Arc of Orange County, NC

Privacy Practices

Budget Finally Passes …Really Good News for people with Developmental Disabilities

Today the House and Senate passed the final Budget for FY 08-09. It still must be signed by the Governor but we do not anticipate a Veto. This is certainly one of the best budgets for people with developmental disabilities and their families in the past decade. Members of the General Assembly deserve a great deal of credit for listening to our recommendations and acting upon them. Once again your voice made the difference. Below is a list of important funding and Policy items in the budget.

Additional CAP/DD slots – provides 10 million dollars of match funding for additional CAP Slots. [The first year funding of 6.6 million is due to a November 1 start date. This will bring in an additional 20 million dollars in federal funds and has the potential of providing close to 2,000 tier 1 slots.]

Funding for DD Crisis Services [START model]- Provides 1,737,250 in recurring along with 177,617 in start up funding to establish six DD Crisis teams in the Community.

Crisis Respite – Provides 903,375 in recurring and 177,617 in start up for 12 community based crisis beds throughout the state.

Housing Initiative - provides another 7,000,000 in funding for development in the Housing 400 initiative as well as 1,000,000 in operating subsidies for these programs.

Traumatic Brain Injury – The budget includes 1,000,000 in new state funding for people with TBI.

Special education Funding Increase – An additional 6.2 million dollars is included for Special Education students increasing the student allocation 36 dollars.

HUD 811 – Funds 4 HUD 811 projects for service dollars 129,331 recurring and 155, 000 start up.

Beyond Academics – Funds this Greensboro based program 200,000.

Medically Fragile Children’s Program – Funds this Raleigh based program 360,000.

Special Assistance Rate Increase – increases the special assistance rate from 1,173 to 1,207 per month beginning January 1st.

Health Choice Expansion – Expands this program 9,411,246 to serve an additional 7,341 children.

Inflation – Inflationary increases will be granted for Medicaid programs but at around a 60% reduced rate. We are attempting to determine exactly how this will be implemented. Once we do we will send that to you.

In the budget bill several important special provisions are included. These provisions have the force of law and for the most part are consistent with our advocacy recommendations. They include:

The delineation of the levels for the Tiers in the waiver at 17,500, 45,000, 75,000 and a 100,000 ceiling without prior approval from DHHS. Also included is language that would allow the DHHS to move Plan Approval back to LME’s.

Allows for LME’s to use five % of state funds to move people out of institutions.

Directs the Institute of Medicine to Study Transition Issues for People with Developmental disabilities including School to Work and aging.

With the passage of the budget the session will move to a rapid close. We anticipate that they will adjourn sometime next week. Soon after adjournment we will post a legislative wrap-up along with recommendations on which legislators deserves specific thanks for their work.

DMA (Division of Medical Assistance) has posted the proposed service definitions for the CAP-MR/DD Waiver. The law requires the Department to publish proposed new and amended clinical coverage policies on the Department's Web site and accept oral and written comments for 45 days. The Arc of NC is in the process of reviewing the service definitions.

The definitions are posted at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/mp/proposedmp.htm.

The Arc of Orange County is excited to welcome Shauna Leng to its team as the new Payroll and Billing Manager. Shauna and her husband, Yiding, recently moved to NC from San Jose, CA.

Shauna received her MBA from the School of Business at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. She is fluent in both Chinese and Japanese. In California she worked for Biotech Core, Inc. as the Accountant/Office Manager for seven years.

Shauna’s husband is working for Duke University as a research scientist. She also has a 25 year old son who still lives in California.

Shauna brings a warm smile and welcome optimism to The Arc, not to mention her delicious cooking! Needless to say she has already won over the hearts (and stomachs) of The Arc staff!

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