Disability Thrive Initiative

On August 3, 2016, the Department sent  information regarding the process for requesting funding to assist providers in making changes to meet the federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings requirements.  To allow more time for the development and completion of these proposals, the Department is extending the deadline, until October 30, 2016, for service providers to submit proposals to regional centers.  The Department will update its website with this revised timeline:

http://www.dds.ca.gov/HCBS/

All proposals for NBRC vendors need to be sent attn: Maura McDonough at Mauram@nbrc.net

About half a million babies are born in California each year, which translates to roughly 1,400 per day. Starting today, every one of those newborns will be tested for a rare genetic disorder that can destroy the nervous system. Their parents can thank a variety of people who pushed for the screening, but perhaps most of all a Vista mother who lost her son to the condition. Read more.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is developing a revised Statewide Transition Plan (STP) that will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in October 2016.  The STP describes how the State will come into compliance with new Federal Home and Community-Based (HCB) Settings Final Rule that became effective March 17, 2014.  These regulations are CMS 2249-F and CMS 2296-F, which affect 1115, 1915(c), 1915(i) and 1915(k) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers and State Plan programs.  All 1115, 1915(c), 1915(i), and 1915(k) HCBS waivers and State Plan programs must be in full compliance with the new Federal rules by March 17, 2019.

DHCS invites all interested parties to review the revised STP, including the CBAS Transition Plan, and provide public input.  The 30-day public comment period will begin on August 29, and ends on September 29, 2016.  Public comments on the STP should be submitted via the STP Public Comment Template

For information regarding the Transition Plan, and directions on how to submit public comment, please see here:

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ltc/Pages/HCBSStatewideTransitionPlan.aspx

New federal rules are taking effect that will impose strict limits on people with disabilities being paid less than minimum wage. For the first time, young people with disabilities must satisfy a series of requirements before they can earn what’s known as subminimum wage.

What’s more, those who already work for less than the minimum must regularly be provided opportunities to explore other career options. Read more.