When looking into an uncertain future, my mother used to say, “Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.” Changes in the methods of distributing State funding for those with developmental disabilities will go into effect on July 1, 2008. These proposed changes cause us to feel uncertain about the future at Peak Community Services. We are, however, doing more than hoping for the best; we are proactively working to assure that the worst won’t happen. Yes, there is a plan in place for the worst, but we consider it to be Plan B.
Our concern is with a change in how Medicaid waiver services will be funded and offered to consumers. The change is called “OASIS,” which stands for Objective Assessment System for Individual Supports, and it applies to developmental disabilities, autism, and support services waivers, but does not apply to aged and disabled or traumatic brain injury waivers.
Meetings are being held throughout the State for informational purposes on the OASIS initiative. Agencies have been told that there may be a reduction in funds received, but the amount of the reduction is not known, thus the uncertainty.
Peak Community Services has formalized an advocacy group for our consumers. As you may guess, the need for strong personal advocacy is crucial. Our administrators are very vocal and involved in presenting their concerns to the State in a professional manner. Their voices, however, have the possibility of being interpreted as ones of monetary self-interest, despite the fact that consumer interests are their primary concern.
We need other voices to be heard. Please contact Kathi Thompson at Peak Community Services for more information on how you can join us in not only hoping for, but working toward, the best outcome.
As those of you who have attended one of our monthly tours know, I have been working with people with intellectual disabilities since 1972. One of the things I have learned is that change is a constant. We are entering a time of significant change in how services are funded and the types of services for which the State of Indiana will pay. As an organization, we are committed to creating the most positive outcome possible within this changing environment.
Recently, we sent out an Open Letter summarizing the information we had as of that date on two projects the State of Indiana initiated in 2007. We also scheduled informational meetings for staff, parents, consumers, and advocates. I will not reiterate all of that information, but I will summarize a few of the main points.
The State of Indiana is changing how the amount of money a consumer has for services is determined. Representatives of the State of Indiana and/or Case Managers from Indiana Professional Management Group (IPMG) will conduct interviews to determine each person’s need for support. Those interviews will help set the total amount of money a consumer has for the upcoming year. At the individual’s annual meeting, decisions will be made about what services the person wants to buy with that money. Participants in the annual meeting will also decide how much of a service, or how many hours of a service, you can buy with the funds allocated.
The State of Indiana is also setting Uniform Rates for services. Uniform Rates for Services means that the state will pay the same rate for the same service in Logansport, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Vincennes.
The two initiatives are interdependent. That is, the amount of money a consumer has in their annual budget will determine the money the person has to spend on services. The Uniform Rates will determine how much the State of Indiana will pay providers like Peak Community Services for providing those services. There may be changes in the services a consumer can afford and in the services we can offer. Remember, regardless of what you hear about choices in services, it is the amount of money a consumer has each year for services and the rates we as a provider are paid by the State of Indiana that determine the services you can buy and which services we can offer.
As anyone who has attended one of our monthly tours knows, we are here because of the efforts of three women in Cass County and another three women in Pulaski County who were not satisfied with the two choices their family members with intellectual disabilities had at that time. One choice was that children with disabilities remained at home with their parents for their entire lives. The only other option was institutionalization. If we are to generate a positive outcome from the changes that are happening, then advocacy will again be the key to success.
Peak Community Services has formed a group called the Peak Advocates. Peak Advocates are individuals committed to advocating for services for people with intellectual disabilities. That group has initiated two campaigns. One is the “I Want Choices” campaign to ensure the choice of where the consumer works, lives, and recreates is a decision made by the consumer. If the person wants to work in the community, then that should be their choice. If the person wants to work in the workshop, then that should be their choice. If the person wants to live in a group home, then that should be their choice. If they want their own apartment, that should be their choice.
The second initiative is the “Get on the List!” campaign. It is distressing to announce that the waiting list has grown from 15,500 to 17,000. In spite of that horrific number, we know there are individuals in the community who are not yet on the waiting list. Remember, the average waiting time is ten years, so if you wanted services in 2008, you had to be on the list in 1998. Some people do not know that they need to get on the waiting list. Some people may have given up and been removed from the list because they did not respond to inquiries from the State of Indiana. We need to help ensure that everyone interested in services gets on the waiting list so we have an accurate picture of the real need.
Peak Advocates are also informed about changes in state and federal legislation and funding that impact people with intellectual disabilities. They are asked to be a voice for consumers as those changes occur.
We hope that you will consider joining the Peak Advocates. If you are interested in doing so, please contact Kathi Thompson, our Director of Development and Communications:
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Advocacy helped created the services we have now, and only your advocacy will sustain those services in the future. Please join us.
Logansport, IN 46947
574-753-4104
Winamac, IN 46996
574-946-6188
peak@peakcommunity.com