Articles

CDCAN REPORT #091-2012: ANew Schedule of Senate/Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearings - Hearing by Assembly on Developmental Services Set for May 17th 10:30 AM - Senate Subcommittee Will Hear IHSS, Developmental Services on May 22nd

chris — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:23 +0000

The final round of budget subcommittee hearings gets underway in full force next week - but with some hearings scheduled for this week - with the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services releasing this morning a tentative hearing schedule. That schedule includes a hearing by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, May 17th at 10:30 AM at the State Capitol in Room 4202, on the developmental services budget items including the $200 million proposed savings and cuts in general fund spending.

CDCAN REPORT #070-2012: Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing Wed at 1:30 PM on IHSS, MSSP, Rehab Appeals Board - Subcommittee Staff Recommending Rejection of IHSS Domestic & Related Services Cut - Senate Hearing 10:30 AM on Mental Health - Caregivers

chris — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:35:01 +0000

Two important budget subcommittees are scheduled this week that will focus on important community-based services including:

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) on Wednesday at 1:30 PM at the State Capitol in Room 437 by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, with likely action by the subcommittee to reject the Governor’s proposal to eliminate domestic and related services for IHSS recipients who live in certain “shared living arrangements”
The reorganization of mental health community-based services and a likely action regarding Caregiver Resource Centers, on Thursday at 10:30 AM at the State Capitol in Room 4203 by the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

The Senate subcommittee will focus on several issues under the Department of Mental Health including the Governor’s proposal that would have the impact of eliminating the Caregiver Resource Centers, and the Governor’s proposals to implement the realignment or transfer to the counties from the State of Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health services and the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program during the 2012-2013 State Budget year.

File Attachments:

2012-04-11 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health Human Services - Hearing Agenda.pdf

2012-04-12 - Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health Human Services - Hearing Agenda.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #060-2012: Department of Social Services Releases Draft Instructions to Counties on Process for IHSS Workers To Request A "General Exception" of a Criminal Conviction That Otherwise Would Make Them Ineligible To Work Under AB 1612

chris — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:30:52 +0000

The Department of Social Services released a draft document called an “All County Letter” that (when finalized) will be sent out to the State’s county welfare directors and other local government agencies, to provide instructions and general information on the implementation of a process for In-Home Supportive Services workers to submit what is called a “general exception” requesting that he or she be allowed to work, if they are deemed otherwise ineligible to work for multiple IHSS recipients or deemed ineligible to be placed on a IHSS provider registry due to what is known as a “Tier 2” criminal conviction (see background below for details on what is a “Tier 2” criminal conviction). An earlier version of this draft “All County Letter” was sent out previously to stakeholders by the department, but since then revisions were made to the document requiring a new draft to be sent out.

File Attachments:

2012-03-28 - California Department of Social Services - DRAFT ACL - General Exception Requests For Exclusionary Crimes for IHSS Providers.pdf

2012-03-28 - California Department of Social Services - General Exception for IHSS providers - Process Flow Chart Revised 03-27-12.pdf

2012-03-28 - California Department of Social Services - General Exception Manual - Revised 03-27-12.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #057-2012: Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services March 28th Hearing Agenda on Developmental Services Released - Info Hearing Today on Medi-Cal Managed Care and IHSS by Senate Human Services Committee 1:30 PM

chris — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:29:31 +0000

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services released a 24 page agenda, with subcommittee staff recommendations, for the scheduled March 28th hearing focusing on developmental services budget issues. This hearing is similar to the hearing held yesterday by its counterpart in the Senate, the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services. Like that hearing yesterday – and nearly all the hearings held to date by all the subcommittees, with one exception on the Governor’s proposal impacting CalWORKS, no action will be taken on any major budget item until May, after the release of the Governor’s proposed budget revisions, when also more up to date spending and revenues figures will be available.

File Attachments:

2012-03-28 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee Health and Human Services - Developmental Services Agenda with Subcommittee Staff Recommendations.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #056-2012: Brown Administration Releases Budget Legislative Language for Governor's Proposed "Coordinated Care Initaitive" Dealing with IHSS, MSSP and Other Long Term Care Services and Supports

chris — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:20:23 +0000

The Brown Administration released proposed budget related language, known as “budget trailer bill language,” that includes specific provisions dealing with implementation of the Governor’s proposal to expand from 4 to 10 counties, a demonstration project to transition people with disabilities and seniors who are eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal into Medi-Cal managed care-type plans beginning in January 2013, and to include in that project In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) and other long term services and supports. The Governor’s proposal would expand, if approved by the Legislature, the demonstration project to all counties by 2015.

