What's New in March?

March 2012 events and updates.

• Preliminary Injunction 3/29 Ordered by Federal Justice Flanagan in the Disability Rights NC suit against NC DHHS and PBH; posted on US Case Law page.
• added Updated Service Definitions (02/2012) and new Comparison Grid of Services document (01/2012) to CAP-MR/DD page.
• Second meeting with Dr. Pat Porter in Raleigh, 3/28.
• Met with Dr. Patricia Porter in Chapel Hill, 3/16.
• moved Correspondence page to top tab link Correspondence... (apparently there is too much data for a regular entry post; information truncates upon upload). Correspondence exchanges to date can be found there...
• Updated Correspondence page with responses and replies to date. 
• Sent email to Joint Caucus Leader Rep. Marilyn Avila, 3/15.
• Email sent out today from DHHS Sandy Ellsworth announcing, "CMS has approved the extension of the Comprehensive and Supports CAP-I/DD waivers though June 28."
• Sent follow-up email to Representative Bill Current, 3/14.
• Sent follow-up email to Senator Tommy Tucker, 3/13.
• Attended the 3/13 Joint Legislative Oversight Committee meeting on Health and Human Services downtown Raleigh:
• DHHS Chief Clinical Operating Officer, Tara Larson, announced that Federal funding for Medicaid programs which provide Personal Care Services (PCS) in residential settings for Physically Disabled, Developmentally Disabled, and Elderly recipients is due to end April 30, 2012... And the State has NO PLAN. 
• News article: NC personal care services for thousands may end by Gary D. Robertson - Associated Press on NewsObserver.com; March 13, 2012.
• News article: Medicaid deadline jeopardizes residents of adult care homes by Lynn Bonner - LBONNER@NewsObserver.com

  
  Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/03/13/1928599/medicaid-deadline-jeopardizes.html#storylink=cpyRead more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/03/13/1928918/nc-personal-care-services-for.html#storylink=cpy

• Introductions and brief chats with: Senator Tommy Tucker, Representative Bill Current, Senator Fletcher Hartsell, Joint Caucus Leader / Representative Marilyn Avila... and though try as I might, couldn't seem to pin down Representative Nelson Dollar.
• expanded on 916 to Waiver Plan to include more background information on House Bill 916 to State Law to the new statewide Medicaid Waiver plan.
• changed name of About HB 916 header link to 916 to Waiver Plan.
• added page with MHDDSA and legal acronyms and legal terminology: Acronyms, Etc. If you have others to add, please let me know.
• Posted Disability Right NC's Federal Class Action Complaint on behalf of KC et al. against NC DHHS and PBH, filed 07/01/2011 and Memorandum in Support, filed 03/02/2012 to US Case Law page.
• Met with Disability Rights of North Carolina, 3/7. 
• Posted Disability Rights NC's Federal Class Action Complaint  on behalf of Pashby et al. against NC DHHS, filed 05/31/2011, as well as the DRNC Press Release to US Case Law page.
• Received a written response from Commissioner Lewis of the US Administration on Developmental Disabilities; posted in Correspondence, 3/5.
• Called the Office of the Governor to confirm receipt of hard copy letter and inquire of anticipated response date... Was told letter had been forwarded to NC DHHS for response on behalf of Governor Perdue; could not confirm whether or not the Governor herself had actually reviewed letter; requested that the letter be flagged for personal review and stressed the importance, that this is not merely a person letter but a letter that is very personal written on behalf of not only my DD child but the DD community across the State, 3/5.
• created new page Links with links to resources and information websites on everything from DD to government agencies, advocacy, and even Special Education. Please let me know if you have one (or more) to add!

* What's New Main.