[Nfbf-l] Fwd: APD wants us all.

Fri Dec 10 23:14:53 UTC 2010

I personally have been fighting for many years for rights for blind people.  I 
as well as many others would be appalled if all our work goes down the drain. 
Every disability needs specific help.  I know I am talking to the choir.  I 
plead with everyone who is concerned about this to stand up and don't let some 
people who are ignorant of the needs of different disabilities  create such a 
mess.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <REPCODDS at aol.com>
To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; <nfbf-leaders at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 11:23 AM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Fwd: APD wants us all.

____________________________________
 From: MisterAdvocate at aol.com
To: repcodds at aol.com
Sent: 12/10/2010  11:22:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: APD wants us all.

This  is the first message I received.  Joyce was at the meeting and she
and  the chair of FILC spoke out against this nonsense.
Please  pass this on to NFB folks and invite them to come on Monday at
8:00.
I  will be sending out an email to you later with details.
Paul

From: robert kelly  [mailto:robert at conklincenter.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08,  2010 4:00 PM
To: Edwards, Paul
Subject: Handout from APD  Meeting 12-08-10 (3)

Paul, below is a  document distributed by Bryan Vaughn, Executive Director
of the Governor's  Commission on disabilities, at the APD Transition Team
meeting. I'll call you  tomorrow at 8.
Mr. Vaughn is recommending that agencies serving disabled  Floridians be
unified under one department. Recommendations by two of the six  break out
groups addressed this issue. One group recommended unification and  one group
recommended further study of the issue led by the governor's  Commission on
disabilities.

While the name of the Agency for Persons  with Disabilities implies this
agency represents all disabilities, the primary  group served is individuals
with developmental delays. The Transition Team may  not realize that APD does
not represent all disabilities.

____________________________________

Single  Department Concept
A  New Service Delivery System for the 21St  Century
The purpose  of this proposal is to illustrate a method by which Florida
can create a  single, efficient, consumer driven and community -- based
service delivery  system to provide services to the over 6 million persons with
disabilities in  Florida. The ultimate goal is to reduce administrative costs
and increase  access to services and service dollars; create a more
efficient, fraud  resistant billing system and create an economic stimulus 
creating
new private  sector jobs.
·            Combining  all of  the  programs  and  services  for persons
With disabilities,  including the  Florida  Medicaid  Waiver  programs,
under  one  department`-. will  enable  the  State  to move precious  resources
to actual service delivery for persons with:.disabilities and  seniors
across the disability spectrum and Recycle.
·            This  department can have one point of entry with a
standardized application,  eligibility criteria,  provider  qualifications, and
provider  rates for  all  services  and  programs.
·            Creation  of  new jobs in the  areas  of core  munity  - based
 service  delivery  and  fraud prevention  methods. This would mean the
recruitment of new entrepreneurial minded  providers into the system statewide.
To  accomplish this  goal, certain  units can be removed  from  current
departments  and  placed  in
the new  departmental structure. Personnel requirements will then be
determined, based  on
the overall  organization. Departments effected:
·             Agency  for Healthcare  Administration (AHCA), the
·            Department  of Health (DOH), the
·            Department  of Children and Families (DCF), the
·            Department  of Eider Affairs(CARES), the
·            Department  of Education (Vocational Rehabilitation and
Division of Blind Services),  and
·            The Agency  for„Persons with Disabilities
As  this new department  is  being  physically  formed,  a new philosophy
will also be nurtured. A  philosophy  of ingenuity, creativity, and an
entrepreneurial spirit, where employees are  encouraged to think "outside of the
box" to solve the problems we  will face in the coming years. We must
encourage unique, public - private  partnerships at every level, in order to
maximize our precious resources. This  includes private entity investment into
not only service provision but  employment opportunities for persons with
disabilities. It is only through  this "rebirth" of the physical and
philosophical can we have a department that  is truly responsive to our 
citizens.
In Florida,  every day over 6 million persons, with identified or
self-reported  disabilities study, live, play, and work. The vast majority of 
persons
with  disabilities can secure and maintain full or part -- time competitive
 employment. They exhibit more courage and fortitude daily than some people
 do in a lifetime. These Floridians do not want a hand out but a hand up, a
 chance to maximize  their individual independence and to be as included in
their community as they  wish, This untapped resource of ready and willing
potential employees should  not be ignored.
Having all  disability programs and services, including Medicaid Waivers
located within  one department,  will:
Streamline  the application, eligibility, and acceptance process for
consumers and  providers.
Eliminate  the "silo" effect, bringing all state organizations working with
persons with  disabilities under one  organizational  plan  and  chain of
command.
Reduce  redundant  administrative costs  to include  office  space  and
other  such  equipment.
Create  new private sector opportunities  for  persons  who  become
disabled as  adults.  Require  anyone wishing to file for federal  disability
programs  to  register with Vocational  Rehabilitation. Begin  early  working
with  the  person  focusing on ways to maximize his/her abilities.  in  many
cases,  it may be possible  for  the person with the disability  to  emerge
with  a better, more lucrative career.
The  department will maximize existing resources, such as using the
Clearinghouse  on Disability Information to:
Maintain  one  website for all  information  on  disabilities.
Operate a  single toll-free phone number with accessibility built into the
system. Have a  dedicated information referral system that not only serves
consumers, but  providers and other state agencies.
❖ Allow the  department to standardize the processes to determine
eligibility (one  assessment instrument), provider qualifications and 
enrollment,
service  limitations, rates of pay, nursing home transition initiatives,  etc.
❖ Reduce or  maintain turnaround time in billing to enable providers to
receive pay for  services in a timely fashion, while cutting down on potential
fraud.
Through a  coordinated, functional needs based system, all individuals with
disabilities  will have their needs assessed and identified by a Global
Assessment with a  single Case Plan.
Bryan  F. Vaughan, MS Executive Director Commission on  Disabilities

