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From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
New Legislation Would Deepen Investments in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services The Better Care Better Jobs Act (S.2210), introduced in the Senate in June, follows up on President Biden’s proposal in the American Jobs Plan to improve access to Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS), strengthen the direct care workforce, and extend the Money Follows the Person demonstration. This investment would be a critical step toward expanding HCBS for all low-income people who need them. More federal funds for HCBS are needed to expand services and strengthen the caregiving workforce, and will help states attract and better train caregivers, improve working conditions, and provide higher pay. These improvements would build on the 10 percentage-point increase in the federal Medicaid matching rate for HCBS (available through March 31, 2022, for states that enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS) included in the American Rescue Plan Act enacted in March. Dear Friends of Mainers with Disabilities,
The workforce (LD 1573) and wait list (LD 1360) bills have both passed the House and have survived several votes in the Senate. But they are both now sitting on the "Special Appropriations Table". If they are not funded (either by themselves or by being "amended into the budget" then they will die). And there still isn't agreement on a budget. Please contact members of Appropriations, House and Senate leadership, and your own rep and senator, to ask them to PLEASE MAKE SURE TO FUND WORKFORCE (LD 1573) and WAITLIST (LD 1360) BILLS BEFORE THEY GO HOME, because there is still an acute crisis in supporting people with disabilities, along with other vulnerable populations (elders, substance use, mental health). Contact info:
Maine’s DHHS OADS invites you to a Needs Assessment Project Kick-Off Meeting for Stakeholders6/10/2021
Maine’s DHHS, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) invites you to a Needs Assessment Project “Kick-Off” Meeting for Stakeholders. We are formally beginning the “Standardized Needs Assessment Implementation Project” – an important initiative for all IDD HCBS waiver members, their families, advocates, and service providers. Come learn more about the OADS’ plan for this work, and how we will be soliciting and using ongoing stakeholder input.
When: Thursday, June 17th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. The meeting will be recorded and materials posted on our website. Join Zoom Meeting https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/82590757905 Meeting ID: 825 9075 7905 One tap mobile +13017158592,,82590757905# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,82590757905# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Meeting ID: 825 9075 7905 Find your local number: https://mainestate.zoom.us/u/kdCVJrPGOw From Kim Humphrey:
#ActionAlert Call your legislators and if you are in districts with members of the Appropriations Committee please call them to fully fund LD 1573, the long term care workforce commission bill. Urge them to raise the rates for direct care workers to 125% of minimum wage. Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee Members
David Cowing took a video (linked at this FaceBook post) of Debbie Riordan Dionne, Lisa Wesel and me after the LD1573 press conference last week. We are sharing that 1,700 people signed the petition to #raisetherates for direct care workers. We gave the petition to legislators on Monday. Now is the time to follow-up with Appropriations committee members and your local legislators to move this legislation to a successful conclusion! Thank you to all of you who have taken action and will take action! Maine Children's Alliance is seeking a project coordinator and two stipended Parent Leaders6/9/2021
Maine Children's Alliance is seeking a project coordinator and two stipended Parent Leaders for two related new grant funded projects
Dear colleagues, The Maine Children’s Alliance recently was awarded two national grants with the goal of centering parents and equity in understanding barriers to Head Start/Early Head Start and Early Intervention Services to inform policy advocacy. We appreciate your help in widely sharing these position opportunities: Parent Leaders receive a stipend for 8 -10 hours a month to serve on the grant leadership teams; and we are hiring a part-time Project Coordinator. For information on the roles and how to apply, see MCA’s website - Employment Opportunities (mainechildrensalliance.org) Feel free to reach out if you have questions. Thanks! Stephanie Stephanie J. Eglinton she/her/hers Executive Director Maine Children's Alliance seglinton@mekids.org 207.623.1868 x206 https://www.mekids.org/ The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) Webinar
View Webinar: Paying Family Caregivers With Medicaid Consumer-Directed Programs
Virtual Information Session About the Houses on E Street, South Portland Thursday, 6/17 at 6:30pm Join us to learn more about Specialized Housing, why families have chosen this program for their adult children, how the home ownership model works and next steps to joining the group 3 units available For Zoom link information please RSVP to Sarah Robinson at scr.shi.estreet@gmail.com  Maine Youth Chat
Tuesday, June 1st and June 15th at 4:00 pm A virtual networking opportunity for youth and young adults (14-26) with disabilities or special healthcare needs. “Maine Youth Chat is a virtual group for young people in Maine to network and learn about new opportunities. Together we will build and share skills in communication, self-advocacy, and decision making, with the shared purpose of building a supportive community of like-minded people.” -Maine Youth Chat Mission Statement Meetings will be held on the following dates from 4-4:30pm. June: 6/1/21, 6/15/21 Please Register Below https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtcOqoqj4sGtQ9F76XcucweuwJuD_Q9CXm After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This link will work for all future Maine Youth Chat meetings. If you have previously registered you will receive a link to join the day of each meeting. If you have any questions please reach out to dcampbell@mpf.org Parent Support Group: For Parents of Children with Disabilities and Special Healthcare Needs Thursday, June 3rd 2021 at 12:00 pm (Noon) First Thursday of every month at noon. Our virtual parent support groups occur on the first Thursday of each month at Noon via zoom. This is an opportunity for parents/caregivers to meet and connect with other parents and MPF staff to share experiences, gain skills, and learn about new opportunities. Please Register Below