News from Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

[Guest guest]

From: Florida

Developmental Disabilities Council

Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 8:11 AM

To: denisekarp@...

Subject: News from Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Alert

APD to hold Community Meetings

The Agency for Person with Disabilities will be holding

a series of meetings around the state to discuss new initiatives

affecting APD customers. APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine will host the

meetings and be available to talk with those interested in the new programs.

The topics to be highlighted during the afternoon sessions include the

concept of individualized budgeting (iBudget Florida),

Consumer-Directed Care Plus (CDC+) expansion, and the introduction of a

flexible benefit, as well as updates on ongoing agency initiatives.

A 1 p.m. session will include additional details relevant to waiver

support coordinators and providers, while a 3 p.m. session will

highlight future agency programs of special interest to consumers and

families. Public input is welcome during these meetings. Interested

individuals may attend any or all of the meetings. The planned schedule

is as follows:

August 25-Northland Church, 530 Dog Track Road,

Longwood

1 p.m.-Provider Forum, 3 p.m.-Customer Forum

Sept. 2-Tallahassee Community College, 444 Appleyard

Dr., Workforce Development Building, Grand Banquet Hall, Tallahassee

1 p.m.-Provider Forum, 3 p.m.- Customer Forum

Sept. 3-Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83rd St., Rm. R01,

Gainesville

1 p.m.-Provider Forum, 3 p.m.- Customer Forum

Sept. 14-n Center School, 15701 NW 37th Ave.,

Auditorium, Miami Gardens

1 p.m.-Provider Forum, 3 p.m.- Customer Forum

Sept. 21-Gulf Coast Center, 5820 Buckingham Road,

Chapel, Ft. Myers

1 p.m.-Provider Forum, 3 p.m.- Customer Forum

Sept. 22-University Area Community Development

Corp.,14013 N. 22nd Street, Tampa

1 p.m.-Provider Forum, 3 p.m.- Customer Forum

Previously planned wait list rule workshops have been postponed. The

agency wants to further develop its policy options before having

workshops and therefore would be able to provide answers to questions

from customers, families, and advocates at the rule workshops.

If you are unable to attend a workshop, you may send written comments

to:

Arnold

APD Community Relations

APD

4030 Esplanade Way

Suite 380

Tallahassee, FL 32399.

The agency annually serves about 35,000 Floridians with

developmental disabilities of mental retardation, autism, cerebral

palsy, spina bifida, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information on

the agency, call 1-866-APD-CARES or visit www.APDCares.org.

###

Talking Points on

First District Court Decision on Tiers

· The court's

opinion on the tier rule has created some

uncertainty about tiers and their

administration. APD is continuing

its evaluation of the effects of

the ruling and the Agency's options

to respond.

· It is very

important for APD customers and the public to

understand the court's opinion

does not eliminate the tiers. The

court did not strike down the

law. The court's opinion does not

cause any automatic changes in

tier assignments. The court struck

down a rule the agency uses to

apply the tiers.

· APD had

already started the process of amending the rule to

make it simpler and easier to

apply.

· The four tiers

created by the Legislature and approved by the

federal government remain.

The former Home and Community Based

Services ( " Big Waiver " )

and Family and Supported Living ( " FSL " or

" Little Waiver " ) no

longer exist as they did prior to the change in

law. Eligibility for each of these

two waivers was substantially

amended by the Tier law and the

federally approved waivers. APD must

continue to administer the

legislatively-mandated and federally

approved eligibility standards

according to current law.

· For now, APD

is placing all tier related actions on hold except

emergencies. This means that

pending notices of tier changes,

whether to a higher or lower tier,

will not be sent at this time.

· The agency

will continue to accept requests for tier changes

and service need determinations.

· APD will share

additional information on this issue as

decisions are made related to the

tier rule.

###

Mowry Etters, APR, CPRC, CPM

Communications Director

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) 4030 Esplanade Way, Suite

380 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700

Office or 488-4257

FAX /SC 292-6456

Forward email

This email was sent to denisekarp@... by vandab@....

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.

Email

Marketing by

Florida Developmental

Disabilities Council | 124 Marriott Drive | Suite 203 | Tallahassee | FL |

32301