- NYSACRA HOSTS OPWDD Q & A ON BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
- REGISTER NOW! FEBRUARY 8 WEBINAR— PERSON CENTERED EXCELLENCE IN A MANAGED CARE ENVIRONMENT
- OPWDD LAUNCHES MONTHLY 1115 PEOPLE FIRST WAIVER COMMUNICATION FORUMS
- OPWDD ISSUES ALERT ON DRYER FIRES
- IN THE NEWS
Another record breaking crowd for the annual Legislative Day! Our work has just begun as the State Legislature commenced the State Legislature's Public Hearings on the proposed 2012-13 Executive Budget proposal. NYSACRA will testify at the Mental Hygiene Budget Hearing on February 14th and we will be present at the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol to advocate on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and the agencies and workforce who deliver important services.
NYSACRA HOSTS OPWDD Q & A ON BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Jill Pettinger Ph.D., Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Statewide Services and Ann Troy Ph.D., participated last week in a Question and Answer session with members of the NYSACRA Quality Committee on the proposed Behavior Management regulations. Members provided a comprehensive list of questions -- many having to do with new supervision requirements, staffing, licensure, and the various committees which agencies would be required to develop for the purposes of oversight and review of medications and certain behavioral plans. While not providing definitive guidance, Dr. Pettinger did encourage all agencies to develop formal comments and submit them by the February 13 deadline. She offered participants a context for the development of regulations governing supervision by licensed psychologists, citing the concern about the July 1, 2013 sunset of exemptions afforded under Chapter 130 and 132 of the Laws of 2010 to agencies certified or funded by OPWDD, and other state agencies. OPWDD plans to develop a Frequently Asked Questions section on their website regarding the proposed regulations. All members are encouraged to provide comments directly to Francesca Sommer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it within the next week, to ensure that your concerns are reflected in our formal response.
REGISTER NOW! FEBRUARY 8 WEBINAR— PERSON CENTERED EXCELLENCE IN A MANAGED CARE ENVIRONMENT
The second in a series on "person-centered" excellence, this webinar will feature a panel of provider and managed care organizations' representatives from Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Moderated by Jim Gardner, Ph.D., President and CEO, CQL| The Council on Quality and Leadership panelists will discuss their unique perspectives, including the importance and feasibility of providing person-centered services within the framework of managed care. The presenters will address critical issues encountered in their respective states, summarize their own most important "lessons learned" in integrating person- centered services in managed care and address questions which have arisen from voluntary provider agencies as New York prepares to implement the 1115 People First Waiver. To obtain a registration form click here.
OPWDD LAUNCHES MONTHLY 1115 PEOPLE FIRST WAIVER COMMUNICATION FORUMS
As Commissioner Courtney Burke recently communicated, OPWDD will be providing routine updates regarding the 1115 Waiver and has established a number of vehicles to inform providers and stakeholders about the progress toward implementation.
· Monthly Waiver Updates-This feature commenced in February and included a report on negotiations with CMS on New York States application. Also noted in this report was information on the RFI responses, Focused Case Studies, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the waiver and managed care.
· Request for Information -OPWDD is in the process of analyzing responses to the RFI and plans to post the results on the 1115 People First Webpage
· Waiver Discussion Boards-A monthly video and a calendar have now been posted. OPWDD has appointed People First liaisons at each DDSO liaisons to facilitate communication and seek feedback on activities related to the waiver. The Discussion Boards include individuals with developmental disabilities and family members. OPWDD plans to conduct monthly video conferences The next discussion board videoconference is February 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The January 10th Discussion Board video and presentation is available for viewing. You may access this information at (http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/2011_waiver/index.jsp).
OPWDD ISSUES ALERT ON DRYER FIRES
OPWDD released a Health and Safety Alert this week on prevention of dryer fires. The ALERT includes guidance on ventilation system safety, inspection schedules, and limiting dryer vents to the equivalent of 25 feet. In addition, the ALERT cautions users to clean out lint traps, not to overload dryers or dry items that contain plastic, foam rubber, or any item that has been soiled with any type of oil or cleaned with dry-cleaning fluid.
IN THE NEWS
In a recent Poughkeepsie Journal letter to the Editor (January 30, 2012,"Service System Must Better Train Direct Support Staff") Regis Obijiski, Executive Director, New Horizons Resources, Inc. cites the critical role of Direct Service Professionals stating they are the "most involved" persons in the life of an individual with a disability. He maintains that effective reform goes beyond reprisal and policy changes, asserting that ethics training and a nationally validated training credential is the key to safeguarding New York's most vulnerable citizens. In November, the New York Times published a letter to the editor from Joseph Macbeth, the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), in which he strongly advocated for the training and credentialing program for direct care professionals built on universal skills and a code of ethics, stating "anything else will continue to fall short."