https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwocOmopjouHNTk1aabqLtAjyAKeIHW7FNM After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This link will work for future parent support groups. If you have any questions please contact Carrie Woodcock, cwoodcock@mpf.org . Youth Surviors Network Wednesday, June 9th at 4:00 pm The Youth Survivors Network is a collaboration between Maine Parent Federation, The Brain Injury Association of America Maine, The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, and the YEAH Council of New Hampshire. A virtual networking opportunity for youth and young adults (16-25) with brain injuries in Maine and New Hampshire to share their experiences and build a community of self-advocates. For more information please contact Dylan Campbell, dcampbell@mpf.org. Please Register Below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcOmvqT8vH9NeQ8v9Yokb_woX0tWWuvJC?fbclid=IwAR3gU84aoQyI-sOj_Kfgk9UOhKGA7CWP-omV_CdPfFRoIPMrT0kOAe20lcQ Support Group for Parents of a Child with Serious Illness Thursday, June 17th at 12:00pm (Noon) We welcome you to join a group specific to those caring for a child with a serious illness whereby he or she may not survive into adulthood. These meetings are intended to provide a confidential opportunity to connect parents who can choose to share their stories, discuss their challenges and support one another. This group is structured on the peer support model of helping one another. Facilitators are Janet Duncan, MSN, CPNP a pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner now working with Courageous Parents Network and Christine Bennett, MD, a pediatrician with 30 years experience in private practice in Portland. . Please Register Below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscOqqrzosGNAu90UjuYo7lHVBNB4CH1bE?fbclid=IwAR3WcfyD-tmwoscQkxnvourA5Zkh5XBnLBR0xm-qOX3pLCKpSewqtOREAzI For more information please reach out to Carrie Woodcock, cwoodcock@mpf.org. Ask Us Anything Wednesday, June 16th at 12:00pm (Noon) Bring your questions and join Maine Parent Federation staff for a Live Q&A! We understand that parents may have a lot of unanswered questions and seeking guidance can feel like hitting a roadblock. Using personal and professional experience navigating the systems of care, our staff hopes to provide assistance, information, and referral to help you receive the answers you are looking for. If we can’t answer your questions, we will find someone who can! Everything in this meeting should remain confidential, however, you also have the option of meeting a staff member 1-to-1 in a breakout room. If you have any questions please reach out to Dylan Campbell, dcampbell@mpf.org. Please Register Below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkc--hpz4pEtSt6LPG3QyjnQGETyhdOdRS After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. URGENT! You can help because every voice counts! Please sign the petition to support legislative action to up the direct care workforce wages to 125% above minimum wage: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KGW6WFD Spread the word, post, share with interested parties.
Mainers are losing critical disability, aging and mental health services due to chronic underfunding of our State’s direct care workforce. Waitlists are growing, thousands of hours of vital services go unfulfilled and workers continue to leave for higher paying and less stressful positions. With billions of dollars in federal aid on its way to Maine and a large state surplus, now is the time to raise MaineCare rates to levels above minimum wage to stabilize and rebuild a workforce which thousands of Mainers and their families rely on for vital daily support. Sign the petition and ask the Maine Legislature to support the bi-partisan Long-Term Care Workforce Committee recommendation to increase MaineCare rates for direct care workers to 125% of minimum wage. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KGW6WFD This measure is the key provision in LD 1573 which passed out of the Health and Human Service Committee with unanimous support. Legislators will be voting on a budget soon. Sign the petition by Memorial Day, May 31, 2021 Thank you! -- Kim Fulmer Humphrey, MPH Founder and President Community Connect Maine American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 10% Enhanced Federal Match on MaineCare HCBS Services Your Input is Needed by May 28! Zoom Listening Sessions Scheduled for May 25 and May 28 Written Feedback Welcome at HCBS-FMAP.DHHS@maine.gov The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is seeking stakeholder input regarding the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) temporary home and community based services (HCBS) federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase. ARPA included a one-year, 10% enhanced FMAP on HCBS, defined in the Act to include HCBS waiver programs, state Medicaid plan services such as home health and personal care services, and certain mental health and substance use services. The corresponding state savings must be used to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS and must be used by March 30, 2024. You can find more information on this special, one-time federal funding here. Maine DHHS must submit its plan for using the special funding to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in June. DHHS would like your input as we develop the plan. DHHS is evaluating ideas with the following principles in mind.
Option 1: Participate in a Live Zoom Listening Session
Tuesday, May 25th from 4:30-6:00 PM & Friday, May 28th from 12:00 -1:30 PM Find the Zoom Links Below For Both Sessions Option 2: Submit Written Comments Send your ideas to HCBS-FMAP.DHHS@maine.gov. We will review all comments received by May 28. Questions? Send them to HCBS-FMAP.DHHS@maine.gov. Zoom Links For Sessions 1 & 2 Session #1: Enhanced Federal Match on MaineCare HCBS Services Time: May 25, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/83767669872?pwd=NzdEcUUxc0t0T3hweG1iTjBrdzZ3QT09 Meeting ID: 837 6766 9872 Passcode: Vf$2FJrw One tap mobile +13017158592,,83767669872#,,,,*77683129# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,83767669872#,,,,*77683129# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 837 6766 9872 Passcode: 77683129 Find your local number: https://mainestate.zoom.us/u/kdu3Kk6Pmt Session #2: Enhanced Federal Match on MaineCare HCBS Services Time: May 28, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/82512252252?pwd=eks0OUFyMU9EZTlxOWUyNk5ySndvQT09 Meeting ID: 825 1225 2252 Passcode: WMNR5t?i One tap mobile +13017158592,,82512252252#,,,,*42797198# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,82512252252#,,,,*42797198# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) |
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