File Attachments:

2012-03-26 - DHCS - Long Term Services and Supports - Budget Related Legislative Language Fact Sheet - 3 26 12 845 am.pdf

2012-03-26 - DHCS - Proposed Budget Legislative Language - Coordinated Care Initiative - Draft v2.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #055-2012: Big Week for Health & Human Services Issues At State Budget & Policy Hearings & Meetings in Sacramento - Federal District Court Hearing on Adult Day Health in SF and Historic US Supreme Court Hearings on Health Care Reform

chris — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:35:07 +0000

Health and human services budget, policy and legal issues will come to center stage this coming week, not only in Sacramento with budget and policy committee hearings and meetings – but in a critically important federal court hearing in San Francisco on Adult Day Health Care and in an historic hearing in Washington DC before the US Supreme Court on whether or not provisions in the federal health care reform act are constitutional. The outcome of many of those issues in the coming months could have sweeping impact in California particularly for hundreds of thousands of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families, low income families and workers.

CDCAN REPORT #055-2012: CA Health & Human Services Secretary Dooley Urges Obama Administration to Delay Proposed Federal Regs on Overtime for Domestic and Home Care Workers

chris — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 04:00:44 +0000

California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana Dooley urged the Obama Administration to delay a controversial proposed companion and live-in worker federal regulation for certain domestic and home care workers, saying that, if adopted, would “…impose on California approximately $250 million in additional annual direct costs, force the state to further cut back on other essential health and social services, and make it harder for the sick and elderly to remain at home by increasing their home-care costs.”

File Attachments:

2012-03-21 - CA HHSA - Comments on proposed federal regulations impacting home care and domestic workers overtime.pdf

2012-03 - US Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Divsion - Proposed compansionship regulations - Current versus proposed.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #047-2012: Legislative Analyst Office Releases 12 Page Budget Update on In-Home Supportive Services

chris — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:24:47 +0000

The Legislative Analyst Office released a brief 12 page update on the In-Home Supportive Services program and finds the Governor’s proposed reductions “…presents significant legal and implementation challenges” and instead recommends that the Legislature consider two other ways alternatives to save State general funding, including extension of the existing 3.6% across-the-board reduction in service hours that is set to expire at the end of the current year, and consider re-enacting a reduction in state participation in IHSS provider wages to a level, determined by a study, that does not impact recipient access to services.

File Attachments:

2012-03-19 - Legislative Analyst Office - IHSS Budget Update.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #046-2012: Dept of Social Services Releases Draft Notice to Counties That Would Clarify Responsibilities in Receiving & Processing Applications for Services Under IHSS

chris — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:56:51 +0000

The California Department of Social Services released a draft of a notice that it intends to send to all the counties, that is meant to clarify their responsibilities of receiving and processing new applications from children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind and seniors seeking eligibility for services. While the subject of the draft notice is of major importance – especially in the objective of clarifying responsibilities of receiving and processing applications for IHSS services – the information in the notice does not appear to raise any controversial issues.

File Attachments:

2012-03-15 - Department of Social Services - DRAFT All County Information Notice - Application Req 3-15-12.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #044-2012: March 15th Hearing Agenda for Sen Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services Released - Focus on IHSS Domestic & Related Services Proposed Cut; MSSP, CalWORKS, Dept of Rehab and Update on SSI/SSP Federal Cost of Living

chris — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:34:55 +0000

The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services released the hearing agenda for March 15th, Thursday that will focus on the Governor’s proposals impacting the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, the Department of Rehabilitation and CalWORKS program.

