I feel the need for somebody to say something here and on one hand, Joe, you have. Though, my viewpoint is of a different point of expectation. I feel what you say is your sincerest effort to start to fix something you think is about to be broken in our state and is not mint to excite bad or contempt for the governor's, equally, sincere effort to repair what he feel needs it in Florida or the entire country for that matter.
I feel though, that for, all, well intents and purposes, before we take off, fueled by speculation, agencies, already serving the blind, and other disabled populations, should invite the Governor as well as, encourage other state officials in dialogue aimed at ensuring we don't take a turn for the worse and head back in to that pit you fear may be opening to consume us in eternal worthlessness!
A lot has been done, but, we still have more to do! Keep the faith people!We're not going backward! I think the Governor and everyone else knows, that's not the answer!
Honest! Charles Atkins----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Plummer" <joeplummer@xxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 6:19 PMSubject: [tabi] Re: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities...
This is the worst idea I heard of yet. This is aim at one thing and one thing only that is cutting jobs out. This is also going to make waitinglines extremely long and lots of red tape. It will have people that is in ajob that have no idea what we need and are going thru. I have try to tell you all that there Is terrible times coming to Florida and especially the old, helpless the very young and the disable and the handicap. We are nowgoing to be treated like a charity case like someone standing in line for abowl of soup. We the blind community is going to need medical care say for our eyes and if you are depending on the blind services to do it you aregoing to have to wait fro ever to get the help. If you need a screen readerto keep your job you will lose the job before you get the screen reader approved. You just wait and see we are going to go backwards 100 years before it is over. In my opinion this is the worst thing that could happen to us just about. sign, Joe Plummer (JP) joeplummer@xxxxxxx -----Original Message-----From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On BehalfOf Lighthouse of the Big Bend Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:56 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 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 likeGov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about whether one agency shouldserve everyone with disabilities... 12-8-10 Single Department Concept A New Service Delivery System for the 21St CenturyThe purpose of this proposal is to illustrate a method by which Florida cancreate 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 anentrepreneurial spirit, where employees are encouraged to think "outside ofthe box" to solve the problems we will face in the coming years. We mustencourage unique, public - private partnerships at every level, in order tomaximize 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 orself-reported disabilities study, live, play, and work. The vast majority ofpersons with disabilities can secure and maintain full or part -- time competitive employment. They exhibit more courage and fortitude daily thansome people do in a lifetime. These Floridians do not want a hand out but ahand 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 suchequipment. Create new private sector opportunities for persons who become disabled as adults. Require anyone wishing to file for federal disability programs toregister with Vocational Rehabilitation. Begin early working with the personfocusing 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, servicelimitations, 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 toensure 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 bestandardized throughout all the individual waivers.Funding for community-based, long-term care services would be more equitablefor each of the disability groups competing for limited resources.Note: Some agencies may be reluctant' to relinquish administration of theirwaiver programs. Consumers and providers currently being served by thevarious waivers may be impacted if service limitations and rates of pay are standardized. Use of the iBudget algorithm will ensure a person's needs aremet 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, withimplementation occurring in an on-going basis. Full consolidation could takeuntil 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 deliveringinformation. **g Consolidating multiple call-centers for consumers andproviders would still allow calls to be channeled from one line directly tothe appropriate waiver specialist. Florida currently has a great need for more community - based serviceproviders. Partnerships with Colleges of Business at our State Universities,as well as the Chamber of Commerce for Persons with Disabilities, canpromote 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 verifyingagencies. This can be performed by workers from home (enabling persons withdisabilities, 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 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 webinterface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABIand 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.
