Content about Regional Centers

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services released the agenda for its May 17th hearing, that will focus only on the Governor’s budget revisions under the Department of Developmental Services – the state agency that oversees the funding of the 21 non-profit regional centers who coordinate services and supports to over 250,000 eligible children and adults with developmental disabilities and operates four developmental centers and one smaller community facility where just under 1,800 adults with developmental disabilities reside.

Governor Brown’s revised budget proposal calls for implementing a $200 million in State general fund reductions with a partial extension of the existing payment reductions to regional center operations and most regional center providers.  The Governor’s plan calls for a 1.25% payment reduction beginning July 1, 2012, instead of the existing 4.25% payment cut.  The reduction is less than what many advocates feared given the size the budget hole the State is facing.  However the Governor’s proposal now includes the developmental services budget, if voters reject his tax initiative proposal on the November 2012 ballot.  The Governor also called for a moratorium on most admissions to developmental centers, with certain exceptions.

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, as reported earlier this week,  convened this afternoon (May 9th) just after 1:30 PM at the State Capitol in Room 444, covering selected “open” issues, and is now hearing an update on the Governor’s proposed $200 million reduction in State general fund spending to the developmental services 2012-2013 budget and other related issues under the Department of Developmental Services.  The subcommittee’s agenda includes a recommendation from subcommittee staff to approve the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Rehabilitation Appeals Board under the Department of Rehabilitation and transfer those functions to an independent hearing agency.  The subcommittee is not likely to take action on any major budget issue at this hearing including the major issues impacting developmental services. A copy of the 13 page agenda for the May 9th Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services hearing was sent out yesterday in a CDCAN Report (see www.cdcan.us)

Senior officials from the federal Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – the federal agency that oversees nationwide the Medicare and Medicaid (called “Medi-Cal” in California) programs and the new Administration for Community Living agency will hold a public conference call this morning at 10:30 AM Pacific Time (1:30 PM Eastern Time) until 11:30 AM Pacific Time (2:30 PM Eastern Time) on the release of the final federal regulations for the Medicaid Community First Choice Option. [Note correction on time – thanks to Lorreta Stevens).    Officials will also provide more information about a new proposed federal rule regarding Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services.

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services as previously reported, is scheduled to meet today, March 28th, at 1:30 PM, at the State Capitol in Room 4202 (note room change) focusing on developmental services budget issues – similar to the hearing held Monday by the Senate, the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services.  Also today, beginning with several hearings that begin at 09:00 AM this morning, are several legislative policy committee hearings on regular session bills (see below for exact times and possible bills of interest).

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.

Governor Jerry Brown announced the state budget "trigger cuts" authorizing $1 billion in automatic spending reductions, including $100 million in cuts to In-Home Supportive Services and $100 million in cuts in spending to the overall developmental services budget which funds certain services for eligible children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Those cuts take effect on or sometime after January 1, 2012; effective dates vary depending on the reduction.

The Brown Administration disclosed it will not implement the 10% across-the-board Medi-Cal provider rate reductions as authorized in the 2011-2012 State Budget, until after December 19th federal court hearing in Los Angeles on a lawsuit that is seeking to stop the reductions. That federal district court however could issue an order that could further delay implementation beyond that date - or it could take other action that would allow the cuts to be implemented.

The Department of Developmental Services will hold the second of three public forums this afternoon to take public comment on its draft proposal outlining the way it wants to achieve $174 million in reductions in State general fund spending.

The Department of Developmental Services released a draft proposal which provides details on how it wants to achieve a $174 million reduction and savings in State general fund spending for developmental services that serve over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities and thousands of infants with developmental delays.

The Department of Developmental Services will take public comments on the draft proposal in Sacramento on May 6, 2011.

People can submit written comments on the draft proposal at any of the three public forums or send it directly to the Department of Developmental Services by midnight on May 9, 2011.