NYSACRA

DSP RESOLUTION PASSED IN U.S. HOUSE VOTE!!!

In the U.S. House, the Direct Support Professional Recognition Resolution (H.Con.Res 94) passed unanimously o­n November 4, 2003.  The Concurrent Resolution was sponsored by Representatives Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Lois Capps (D-CA) and had 47 additional co-sponsors.  NYSACRA thanks all the Congressional Representatives that have joined in support of this Resolution, especially New York Congressmen Michael R. McNulty (CD 21), Maurice D. Hinchey (CD 22) and John M. McHugh (CD 23) for their early sponsorship and dedication to its passage.

This Resolution expressed the “sense of the Congress that the Federal Government and the States should make it a priority to promote a stable, quality direct support workforce for individuals with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities that advances our Nation's commitment to community integration for such individuals and to personal security for them and their families.”

The overwhelming support and recognition of this Resolution and the underlying problem facing providers in recruiting and retaining Direct Support Professionals was a significant sign that the time has come to act now and ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities maintain the quality care that they have enjoyed for many years.

Click Here for a copy of the Resolution.  Thank you for your quick action o­n this and please remember to thank all of New York’s Congressional Representatives for their unanimous support this Resolution.

HIPAA-COMPLIANT CLAIMS – NOVEMBER 6, 2003!

NYSACRA has been briefing its members regularly about the NYS DOH readiness to accept and process HIPAA compliant claims.  The DOH letter will be going out this week announcing November 6, 2003, as the date that NY MMIS will be ready to end-to-end test.  Keep us posted about any issues that you have.  In addition, we know that some of our members, when submitting the required Trading Partner Agreement, have crossed out the language considered offensive and not required by many legal authorities.  That paragraph is Section 3.2 Limitation of Liability.  A copy of the DOH letter is o­n the NYSACRA website:
http://www.nysacra.org/nysacra/DOH-HIPAA-compliant-MMIS.pdf.

NYS-OPTS

At a meeting o­n Monday, November 3, 2003, the NYS-OPTS Steering Committee, approved a process for concept submissions under NYS-OPTS (official information will be sent out from OMRDD soon).  Elements to be included in a concept proposal are:  Agency Name, Concept addressed, Proposal budget, Number of persons with disabilities covered, Identification of people with disabilities to be covered, Sites (reinvestment), enhancements to be achieved, consumer benefit, detail of quality improvement elements, and detail of program description.  Look for more information to be available soon.