1217/2010
Page 2 of 4
•:• Adapt  the existing iBudget algorithm across the disabilities spectrum
to ensure a  consistent and  efficient distribution of scarce resources.
:• Serve  consumers and providers will be served in a timelier and more
consistent  manner statewide.
One  standardized assessment instrument to determine risk of
institutionalization  and eligibility  for waiver services would ensure services 
are
provided to those most in  need and would  reduce the number of individuals
currently on wait lists for the various  waivers.
Provider  qualifications and rate of pay will be consistent and allow them
to serve  all  populations  without having to apply to work with multiple
waivers and  organizations.  The  Legislature  will only need  to deal with
one  budget to  fund all  the  waivers. The  processes for being placed on a
wait list will be standardized throughout all  the individual  waivers.
Funding  for  community-based,  long-term  care  services would  be  more
equitable  for  each of the  disability groups competing for limited
resources.
Note:  Some agencies may be  reluctant' to  relinquish administration of
their  waiver programs. Consumers and providers currently being  served by the
various waivers may  be impacted if service limitations and rates of pay
are standardized. Use of  the iBudget algorithm will ensure a person's needs
are met in an effective  manner. Some individual disability groups may be
concerned about any change in  the current structure which can be mitigated
through an appropriate public  information program.
Evidence  to  Support Single Department
The states  of Illinois and Vermont have already gone to the single entity
system with  good results. Real Choice Systems Change Grant Program, Third
Year Report:  Progress and Challenges of the FY 2002 and FY 2003 Grantees:
(October 1, 2003  -- September 30, 2004) Final Report.
Consolidation
The  Governor's Commission on Disabilities, along with personnel from the
effected  departments,  advocates, and providers could work towards the
planning, development,  and  implementation of this single department.

Creation  of Private Sector  Jobs

Planning  &  Timeline
Planning  could begin to consolidate all programs and services, including
waivers under  one department in the 2010 - 2011 fiscal year, with
implementation occurring  in an on-going basis. Full consolidation could take 
until
the 2011 -- 2012  fiscal year.
Estimated  Potential Savings
❖ A  coordinated waiver program would require fewer administrative staff,
intake  and referral staff, provider enrollment staff and fiscal staff to
moriitorexpenditures.
❖  There would be  a  reduction  in  allocated  office  space, expenses;,
and  equipment  allocations for personnel due to consolidation into one
agency. Multiple  websites dedicated to the various waivers would be
reduced.to>one. This would
also create  a more user friendly, accessible system of delivering
information.  **g
Consolidating  multiple  call-centers for  consumers  and providers  would
still allow  calls to  be channeled  from  one line directly  to  the
appropriate  waiver  specialist.
Florida  currently has a great need for more community - based service
providers.  Partnerships with Colleges of Business at our State Universities, as
well as  the Chamber of Commerce for Persons with Disabilities, can promote
an  entrepreneurial effort to create these small provider  businesses.
To reduce  fraud, a "call and verify" system can be included as part of the
billing  cycle. When a provider bills the department, a random verification
system will  identify a consumer to be called and asked if helshe has
received the items or  services as billed. This process will help prevent
discrepancies and false  claims as are potential risks under the current system.
The
department  can either decide to use one or multiple verifying agencies.
This can be  performed by workers from home (enabling persons with
disabilities, seniors,  or others who are transportation disadvantaged) or a 
central
location.

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