CDCAN Advocacy Without Borders :: One Community

• Autism Senate Select Committee Info Hearing Today
• Budget Conference Committee Also Meets Today
• Agenda Will Cover Health Budget Items
• Senate Human Services Committee Meets Also Today at 10:00 AM – Budget Conference Committee Agenda Includes Major Medi-Cal Issues; Also  Regional Center 1.25% Additional Reduction, Mental Health Budget Items Including AB 3632 Special Ed Mental Health Services Mandate

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/10/2010  07:15 AM  (Pacific Time)] - At least three hearings dealing with bills, policy issues and the state budget having potential impact on children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families and community organizations and workers that provides supports and services, are scheduled Thursday morning (June 10^th), including the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders informational hearing at 10:30 AM and the Budget Conference Committee, focusing on health budget items, scheduled possibly for 11:00 AM (the exact time depends on when the Assembly floor session adjourns).

The Assembly is scheduled to convene its floor session at 10:00 AM this morning.  There is no floor session scheduled today in the State Senate, though 2 policy committees (Senate Human Services and Senate Judiciary Committees) and the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders have hearings scheduled this morning (see below for details). 

Budget Conference Committee Meets Today on Health Budget Items

The Budget Conference Committee will focus on health budget items when it meets today (June 10^th), possibly at 11:00 AM, though the exact time depends, in part, on whenever the Assembly floor session adjourns.  The committee meets at the State Capitol in Room 4203.  All hearings are televised on CalChannel (check local cable listings) and webcast live on the CalChannel website at www.calchannel.com

All budget conference committee hearings are open to the public - though public testimony is not taken at these hearings.

The agendas for the conference committee total hundreds of pages long, though the budget conference committee has broken up the agendas by general budget areas.  The portions specifically focused on health budget items (46 page pdf file) and education (50 pages pdf file), human services budget issues (9 page pdf file) and transportation (30 page pdf file)  and other budget items can be viewed and downloaded from the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us

Health Budget Issues To Be Taken Up Today

Health budget items include hundreds of millions of dollars of reductions to the Medi-Cal program including proposed mandatory enrollment of over 431,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind and seniors into existing Medi-Cal managed care plans; a 1.25% additional reduction in payments to most regional center providers and operations and the issue of suspension of the AB 3632 mental health services mandate for special education students proposed by the Governor.

Only those budget issues where the Assembly and State Senate took DIFFERENT actions are issues on the conference committee agenda.  Budget issues where both houses took the same actions are, for now, part of Governor’s proposed 2010-2011 State Budget, as revised – but still requires approval of both houses of the Legislature and the Governor.

The issue of the proposed closure of Lanterman Developmental Center, which both the Assembly and Senate approved, is not part of the Budget Conference Committee agenda.  However, that proposed closure plan is part of the over all 2010-2011 State Budget which still needs final approval of both houses, with 2/3rds vote – and approval of the Governor.

The Health budget agenda will be taken up as follows when the hearing starts today:

1. Emergency Medical Services Authority (Budget Item 4120) – 2 issues
2. Department of Health Care Services (Budget Item 4260) – about 20 issues
3. Department of Public Health (Budget Item 4265) – about 12 issues)
4. California Medical Assistance Commission (Budget Item 4270) – 1 issue
5. Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (Budget Item 4280) – about 3 issues
6. Department of Developmental Services (Budget Item 4300) -  3 issues
7. Department of Mental Health (Budget Item 4440) – 3 issues

At this point in the budget process, the Governor’s proposed 2010-2011 State Budget that includes changes that both the Senate and Assembly Democrats passed in recent weeks, is contained in AB 190.  After the budget conference committee phase ends, that bill number will likely change as the process moves forward (CDCAN will report any changes).

Among the issues on the health budget items agenda this morning includes (where both houses took different actions:

• Mental Health: Governor’s proposed suspension of the AB 3632 mental health mandate (requirement) to the counties to provide mental health services for special education students (the Senate and Assembly took different actions previously)
• Mental Health:  $4.8 million in State general funds to restore funding (with $700,000 increase)  for the Caregiver Resource Centers  that was eliminated due to the Governor’s line item veto from the 2009-2010 State Budget enacted last July. The Governor proposed to continue this reduction into the 2010-2011 State Budget year.  The Assembly approved the restoration of this funding.  The Senate took no action. 
• Regional Centers (Department of Developmental Services): Governor’s proposal to increase the current 3% payment reduction to most regional center providers and regional center operations by another 1.25% (for a total of 4.25%) effective July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, approximately a reduction of an additional $50 million (including federal funds – about $25 million of that State general funds).  The Governor’s proposal also would give authority to regional centers to temporarily modify certain provider requirements, except for licensed or certified providers, to reduce administrative requirements on providers.  Assembly rejected this proposal (to send this issue to budget conference committee) and the Senate approved it. 
• Medi-Cal:  Governor’s proposal for (phased in beginning February 2011) mandatory enrollment for of about 431,683 people with disabilities, the blind and seniors who reside in Medi-Cal Managed Care counties (14 counties) and are not dually eligible for federal Medicare. The result of this mandatory enrollment would result in a reduction (or savings) to the Medi-Cal program of $357 million ($178.7 million of that State general fund money and $178.7 million of that federal dollars).  Assembly rejected proposal – Senate approved reduction amount but changed proposed budget related (trailer bill) language to refer issue to legislative policy committee. 
• Medi-Cal:  Renewal and Expansion of (AB 1629) Nursing Home Quality Assurance Fee  (both houses took action previously to send this issue to budget conference committee)
• Medi-Cal:  Governor’s proposed 10% Reduction to Private Hospitals under existing Medi-Cal Hospital Financing Waiver (reduction of $51.6 million - $25.8 of that State general funds) effective July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.  Assembly approved this proposal and Senate rejected it. 
• Medi-Cal: Governor’s proposal for rate freeze to Medi-Cal Inpatient Hospital rates for reduction of  $169 million ($84.5 million of that in State general funds) except for Designated Public Hospitals, at the rate that was in effect on January 1, 2010. Assembly approved proposal and Senate rejected it.

