[tabi] Re: Fw: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities...

  • From: "Darla J. Rogers" <djrogers0628@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2010 20:13:12 -0500

Dear Lynn,

I won't get into that debate except to say I believe the ignorance resides in another part of the state.

The issue is that, if this agency comes to fruition, blind consumers will be on the bottom of the heap. Personally, I'd like to see DBS answer directly to the governor.

Darla


----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynn Evans" <evans-lynn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 7:58 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fw: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities...


Oh yes lit us have a debate as to what part of the state is more out of the loop.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Daniel Ben Moshe" <danielbenmoshe1@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 12:40 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fw: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities...


Joe can you please explain what that means that North Florida will be out of the loop? Because from where I sit, it looks like South Florida has become
more out of the loop?


I'm glad to be your humble and obedient servant,

Zechen Elder Daniel Ben Moshe,
B'ni Yahshuah Synagogue Of Broward County,
www.theblindcansee.org
Choose ye this day whom you will serve. If YHWH be Elohim, then serve him, with all of your heart. However, if baal be your god, then serve him. As
for me, and my house.  We choose to serve YHWH!

The late Bishop Joe O Patterson told a story long ago, when i was a small
child. about the show down, between Elijah, and the 450 false prophets of baal. He shared with us how Elijah, stood, and told the false prophets to go on ahead,and call their god first. Because they had a much larger program.
He talked about how they had 450 participants to introduce. Elijah was so
sure of YHWH, he with confidence said, that he only had one.  Elijah also
reminded them, that they had to drag their fake god up the mountain side on
an ox cart.  Elijah also announced to the world, that his Elohim would be
there when he arrived.  He said mockingly, you go on ahead.  Heck, I will
even let you have prime time.  I'M going to take a nap, and when you guys
finish your foolishness, wake me up.  Go ahead now, take your best shot.
Bishop Joe O Patterson
A blessed memory
1963-1989
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Joe Plummer
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 5:50 AM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fw: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if
one agency should serve all disabilities...

Hi, yes, I agree but I will tell you we have about as much chance as a snow
ball in hell of getting anything done. The problem is that we are out of
sync there is no balance of power any more. So we do not have a check and
balance in the Florida government. I have been around government most of my
life an politics. I have worked for the Florida legislature for over 30
years. I am telling you there is no balance any more. I also am telling you all that especially North Florida is out of the loop. North Florida is going
to suffer these two years and years to come . You are going to see the
economy and help for the small man and the helpless and the handicap and the
disable and business and state workers go backwards a 100 years. There is
going to be business closing every where up here. We can fight and try to be heard but we are not going to gain any ground this two years. Everything is
way to the right and veto proof. Just more thoughts.



sign,
Joe Plummer (JP)
joeplummer@xxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Easy Talk
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 4:55 AM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Fw: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one
agency should serve all disabilities...


----- Original Message -----
From: "Easy Talk" <easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <fcb-l@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 4:53 AM
Subject: Fw: [tabi] Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one
agency should serve all disabilities...


Mr. Edwards, I think this needs immediate action on behalf of FCB.

Here is a quote from the message and I don't know what magic they plan
on using but this isn't the case and won't be.

quote
. Multiple websites dedicated to the various waivers would be
reduced.to>one. This would also create a more user friendly,
accessible system of delivering information. **g Consolidating
multiple call-centers for consumers and providers would still allow
calls to be channeled from one line directly to the appropriate waiver
specialist.

Lets see, press 1 if you are blind, press 2 if you are hard of
hearing, press 3 if you have a mental disability, press 4 if you have
a spinal disability, press 5 if you have dyslexia, press 6 if you use
a wheel chair and so on and so on.  Do you get my point.

It also says this type of system has been successful in Illinois and
Vermont, Ask Georgia what they think about a 1 stop shop and the mess
they are going through to un do it.

We have set on our buts to long and let the separate commission for
the blind issue lay dormant to long.  Now is the time to act or it
will be to late.  If you read this article you will see the plan is to
act quickly so we don't have time to oppose it.

Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lighthouse of the Big Bend" <lighthousebigbend@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:56 PM
Subject: [tabi] Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if
one agency should serve all disabilities...


Consumer groups of the Blind/VI may want to get involved, as it looks
like Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about whether one
agency should serve everyone with disabilities...

12-8-10
Single Department Concept
A New Service Delivery System for the 21St Century

The purpose of this proposal is to illustrate a method by which
Florida can create a single, efficient, consumer driven and community
-- based service delivery system to provide services to the over 6
million persons with disabilities in Florida. The ultimate goal is to
reduce administrative costs and increase access to services and
service dollars; create a more efficient, fraud resistant billing
system and create an economic stimulus creating new private sector
jobs.
. Combining all of the programs and services for persons With
disabilities, including the Florida Medicaid Waiver programs, under
one department`-. will enable the State to move precious resources to
actual service delivery for persons with:.disabilities and seniors
across the disability spectrum and Recycle.
. This department can have one point of entry with a standardized
application, eligibility criteria, provider qualifications, and
provider rates for all services and programs.
. Creation of new jobs in the areas of core munity - based service
delivery and fraud prevention methods. This would mean the
recruitment of new entrepreneurial minded providers into the system
statewide.
To accomplish this goal, certain units can be removed from current
departments and placed in the new departmental structure. Personnel
requirements will then be determined, based on the overall
organization. Departments effected:
. Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), the . Department of
Health (DOH), the . Department of Children and Families (DCF), the .
Department of Eider Affairs(CARES), the . Department of Education
(Vocational Rehabilitation and Division of Blind Services), and . The
Agency for"Persons with Disabilities As this new department is being
physically formed, a new philosophy will also be nurtured. A
philosophy of ingenuity, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit,
where employees are encouraged to think "outside of the box" to solve
the problems we will face in the coming years. We must encourage
unique, public - private partnerships at every level, in order to
maximize our precious resources. This includes private entity
investment into not only service provision but employment
opportunities for persons with disabilities. It is only through this
"rebirth" of the physical and philosophical can we have a department
that is truly responsive to our citizens.