File Attachments:

2012-03-15 - Senate Budget Subcommittee - CDA DOR DSS - Agenda.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #043-2012: Critical Hearings At State Capitol This Week - March 13th Info Hearings on Caregivers Crisis; Developmental Centers Law Enforcement Practices; March 15th Sen Budget Subcommittee Hearing on IHSS Domestic & Related Services Cut

chris — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:07:23 +0000

Meanwhile the State budget process inches forward with an important hearing focusing on the Governor’s proposals impacting the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, the Department of Rehabilitation and CalWORKS program, Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP), CalFresh (State food stamp program)

CDCAN REPORT #038-2012: Assembly Info Hearing on Gov's Proposal to Expand "Dual Eligibles Medicare Medi-Cal Demonstration Project" - Hearing Adjourns At 7:39 PM - No Action Taken

chris — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:28:45 +0000

Urged by virtually all advocates on the various stakeholder panels that the State should “slow down” on new proposals to expand efforts to shift people with disabilities and seniors eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal – referred to as “dual eligibles” - the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services and the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee adjourned a nearly 6 hour informational hearing on the Governor’s controversial proposal to expand from 4 to 10 counties in 2013 and all counties by the end of 2015, an existing demonstration project proposal to shift those “dual eligible” from Medi-Cal “fee-for-service” to Medi-Cal managed care type plans. No action was taken at the joint hearing.

CDCAN REPORT #034-2012: Governor's proposed elimination of IHSS domestic & related services budget related legislative language released by Brown Administration

chris — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:09:19 +0000

The Brown Administration released proposed budget related language that would make the necessary changes in existing State law to implement the Governor’s proposal to eliminate domestic and related services for those persons receiving In-Home Supportive Services who live in a “shared living arrangement.” The Governor’s proposal – which needs approval from the Legislature still – contains exemptions for certain IHSS recipients, and would reduce State general fund spending to the IHSS program as a result of this reduction by over $210 million – over $420 million or so if lost federal matching funds and other funds are included.

File Attachments:

2012-03-01 - Proposed Budget Trailer Bill Language - IHSS Domestic and Related Services.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #030-2012: Several IHSS related bills introduced in California Legislature before Feb 24th deadline

chris — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:00:07 +0000

Several regular legislative session policy bills impacting the In-Home Supportive Services program were introduced by the February 24th bill introduction deadline. Two bills – and possibly a third – deal with IHSS providers that would propose changes to existing State law that currently prohibit an individual from working as an IHSS provider if he or she was convicted of certain crimes. Current State law allows the IHSS recipient to hire such an individual by submitting to the county a signed waiver document.

CDCAN REPORT #029-2012: Informational hearings by Senate Budget Committee and Assembly Select Committee on Disabilities

chris — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00:52 +0000

The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Brown Administration’s proposal to expand an existing demonstration project proposal to shift people with disabilities and seniors eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal from Medi-Cal “fee-for-service” to Medi-Cal managed care type plans from 4 counties to up to 10 counties in 2013 and statewide by 2015. Also today, an informational hearing by the Assembly Select Committee on Disabilities focusing on changes to the community-based mental health system – issues critical to people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and their families.

File Attachments:

2012-02-23 - Senate Budget Committee - Medi-Cal Managed Care IHSS Integration - Hearing Agenda.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #028-2012: US SUPREME COURT DECISION ON MEDI-CAL CASES - 20 PAGE OPINION

chris — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

The US Supreme Court’s 20 page opinion written by Justice Stephen Breyer sent the three Medi-Cal provider rate reduction cases for further review back to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, keeping those lawsuits alive – and for now, the lower court orders from those cases that continue to block the State from implementing Medi-Cal provider reductions.

File Attachments:

2012-02-22 - US Supreme Court Opinion - Indpendent Living Center of Southern CA v. Toby Douglas - 09-958.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #027-2012: BREAKING NEWS - US SUPREME COURT RULES ON 3 MEDI-CAL CASES -SENDS CASES BACK TO US 9TH CIRCUIT COURT

chris — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:06 +0000

In a narrow 5 to 4 decision, the US Supreme Court sent the three Medi-Cal cases back to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for further review, keeping those lawsuits alive – and for now, the lower court orders from those cases that continue to block the State from implementing Medi-Cal provider reductions. Linked to those three Medi-Cal cases are several other Medi-Cal related cases, including a 2009 lawsuit that blocked the State from rolling back State funding for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker wages. [CDCAN will issue a more detailed report later this morning on the US Supreme Court ruling]

CDCAN REPORT #025-2012: Governor's proposed expansion of "Dual Eligibles" demonstration project focus of public teleconference

chris — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:47 +0000

The Department of Health Care Services will hold a teleconference briefing open to the public on the Brown Administration's proposal to expand an existing demonstration project proposal to shift people with disabilities and seniors eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal from Medi-Cal “fee-for-service” to Medi-Cal managed care type plans from 4 counties to up to 10 counties in 2013 and statewide by 2015. The Governor is also proposing, as part of the proposal to expand the “dual eligible” demonstration project from 4 to 10 counties in 2013 and statewide by 2015, the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program will become a Medi-Cal managed care benefit for persons in the demonstration project counties.

