CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE RIGHTS has available now...
Information on Medicare changes for 2012.
Information is available in English and several other languages / formats, including Braille, cassettes, and CD's.
Please call Anita, 213.383.4519, ext. 3016
IMPORTANT NOTICE ON 20% IHSS CUTS
Facts:
* The 20% cut goes into effect 1/1/2012, unless a consumer gets approved for an IHSS Care Supplement
* The IHSS Care Supplement application will be mailed to the consumer by 12/15/2011
* The IHSS consumer MUST submit the IHSS Care Supplement application by the deadline, to apply to keep the cut from happening
The State of California will be sending out IHSS 20% reduction notices to consumers by December 15, 2011. Only consumers whose IHSS services are being reduced by the 20% will receive an IHSS service hour reduction notice. (The State will also inform providers of the reduction through a statement which will appear on the provider's time sheet)
IHSS consumers who apply for, and qualify for an IHSS Care Supplement will get back some or all of their reduced hours. IHSS services will continue at the same level if an IHSS consumer submits an IHSS Care Supplement application by January 1, 2012, or within 15 days from receiving the IHSS 20% reduction notice. This is called "aid paid pending." State law says IHSS consumers can get an IHSS Care Supplement only if they are at risk of out-of-home placement, unless they get back some or all of their IHSS hours ("Out-of-home placement" means that the consumer would have to leave her/his own home and go live somewhere else, such as a board and care home, or a nursing home).
Some consumers will automatically receive an IHSS Care Supplement...
* Consumers who receive the maximum of 283 hours per month.
* Consumers who receive Protective Supervision.
* Consumers who receive services under a Home and Community Based Services Waiver, such as:
Acquired Immune Deficient Syndrome (AIDS) Waiver; Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for the Developmentally Disabled (HCBS-DD); Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP); Nursing Facility/Acute Hospital (NF/AH) Waiver, and; In-Home Operations (IHO) Waiver.
It is imperative that consumers fill out the IHSS Care Supplement application by the deadline.
"SMILES FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2011"
The ILCSC is now collecting toys and food for its annual
Client Holiday Events!
Needed:
Frozen Turkeys
Non-Perishable Food Items:
Boxed Stuffing, Cranberries, Canned Vegetables, etc.
Powdered Milk
Peanut Butter
Crackers
Canned Goods (pop top lids)
______________
Baskets of food will be distributed to clients and their families in
need during the Thanksgiving and December Holidays.
Toys will be distributed to needy children at our
Annual Toy
Event in December.
Call Marcy at 818.785.6934 if you would like to provide food
and/or toys for persons with disabilities in need...
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2011
On Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Obama Administration Recommits to Enforcing and Protecting the Civil Rights of All
Link:
MEDI-CAL MANAGED CARE *
Starting June 1, 2011, most Seniors and People with Disabilities will have to join a Managed Care Plan.
Who must enroll in Medi-Cal Managed Care?
You must enroll in Medi-Cal Managed Care if you...
* Are over 65 years old
* Are blind
*
On SSI (any age)
* Identified as disabled (exception for CCS)
Exceptions to Mandatory Enrollment
* Medi-Medi's (have Medicare and Medi-Cal)
* Individuals with Share-of-Cost
* Individuals in long-term care or institutional settings (including those in home and community based waiver programs)
* Individuals with private insurance or other health coverage
*Individuals who apply for and receive a medical exemption
* Children with disability aid codes who also have CCS (will change when CCS pilots implemented)
* Children in foster care, Adoption Assistance or Kin-GAP
When will I be notified and receive my Enrollment Packet?
* The State will send an information notice to individuals 90 days before their birthday month
* You will receive a telephone call from Health Care Options 60-90 days before your birthday month
* State will send an Enrollment Packet to individuals 60 days before their birthday month
* You will receive a reminder call to return the Enrollment Packet
* Enrollment Packet must be return to the State by the 20th day of your birthday month
Individuals should talk to their current medical providers to determine if the providers participate in any Medi-Cal health plan.
* If current provider IS in a plan network, individuals can ask to be in that network to continue care with the same provider.
*If the current provider is NOT in a plan network, the plan may make arrangements with the provider for the patient to continue to receive care for up to 12 months.
If you have any questions on this process, please contact us
at any of the following numbers:
Administration Office - 818.785.6934 (voice) 818.785.7097 (TTY)
Van Nuys Office - 818.988.9525 (voice) or 818.988.3533 (TTY)
Lancaster Office - (661) 942.9726 or (661) 723.2509 (TTY)
Training House - (818) 908.1199 or (818) 908-9574 (TTY)
(* Information prepared by L.A. Care Health Plan)
"A FAR-REACHING THREAT TO THE BALANCE OF POWERS"
...a case recently accepted by the Supreme Court has the potential to restrict drastically the availability of preemption and thereby vastly increase state powers at the expense of the national government. Maxwell-Jolly v. Independent Living Center ("ILC") and consolidated cases address the preemption of a California law by the federal Medicaid statute.
http://www.acslaw.org/acsblog/node/18486
Information on Proposed California State Budget Cuts
ILCSC Friends,
As you may know, our new Governor is proposing to balance the State budget by making deep cuts into State funding of programs which are vital to many Californians.
