News

A new free app allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing to easily communicate with others. Connect by BeWarned is an application that converts text to speech and the other way around.  Users can also use textual templates or create your own for any everyday situation.

Read more about this app

The shortage of direct care workers is no secret  in Wisconsin.  Governor Walker's 2017-2019 budget calls for a four percent increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for personal care.  While this may help ease the shortage, advocates feel it won't fix  the problem.  70% of personal care agencies report that they don't have enough workers to cover their clients approved hours.  Many feel there needs to more of an increase.

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Statistics show that one of every five adults living in the U.S. have a disability.  Regardless if they're working or not, people with disabilities and their caregivers usually have higher daily living and medical care costs.  The tax code allows some of these costs to be deductible.  This article gives some tax strategies for people with disabilities  and caregivers to consider:

• Open an ABLE account
• Opt for a higher standard deduction
• Obtain child and dependent care credit
• Seek the disability credit
• Claim a person with a disability as a dependent
• Deduct medical expenses

Learn more about these strategies

George Town University released an article listing the top five threats posed  to  children and families by turning the Medicaid program into a block grant.  The reasons include:

1. It's a cut.
2. It jeopardizes the nation's progress in covering kids.
3. It leaves states holding the bag when a new disease strikes or a new treatment is discovered.
4. It diminishes state flexibility to respond to changing economic circumstances.
5. It endangers key features of Medicaid that work for kids – namely its strong benefits and cost-sharing protections.

The article explains why each reason is a threat.  Block grants are said to bring innovation and opportunities to states, but many feel that any major changes to Medicaid would have a big impact on  the health and financial security of families and communities.   

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2017 Wisconsin Employment First Conference

Embracing Change: Together We Make It Happen

Only four more weeks to the conference, make sure to Register Now!

See full conference program with session descriptions and presenters:  2017 Employment First Conference Program

CEU’s and CRC’s will be available!

The Wisconsin Board for Developmental Disabilities, Wisconsin APSE and People First Host the Fourth Annual Employment First Conference on April 5^th at the Kalahari resort.

This year’s conference title is Embracing Change: Together We Make It Happen. The conference focuses on the changes happening at the state and federal level and how these changes will significantly increase integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Change provides both opportunities and challenges. This conference brings together individuals with disabilities, family members, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, employment providers, policy makers, and educators to learn and share creative ways to address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities. 

The conference will provide many opportunities for learning, sharing resources, and developing connections. At each breakout session, there will be topics specifically geared towards individuals with disabilities, family members, employment service providers, long-term care providers, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, and educators.

Some of the many excellent speakers include:

• Keynote speaker, Patti Killingsworth will talk about talk about how Tennessee launched the “Employment and Community First CHOICES” managed long-term care program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  It is the first managed long-term care program in the country specifically designed to advance Employment First.
• Janet Estervig and a panel of key leadership from the Department of Health Services will talk about how the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Non-Residential Rule is moving forward. 
• Lisa Mills, National Consultant, will talk about the growth of Integrated employment and day Services options in Wisconsin, and present examples from providers doing innovative practices
• Sara Murhpy, Transcen Inc. National Consultant, will talk about encouraging Independence, facilitating natural Supports and ways to encourage self-confidence in community settings, the dignity of risk and how to build a network of support that goes well beyond program services.
• Linda Hedenblad, will do an informative, interactive and fun session that will explore the basic concepts of Motivational Interviewing and experience a taste of how it may be applied. 
• Michael Callahan, national consultant, will talk about the “Seven Phase Sequence” designed to engage natural supports from day one of the individual’s employment.
• EF Ambassadors, individuals with disabilities, will share their compelling stories and outreach efforts that are having a tremendous impact on local communities and statewide policies. 
• A panel of employers and the individuals with disabilities that they hired, will talk about how they worked together to make their business stronger and get the job done!

For individuals who are not able to pay the conference fee contact Ann Sievert at ann.sievert@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-9897 for a conference fee waiver code.

Hope to See You at the Conference!

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a short video slideshow that explains how Medicaid works now and what is at stake as policymakers in Washington consider converting program financing to a block grant or per capita cap. The video describes how Medicaid is funded under current law, whom it covers and how spending is distributed across various groups of enrollees, including children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Watch video

The voices of people with disabilities and their families are so important in shaping public policy at the local, state and federal levels. Here's a great new document from People First WI that shows what's in the Governor's proposed budget for the WI disability community, along with questions you can ask your legislators and the Governor. Share widely and contact your state Senator and Assembly Rep! You can also use this at Disability Advocacy Day on  March 21st in Madison.  Let your voice be heard!

View summary

The federal government currently pays a fixed portion of states’ Medicaid costs, varying by state but averaging about 64%. Previous congressional budget and health plans have proposed converting Medicaid into a block grant or imposing a per capita cap. This article describes how, under these proposals, costs will shift to states and how it will effect programs.

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Recently, a leaked copy of the plan to eliminate the ACA and develop a per-capita plan for Medicaid (the federal program that funds Family Care/IRIS, BadgerCare, Katie Beckett, Children's long-term supports and autism programs, etc. in Wisconsin) was released. While changes in the plan are expected, here's an overview of the direction the bill would take regarding the ACA and Medicaid.

Read overview

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking public comment on its Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) statewide transition plan. DHS operates several home and community-based programs for frail elders and adults and children with disabilities. The programs operate under federal authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In 2014, CMS published new regulations that changed the definition of HCBS settings. DHS must submit a statewide transition plan to CMS, to identify the steps DHS will take to come into compliance with the new settings requirements no later than March 17, 2019. DHS is seeking public comment on the statewide transition plan. The draft statewide transition plan is available on the DHS website for 30 days at: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/hcbs/index.htm. A paper copy of the Statewide Transition Plan will be provided by mail upon request. Requests should be made by telephone at 608-267-7286, or toll-free at 1-855-885-0287, or by mail to Department of Health Services, Statewide Transition Plan-Request, P.O. Box 7851, 1 W. Wilson St., Room 518, Madison, WI 53707-7851.

Email comments to: DHSLTCPublicComment@dhs.wisconsin.gov, or write: Division of Medicaid Services, Attn: Statewide Transition Plan, 1 W. Wilson St., Room 518, PO Box 7851, Madison WI 53707-7851.