File Attachments:

2010-07 - Dept of Health Care Services - Medi-Cal Population By County July 2010.pdf

2012-01 - Dept of Health Care Services - Dual Eligible Population by Age and By County January 2012.pdf

2012-02-17 - Legislative Analyst Office - Integrating Care.pdf

2012-02-18 - Dept of Health Care Services - Dual Eligibles Coordinated Care Fact Sheet.pdf

2012-02-18 - Dept of Health Care Services - Dual Eligibles Coordinated Care Initiative Overview.pdf

CDCAN REPORT #020-2012: Update on legislative hearings and state agency meetings impacting people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and low income families

chris — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:30:27 +0000

The following is the latest update on scheduled public legislative hearings and meetings by various state agencies that have some impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors or low income families. CDCAN will issue an updated schedule every Monday on these statewide meetings.

CDCAN REPORT #015-2012: Department of Health Care Services releases final "Request for Solutions"

chris — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:00:34 +0000

The Department of Health Care Services, the state agency that oversees California's Medicaid program (called "Medi-Cal)" released a document called a "Request for Solutions" (RFS), that will be used to select sites to be included in a demonstration project proposal that the Brown Administration will submit for approval to the federal government to shift possibly hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and seniors who are eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal - known as "dual eligibles" into managed care types of healthcare delivery. The deadline for applicants to respond to the "Request for Solutions" is February 24, 2012.

File Attachments:

2012-01-27 - DHCS - Final Request for Solutions Dual Eligibles Demonstration Project Proposal.pdf (749.46 KB)

2012-01-27 - Memo by DHCS Released with Final Request for Solutions.pdf (1.52 MB)

CDCAN REPORT #011-2012: Senate Budget Committee to hold hearings on Governor's Medi-Cal Managed Care proposal including impact to IHSS and MSSP

chris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:50:30 +0000

The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee will hold three informational hearings in February and March, including a February 23rd hearing focusing on the Governor's controversial proposals that include shifting persons with disabilities and seniors eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal into Medi-Cal managed care plans. That hearing will also hear the impact of the Governor's proposal to make In-Home Supportive Services, a Medi-Cal managed care benefit for those persons beginning next January, and also the impact on the Multi-Purpose Senior Services (MSSP) programs. Senate budget staff said there will be time for public comment.

CDCAN REPORT #010-2012: Federal judge issues preliminary injunction to continue stopping the state and federal government from implementing 20% IHSS cut

chris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:32:52 +0000

A federal district court judge in Oakland issued a court order to continue blocking the Brown Administration and the federal government from taking any steps to implement the 20% across-the-board reduction in service hours for those who receive In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). US District Court Judge Claudia Wilken issued the court order, called a "preliminary injunction," during the hearing held today in her court room in Oakland. The State will likely appeal the court order. The order issued today by Judge Wilken remains in effect unless a higher federal court, in this case the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals or the US Supreme Court, decides to reverse it; or if Judge Wilken decides at a later date to modify (change) it in some way.

CDCAN REPORT #009-2012: Crucial US district court hearing on 20% IHSS cuts set for 1/19 in Oakland

chris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:30:57 +0000

A federal district court judge in Oakland is scheduled to consider whether to issue a more permanent court order to continue stopping the Brown Administration from taking any steps to implement a 20% across-the-board reduction in service hours that would total over $100 million in cuts in State general fund spending for those who receive In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).

CDCAN REPORT #004-2012: Governor proposes over $2 billion in reductions to Health and Human Services

chris — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:00:33 +0000

Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed 2012-2013 State Budget plan which calls for a staggering $4 billion in additional spending cuts and nearly $7 billion in new revenues from temporary tax increases on the state's wealthiest taxpayers and a one-half percent increase in the state's sales tax. The revenues would help close what the Governor said is a projected $9.2 billion budget deficit.

CDCAN REPORT #204-2011: Federal district court hearing on 20% IHSS cut set for Jan 19, 2012

chris — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:41:13 +0000

The original December 15th federal district court hearing on the lawsuit which has temporarily stopped implementation of a 20% across-the-board reduction in service hours has been rescheduled for January 19th (Thursday). That hearing date is subject to change (as is any court hearing date).