The State programs facing proposed cuts are In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Adult Day Health Care, Multi-purpose Senior Service Programs, Cal-Works, Stage 3 Childcare, higher education, and other programs as well.
Outline of proposed cuts:
- Elimination of Adult Day Health Care
- Elimination of Multi-purpose Senior Service Programs
- IHSS Cuts
- Hours cut - 8.6% proposed, and 3.4% already in process
- Elimination of domestic services, if more than a single recipient is in the household
- Doctor's certification of the need for personal care to remain safely in the home
- Medi-Cal Cuts
- Medi-Cal co-pays required
* $5 per doctor or clinic visit
* $3 or $5 per prescription
* $50 per emergency room visit
* $100 for hospitalization (2 days maximum - $200)
- Doctor visits limited to 10 per year, and drug prescriptions to 6 (instead of the current 7)
- Dollar caps on Durable Medical Equipment (DME)/hearing aids, and medical supplies
- a possible 10% cut to provider rates (in litigation)
- SSI/SSP for single person cut by $15 (from the present $840/month to $825/month)
If the above mentioned cuts are enacted in California, persons with disabilities can face major problems. With their monthly income cut by $15; the additional medical co-pays; and either a reduction in, or the elimination of IHSS; they will find their small incomes depleted and no one to assist them in some of the most basic needs of life. The person will find themselves caught in a downward spiral, most likely leading to institutionalization.
Aside from the outrage of institutionalization from the human perspective, it is not cost effective. Institutionalization can cost, at a minimum, $6,000 - $7,000 per month, per person. This is 5 times higher than the cost of the person living independently in their own community. Persons with disabilities, contributing through participation and consumerism, are a vital component of a healthy community.
It is important that you stay informed on these issues, and continue to support persons with disabilities through these difficult times.
If you would like further information, please feel free to call us at (818) 785-6934.
The ILCSC is saddened to announce the passing of
Anne V. Finn
As Secretary of the ILCSC Board of Directors for over 20 years, she was key to opening doors through her many contacts in the community, and in bringing new Board members to the Center.
Anne was a dedicated volunteer, and in 1999 the ILCSC named an award in her honor...The Anne Finn Volunteer Award. This award is presented to persons dedicated to community service and sharing in the spirit of the Anne Finn philosophy of volunteering.
With expertise in social work, Anne was involved in civic and community issues. Afiliations such as elected member to the Los Angeles Charter Commission, Los Angeles Handicapped Access Appeals Board, and Los Angeles County Accessibility Appeals Board brought generous substance to her work with the ILCSC.
The ILCSC Board of Directors, Staff, and Clients are truly grateful for her years of service to our organization.
We will miss her...
(Anne pictured above left, with ILCSC
Executive Director Norma Jean Vescovo)
For More Information on the Life of Anne V. Finn,
please visit her website at:
www.annefinn.com
FAMILY SOURCE GRAND OPENING!
The ILCSC is pleased to announce our collaboration with New Economics for Women, to provide services for persons with disabilities through the Family Source program.
Family Source offers these free services:
- Information and Referral
- Adult Education (ESL/GED)
- Multi-benefit Screening
- Parenting Classes
- Tutoring
- Youth Recreational Activities
- Cash for College/College Activities
- Case Management
- Computer Classes
- Legal Services
- Supportive Services
- Youth Leadership
- Cultural Activities
- Youth Mentoring
Family Source is located at:
6931 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 201
Van Nuys, CA 91406
For more information, please call (818) 786-4098 or (818) 785-6934
Los Angeles City Councilmember Dennis Zine with ILCSC Supervisors William Diaz and Jacquelyn Marin-Sharp
( Family Source headquarters in Canoga Park was recently named in honor of Councilmember Zine.)
ILCSC staff give out information at the Grand Opening event.
ILCSC COMMUNITY ADVISORY
Living, working or leisure time in the community can bring many different experiences for persons with disabilities and seniors.
Finding affordable accessible housing, using public transportation, obtaining medical services, and accessibility are just a few of the challenges faced...
COME AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES!
The Community Advisory is made up of individuals with disabilities, seniors and organizations who are seeking change in the community which will enhance the lives of persons with disabilities and seniors. The ILCSC Community Advisory discusses pertinent issues which are important in making changes and gathers information that will help meet the needs of persons with disabilities and seniors.
For more information in your area, please contact:
Van Nuys: Marcy Hernandez 818.785.6934
Santa Clarita: Niyanta Dave 818.908.1199
Lancaster: Taura Jacob 661.942.9726
*Educational opportunities regarding disability rights laws and advocacy are also available...ask us!