Disability Thrive Initiative

It was a tough slog, but at long last the state Legislature did right by California’s most vulnerable people. Substantial financial relief is on the way for the system that serves those with developmental disabilities.
The two-bill package that the Assembly and Senate passed Monday afternoon will provide an additional $300 million or so in state funding to developmental services for Californians with autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature on the bills in a foregone conclusion. Read more.

Read additional MCO tax information here.

California counties will now be able to offer a therapeutic treatment model in a supportive family setting through its Medi-Cal services, thanks to an agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

On February 16, CMS approved a state plan amendment that would allow the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to offer therapeutic foster care as an allowable expense under Medicaid. Read more.

As a foster child overmedicated with psychiatric drugs, Rochelle Trochtenberg endured the trauma of life growing up in California’s child welfare system. Now, she will draw on that deeply personal experience as California’s foster care ombudsperson. Read more.

A desperately needed increase in developmental funding will pivot on whether it can attract one “aye” vote on Thursday from a Republican member of the state Senate.
Any Senate Republican will do. Will it be Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Roseville, or Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Murrieta, who co-authored a bill that would have provided the 10 percent across-the-board state reimbursement increase that the Lanterman Coalition — and this editorial board — have been advocating? Read more.

Hilary Baldi can’t get her mind around the idea that she might have to stop seeing many of the children with autism whom she has been helping for years.
Thousands of children receiving autism services could be forced to look for new providers under new state rules.
Baldi has been running a nonprofit called Behavioral Intervention for Autism for 23 years now. She has offices in Emeryville and Fresno.
But now she fears she will have to shutter the Fresno office and discontinue therapy for about two-thirds of the 80 children she sees. Read more.

Yesterday, a “Conference Committee” met at the Capitol to vote on our system. The room was packed with advocates, ready to #SpeakForJustice. Under our community’s watchful eye, they passed the two bills that will get more money for, and invest in, our system! This means we’re almost finished, and you can be sure we’re looking forward to seeing a final victory. The fact that this two-bill package was voted on, and passed, is a major milestone. But we need 2/3rds of the Legislature to win – most likely at 9am this Thursday.

That’s why you need to pick up the phone today and tomorrow, call your legislators, and ask them to “support the Managed Care Organization and developmental disabilities services funding package.”  Click here to find your Rep.

– Disability Rights California (DRC) released late last month an alert regarding In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) parent providers of minor children, in response to some reports from family members and other advocates who felt they were being given incorrect information. Read more.