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Monday, 08 September 2008 |
· NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK IS NOW!! & "DSPs TO D.C." MARCH ON WASHINGTON TOMORROW!
· FMAP INCREASE & CLINIC OUTPATIENT MORATORIUM LETTERS SENT TO CONGRESS
· OMR LAUNCHES ENHANCED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT RFP
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| NYSACRA News & Views
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| Issue No. 41-08
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September 8, 2008
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Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!
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NYSACRA Calendar
Executive Positions
Action Center
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Greetings NYSACRA Members!
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| · NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK IS NOW!! & "DSPs TO D.C." MARCH ON WASHINGTON TOMORROW!
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NYSACRA's Executive Director, Ann Hardiman, and President Tom McAlvanah, joined hundreds of other providers, DSPs, and advocates in Washington today and tomorrow to deliver our message of support for the thousands of DSPs, those unsung heroes, who quietly perform small miracles every day for the people they serve.
The U.S. Senate designated this week of September 8, 2008 as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week (S. Res. 613) to honor our heroic workforc e! It is also a prime time to contact your DSPs, people served, family members and board members requesting that they advocate on behalf of DSPs by calling or emailing their U.S. Representative in support of legislation that enhances wages for DSPs, The Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act (HR 1279), (see online News & Views for link to current sponsors.) The NAC PR Council prepared public relations/media materials for your use during National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week; each of the templates has been designed for your input and localization. Check the ANCOR website, or NYSACRA website for: a Suggested National Direct Support Professionals Week Activities; a Template News Release; a Template Op-ed/Newsletter Article; and a Downloadable Color Poster/Flyer for Personalization and Distribution. Questions? Feel free to write NAC PR Council Chair Lynn Berman at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
; NAC Consultant Denise Patton-Pace at
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; or Forest Cotten at
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. Click Here for the NYSACRA Press Release (PDF 250kb).
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| · FMAP INCREASE & CLINIC OUTPATIENT MORATORIUM LETTERS SENT TO CONGRESS
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NYSACRA has joined with many other not-for-profit human service associations in a letter sent to all twenty-nine of the New York Congressional Representatives. We request immediate action in September, prior to the expected September 23rd adjournment, to temporarily increase the
Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) by 2.95%, such as is proposed in H.R. 5268. A similar FMAP increase was passed in 2003- 04.
In addition, NYSACRA strongly urged support for a one-year moratorium on CMS' Proposed Rule, which would narrow the definition of outpatient hospital services and limit Medicaid reimbursement under the hospital outpatient benefit to only those services covered by Medicare. These proposed changes could potentially result in the loss of over $350 million in Federal Medicaid dollars for New York State's clinic providers, including developmental disability clinics. A one year delay to the Proposed Rule would provide much needed temporary fiscal relief.
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| · OMR LAUNCHES ENHANCED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT RFP
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OMRDD has developed an Enhanced Supported Employment RFP which is designed to assist 700 individuals with developmental disabilities to become successfully employed in positions that are consistent with their choices, strengths, interests, and capacities. This RFP will address many of the barriers to employment that have been identified by the individuals we serve, their families and the staff who have advocated for change and innovation on their behalf. Each DDSO will send the RFP to all agencies that are authorized to provide HCBS waiver services within their catchment area in accordance with standard procurement guidelines. The fiscal allocations for each DDSO will be included in the RFP that is sent out. OMR has set an October 2, 2008, deadline for interested applicants to file an "Intent to Bid" form (Appendix A). Please check your mail for this RFP or contact your DDSO.
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