Governmental News
June 22, 2005

Legislative Wrap-Up:
The regular legislative session ended on a positive note for services to persons with developmental disabilities. The Governor proposed, and the legislature approved, a $7.5 million increase for HCBS/MRDD waiver rates and a $6 million increase in the waiver to serve persons from the waiting list. House Bill 2319 was introduced to separate CDDO functions from the delivery of direct services. The House Social Service Budget Committee heard some testimony on the bill, and requested that a strategic planning group of stakeholders convene during the year to negotiate this issue and to bring back legislation in January 2006. The negotiations group held its first planning meeting, decided to hire and independent facilitator, and will begin negotiations on July 12.

A special legislative session is convening today to discuss the Supreme Court's order to increase funding to public schools. Gambling legislation has been informally prepared by senate committees and better than expected state revenue are options on the table for addressing the issue. However legislators may also review their previously approved budget decisions, or choose to not follow the order. Although there are possibilities for fixing the school funding issue this year without a tax increase, the Supreme Court is considering ordering an additional $568 million for schools next year.

A coalition of social service groups sent a letter to state leaders urging them to increase funds for education, but not at the expense of services for the disabled and elderly. Stakeholders are encouraged to meet with their local legislators throughout the year to convey this message.

SRS/CDDO Contract Negotiations:
SRS and the CDDOs completed their work on the State Fiscal Year 2006 Contract on June 14. SRS is proceeding with the implementation of the $7.5 million HCBS waiver rate increase in a manner that will provide a 1.1% increase across the board to all rates, and then will increase rates in accordance with the recommendations of the independent rate study conducted by SRS in 2003. The rate study concluded that in-home support rates, and some residential and day tiers were more underfunded than others. SRS hopes to have the new rates implemented by July 1, 2005.

Waiting list funds are being distributed in a different manner within the new contract. In previous years SRS has allocated enough of the new funds for each CDDO to serve the first person from their waiting list, and then allocated by the size of each CDDO's list. Starting July 1, SRS will allocate enough funds for each CDDO to serve the first person from their list, and then will allocate the funds on a statewide basis for the persons who have been waiting the longest.

SRS is also requiring through the new contract that CDDOs develop a plan by March 2006 to reduce the number of persons that conduct BASIS screening assessments, and that requires the assessor to not provide direct care or targeted case management to the person being assessed. SRS plans to conduct BASIS training on a regular basis starting in May 2006. The plans developed by the CDDOs and approved by SRS are to be implemented by July 1, 2006.

SRS and the CDDOs also agreed this year to add one additional non-voting seat to the Statewide Funding Committee and to the Statewide Quality Assurance Committee for a stakeholder representative. In addition, Community Service Providers will be allowed to freely address members of both committees at their scheduled meetings.

SRS Workgroups:

The following workgroups are currently in place:

• Statewide Funding Committee: Comprised of one representative from each CDDO, SRS, and a stakeholder representative. The primary purpose is to review HCBS waiver spending, reporting of uses of state funds, and appropriation and use of waiting list funds. The next scheduled meeting is Wed., June 29, 9:30-3:00.
• Statewide Quality Assurance Committee: Comprised of one representative from each CDDO, SRS, and a stakeholder representative. The primary purpose of the committee is to examine issues related to the oversight of MR/DD services consistent with K.A.R. 30-64-26, and 30-64-27 and the mission of SRS, to work with stakeholders to ensure that processes for system quality oversight are coordinated effectively and duplication of functions is minimized, and to annually review and recommend revisions to the SRS/CDDO contract as it relates to quality assurance issues. The next scheduled meeting is Wed., Aug. 3, 10:00-3:00 in Wichita. (Location to be announced.)
• Certified Public Expenditure Workgroup: The certified public expenditure workgroup is a group of stakeholders established by SRS to review the certification of state funds for federal match for targeted case management and other services. The group has requested that SRS gather related information. The next meeting will be scheduled once this process is complete.
• Extraordinary Funding Workgroup: This group of stakeholders was developed by SRS to make recommendations on a uniform tool that can be utilized to determine if an individual has extraordinary need. At the request of the group, SRS commissioned Dr. Michael Wehmeyer and students of his from KU to conduct a study on the use of the Supports Intensity Scale for this purpose. A draft report has been disseminated by SRS. The researchers are working on a final report and utilization of the tool to determine cost of supports. SRS plans to obtain stakeholder feedback once all of the information is available.
• DD Strategic Planning Workgroup: This group was formed by SRS at the request of the 2004 Legislature to develop a 5-year strategic plan for DD Services. A copy of the final product may be obtained from the SRS website. Members of this group, in addition to other stakeholders are now taking on the task assigned by the 2005 Legislature to negotiate the CDDO conflict of interest, and other related issues and to report back to the legislature in 2006. The first meeting of this group will be July 12, 9:30-4:00 at the SRS Learning Center.

Allliance Meeting Dates:

The next meeting of The Alliance for Kansans with Developmental Disabilities will be held in Topeka on Thursday, June 30, 10:00-3:00. Any consumers, family members or providers who wish to join our meeting may contact Stephanie Wilson at (785)218-9391 or stwilson@theddalliance.org.