Fwd: FW: Proposed Settlement

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From: Arc Ohio

[mailto:arcohio@...]

Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006

1:46 PM

Arc Ohio

Subject: Proposed

Settlement

OHIO

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL RETARDATION

AND

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

**************************************************

Bob Taft,

Governor

W. Ritchey, Director

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* *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * VISIONS NEWSLETTER

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* *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** *

Monday,

September 25, 2006 Volume 8 Issue 18

VISIT US

ON THE WEB AT WWW.MRDD.OHIO.GOV <http://www.mrdd.ohio.gov/>

1.

v. Taft Settlement, news release

1.

v. Taft

Settlement

Reached for Additional Medicaid Community Services COLUMBUS (September 25,

2006) - Governor Bob Taft today announced an agreement to settle the

long-standing v. Taft class action lawsuit.

If

endorsed by the next Governor and General Assembly, it will provide

opportunities for an additional 1,500 Ohioans with mental retardation and other

developmental disabilities to be served through Medicaid-funded home- and

community-based waivers; and allow for the funding and safeguards needed to

assure these services.

" I

am pleased that all parties were able to work through many complex issues and

reach a shared vision for providing residential choices for Ohio's citizens with disabilities, "

said Taft. " This is a landmark settlement, through which I believe the

state can make significant strides in expanding Ohio's capacity to serve these individuals

in the community. "

The Ohio

Legal Rights Service (OLRS) originally filed the case in 1989 on behalf of

citizens with disabilities seeking to expand community residential services.

The agreement offers new residential choices, including alternatives for

individuals who currently reside in institutional settings, but does not

require the closure of any public or private facilities. The settlement is

conditional upon funding approval in Ohio's

next biennial budget.

" This

settlement is expanding opportunities for people to receive needed services in

a manner consistent with the Ohio Access plan, developed under the leadership

of Governor Taft, " said W. Ritchey, Director of the Ohio

Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMRDD).

" These opportunities are possible thanks to the support of the Governor's

office, the General Assembly, County

Boards of MRDD and many

service providers and advocacy groups. "

Since

January 2000, the Taft administration has improved options to serve people with

disabilities in community settings by increasing the availability of

Medicaid-funded homes and community waiver services. Since 2000, enrollment in

the Individual Options waiver and the Level One waiver has increased by more

than 9,200 persons, so that today more than 15,000 individuals receive home and

community-based waiver services.

The

v. Taft agreement was negotiated among representatives of OLRS on behalf

of plaintiffs, the Governor's Office, ODMRDD, the Ohio Department of Job and

Family Services, and the Attorney General's Office. A fairness hearing for

public comment by interested parties will be scheduled in the U.S. District

Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

# # #

Media

Contacts: Mark Rickel, Governor's Office, 614-644-0957; Sherry Steinman,

ODMRDD, 614-644-0262; or Carmen , ODJFS, 614-466-6650.