In Florida, every day over 6 million persons, with identified or
self-reported disabilities study, live, play, and work. The vast
majority of persons with disabilities can secure and maintain full or
part -- time competitive employment. They exhibit more courage and
fortitude daily than some people do in a lifetime. These Floridians
do not want a hand out but a hand up, a chance to maximize their
individual independence and to be as included in their community as
they wish, This untapped resource of ready and willing potential
employees should not be ignored.

Having all disability programs and services, including Medicaid
Waivers located within one department, will:

Streamline the application, eligibility, and acceptance process for
consumers and providers.

Eliminate the "silo" effect, bringing all state organizations working
with persons with disabilities under one organizational plan and
chain of command.

Reduce redundant administrative costs to include office space and
other such equipment.

Create new private sector opportunities for persons who become
disabled as adults. Require anyone wishing to file for federal
disability programs to register with Vocational Rehabilitation. Begin
early working with the person focusing on ways to maximize his/her
abilities. in many cases, it may be possible for the person with the
disability to emerge with a better, more lucrative career.

The department will maximize existing resources, such as using the
Clearinghouse on Disability Information to:
Maintain one website for all information on disabilities.
Operate a single toll-free phone number with accessibility built into
the system. Have a dedicated information referral system that not
only serves consumers, but providers and other state agencies.

? Allow the department to standardize the processes to determine
eligibility (one assessment instrument), provider qualifications and
enrollment, service limitations, rates of pay, nursing home
transition initiatives, etc.

? Reduce or maintain turnaround time in billing to enable providers
to receive pay for services in a timely fashion, while cutting down
on potential fraud.

Through a coordinated, functional needs based system, all individuals
with disabilities will have their needs assessed and identified by a
Global Assessment with a single Case Plan.

Bryan F. Vaughan, MS Executive Director Commission on Disabilities

1217/2010 Page 2 of 4

.:. Adapt the existing iBudget algorithm across the disabilities
spectrum to ensure a consistent and efficient distribution of scarce
resources.

:. Serve consumers and providers will be served in a timelier and
more consistent manner statewide.
One standardized assessment instrument to determine risk of
institutionalization and eligibility for waiver services would ensure
services are provided to those most in need and would reduce the
number of individuals currently on wait lists for the various waivers.
Provider qualifications and rate of pay will be consistent and allow
them to serve all populations without having to apply to work with
multiple waivers and organizations. The Legislature will only need to
deal with one budget to fund all the waivers. The processes for being
placed on a wait list will be standardized throughout all the
individual waivers.
Funding for community-based, long-term care services would be more
equitable for each of the disability groups competing for limited
resources.


Note: Some agencies may be reluctant' to relinquish administration of
their waiver programs. Consumers and providers currently being served
by the various waivers may be impacted if service limitations and
rates of pay are standardized. Use of the iBudget algorithm will
ensure a person's needs are met in an effective manner. Some
individual disability groups may be concerned about any change in the
current structure which can be mitigated through an appropriate
public information program.
Evidence to Support Single Department

The states of Illinois and Vermont have already gone to the single
entity system with good results. Real Choice Systems Change Grant
Program, Third Year Report: Progress and Challenges of the FY 2002
and FY 2003 Grantees: (October 1, 2003 -- September 30, 2004) Final
Report.
Consolidation

The Governor's Commission on Disabilities, along with personnel from
the effected departments, advocates, and providers could work towards
the planning, development, and implementation of this single
department.

Planning & Timeline
Planning could begin to consolidate all programs and services,
including waivers under one department in the 2010 - 2011 fiscal
year, with implementation occurring in an on-going basis. Full
consolidation could take until the 2011 -- 2012 fiscal year.
Estimated Potential Savings
? A coordinated waiver program would require fewer administrative
staff, intake and referral staff, provider enrollment staff and
fiscal staff to moriitorexpenditures.
? There would be a reduction in allocated office space, expenses;,
and equipment allocations for personnel due to consolidation into one
agency. Multiple websites dedicated to the various waivers would be
reduced.to>one. This would also create a more user friendly,
accessible system of delivering information. **g Consolidating
multiple call-centers for consumers and providers would still allow
calls to be channeled from one line directly to the appropriate
waiver specialist.


Florida currently has a great need for more community - based service
providers. Partnerships with Colleges of Business at our State
Universities, as well as the Chamber of Commerce for Persons with
Disabilities, can promote an entrepreneurial effort to create these
small provider businesses.

To reduce fraud, a "call and verify" system can be included as part
of the billing cycle. When a provider bills the department, a random
verification system will identify a consumer to be called and asked
if helshe has received the items or services as billed. This process
will help prevent discrepancies and false claims as are potential
risks under the current system. The department can either decide to
use one or multiple verifying agencies. This can be performed by
workers from home (enabling persons with disabilities, seniors, or
others who are transportation
disadvantaged) or a central location.


--
Lighthouse of the Big Bend
Guiding People Through Vision Loss
3071 Highland Oaks Terrace
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 942-3658
www.lighthousebigbend.org
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and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.

Check out the TABI resource web page at
http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.

Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.

Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.

Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by 
sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
"unsubscribe" in the subject.

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