Senate Autism Select Committee Informational Hearing Will Focus on Private Health Insurance Plans and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their Families

The Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders, chaired by Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat – Sacramento) informational hearing at 10:30 AM Thursday morning (June 10) at the State Capitol in Room 3191, will focus on the controversial issue of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families and the problems with their private health insurance plans in covering critical services.  The hearing is scheduled to run from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM and will be televised on CalChannel (check your local cable listings) and webcast live on CalChannel’s website, www.calchannel.com

CDCAN will issue a full report on the informational hearing Thursday.  [A copy of the 2 page agenda can be downloaded from the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us  [Note: this agenda was scanned by Steinberg’s office as a pdf file – so the image cannot be “read”. For those people who are sight impaired or are blind, the full agenda is retyped below in this CDCAN Report]

The controversy regarding private health insurance plans and children with autism spectrum disorders and their families and what the health plans should cover has major potential impact on the State budget. 

There is brief public comment period at the end of the informational hearing, though interested persons can also submit written comments and letters directly to the select committee via US mail or FAX (916-327-8867):

Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders

Senator Darrell Steinberg, Chair

State Capitol – Room 415

Sacramento, CA 95814

INFORMATIONAL HEARING AGENDA
Informational Hearing:

Health Insurance Coverage of Behavioral Intervention Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

June 10, 2010

(10:30 AM to 1:00 PM)

The Capitol Building – Room 3191

Agenda

Welcome and Opening Comments (10:30 – 10:40 AM)

Senator Steinberg and Committee members

The Science and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (10:40 – 11:10 AM)

• Is Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) a Brain-Based Medical Disorder? – David G. Amaral, PhD
• Behavioral Intervention Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? – What Is It and How Does It Work? – Sally Rogers, PhD
• What is the Evidence for the Medical Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? – Robin Hansen, MD

The Regulatory Framework for the Private Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Services (11:10 – 11:40 AM)

Rick Martin; Holly Pearson; Andrew George; Tim LeBas (Department of Managed Health Care); Elena Fishman (Department of Insurance)

• How Does the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance Monitor Health Plans for Compliance with Mental Health Parity for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?
• What are the Criteria to Determine if Behavioral Intervention Therapy is a Covered Benefit and Qualifies as Medically Necessary Services for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

The Health Plans’ Perspective (11:40 – 12:10 PM)

Patrick Johnston (California Association of Health Plans); David J. Ormerod, MD (Blue Shield of California); Don Mordecai, MD (Kaiser); Sandra Gloze (Kaiser)

• What Must Be Covered for Autism Under the Mental Health Parity Act?
• What Are the Criteria to Determine if Behavioral Intervention Therapy Qualifies as Medically Necessary Services for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?
• How Does a Practicing Physician Approach the Medical Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

Challenges Faced by Consumers (12:10 to 12:30 PM)

• How Can Parents Navigate the Complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Medical Care? – Feda Almaliti
• Autism Insurance Coverage in California: Findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission and Senate Autism Taskforces – Barbara Firestone, PhD
• What are Other States Doing to Provide for Private Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? – Lorri Unumb

Public Comments (12:30 – 12:50 PM)

Closing Comments (12:50 – 1:00 PM)

Adjournment (1:00 PM)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS TODAY

The Assembly has a floor session today (June 10^th) that convenes at 10:00 AM, but no Assembly committee hearings are scheduled for today other than the Budget Conference Committee.

In the State Senate, no floor session is scheduled, but in addition to the Budget Conference Committee, two policy committee hearings are scheduled Thursday morning (Senate Human Services and Senate Judiciary Committees), plus the informational hearing by the Senate Select Committee on Autism and other Disorders. 

JUNE 10, 2010 - THURSDAY

SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

10:00 AM – State Capitol – Room 2040

Bills scheduled for hearing that could have some impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, foster care children and their families and low income families and workers:

• AB 12 (Beall) – California Fostering Connections to Success Act
• AB 743 (Portantino) – Foster Care: Sibling Placement
• AB 1758 (Ammiano) - County Wraparound Services Program
• AB 1905 (Cook) – Foster Care Funding: Placement Approvals
• AB 1914 (Davis) – Food Stamp Benefits Eligibility: Unemployment Benefits
• AB 2039 (Logue) – Placer County: Integrated Health & Human Services Program
• AB 2114 (Beall) – Aging: Elder Economic Security Standard Index
• AB 2129 (Bass) – Foster Care: Residentially Based Services
• AB 2274 (Beall) – In-Home Supportive Services Recipients: Right To Select Any Qualified Person to Provide Care From Organization Authorized Through Federal Waiver
• AB 2418 (Cook) – Indian Child Custody Proceeding
• AB 2474 (Beall) – Community Care Facilities: Foster Family Agencies

JUNE 10, 2010 - THURSDAY

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

10:00 AM – State Capitol – Room 112

CDCAN’S ACCOUNTABILITY WITH ACTION TRAINING

JUNE 14, 2010 – MONDAY  1:00 to 3:15 PM

IN SACRAMENTO - SPACES LIMITED

FIRST HANDS ON TRAINING OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ADVOCACY

IF INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THIS FREE TRAINING

PLEASE SEND RSVP TO MARTY OMOTO AT:  martyomoto@rcip.com