES & ADDICTIVE DISEASE

THE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING IN RALEIGH

16 WEST JONES STREET, RALEIGH, NC 27601

Registration will open at 8:00 am on the back portico of the Legislative Building. Participants can get information on the day’s legislative committee meetings, the current budget proposal and begin visits with legislators.

Advocacy Trainings will take place in the Legislative Building Auditorium (third floor). Beginning at 9:00 am, short trainings will be held on ways to effectively communicate your message to Legislators. Volunteers will be in the auditorium with tips & techniques for making the most of your legislative visit.

Popcorn will be available on the portico beginning at 11:00 am!

(Please note that lunch will NOT be provided.)

RALLY – at 12:00 pm on Bicentennial Mall on Jones Street, across from the Legislative Building.

PARKING: Passengers in vehicles of any kind must be dropped off at the LEGISLATIVE BUILDING and park in other locations. Directions & parking information can be found on the website for the General Assembly.

Visit www.thecoalitionnc.org for more information.

The Coalition encourages you to participate in this event as we advocate for funding for mental health, developmental disability, and addictive disease services!

Rally in Raleigh: 5/22 Mark Your Calendars!

The Arc of North Carolina 
07 May 2012

The Rally in Raleigh: The Coalition Advocacy Day

Managed Care Issues Make Rally Especially Important On Tuesday May 22, The Coaltion will have its Annual Advocacy Day & Popcorn Rally at the NC Legislative Building in Raleigh. The implications of the current Managed Care implementation schedule make it especially important for self-advocates and their families to attend! The Coalition is an alliance of over 40 Mental Health, Developmental Disability, and Substance Abuse organizations of which The Arc of NC has long been a part.  Details on the Rally coming soon. Sign up for The Arc of NC's newsletter. Policy Partners is The Arc of North Carolina's biweekly email newsletter. It covers developmental disability policy on the federal, state, and occasionally local level. Its also a great way to learn about events The Arc is having in your area!