Public Policy

DRI Executive Director, Amy Cunningham, a delegate at the Fourth National Guardianship Summit, joined 125 participants to develop National Recommendations for Guardianship Reform

By DRI

Highlights of National Guardianship Summit   Held virtually over four half-day sessions starting on May 10, 2021 around the theme of Maximizing Autonomy and Ensuring Accountability. First national summit held to develop recommendations in ten years. National Guardianship Network, a collaboration of fourteen organizations interested in guardianship issues organized the summit. Syracuse University Collage of Law hosted the event.   Highlight of Summit Recommendations Twenty-two Recommendations for Improvement and Reform   Rights-Based Guardianships – Enhancing Rights of Persons Subject to Guardianship: 3 Recommendations Supporting Decision-Making: 4 Recommendations Limited Guardianship, Protective Arrangement & Diverting Pipelines: 4 Recommendations Rethinking Guardianship Monitoring & … Continue reading DRI Executive Director, Amy Cunningham, a delegate at the Fourth National Guardianship Summit, joined 125 participants to develop National Recommendations for Guardianship Reform

Comments of DisAbility Rights Idaho on the Idaho Medicaid Reform Waiver Application

By DRI

DisAbility Rights Idaho (DRI) is a private non-profit corporation providing legal representation and a range of other advocacy services to Idahoans with disabilities. This advocacy includes informing policy makers of the effects of public policy proposals on people with disabilities.   Medicaid is an important source of medical care and home and community based services, which are essential to the independence, well being and, in many cases, the survival of Idahoans with disabilities.  We know from studies and reports obtained by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) that there are thousands of Idahoans with disabilities and chronic health … Continue reading Comments of DisAbility Rights Idaho on the Idaho Medicaid Reform Waiver Application

The Idaho Health Care Plan Using State Innovation Waivers to Increase Access to Health Care

By DRI

The Idaho Health Care Plan (IHCP) is a unique and innovative approach to extending opportunities for affordable health insurance coverage to some Idahoans in the health insurance gap, and to provide Medicaid coverage for Idahoans with certain diagnoses. IHCP requires two State Innovation Waivers, a Medicaid waiver under §1115 of the Social Security Act, and a waiver under §1332 of the Affordable Care Act. The §1115 Waiver would allow Idaho to extend Medicaid coverage to people who have certain conditions which result in very high medical costs. Removing these people from the Idaho health insurance exchange and transferring their coverage … Continue reading The Idaho Health Care Plan Using State Innovation Waivers to Increase Access to Health Care

Comments on Idaho State Innovation Medicaid Waiver (§1115) Application for People with Complex Medical Needs.

By DRI

DisAbility Rights Idaho is Idaho’s Protection and Advocacy System for people with disabilities.  We provide advocacy, legal assistance and public policy analysis on behalf of Idahoans with disabilities. We recognize that this waiver, in conjunction with a proposed §1332 Affordable Care Act, State Innovation Waiver, seeks to provide health care coverage for about 35,000 Idahoans who are currently without coverage, and to provide Medicaid eligibility for Idahoans with certain diagnoses. We support the waiver application as a significant first step in shrinking the coverage gap and providing an appropriate range of long term services and supports for some Idahoans with … Continue reading Comments on Idaho State Innovation Medicaid Waiver (§1115) Application for People with Complex Medical Needs.

Combining the SILC, the DD Council & TBI Programs into a Single Council is a Bad Idea

By DRI

DisAbility Rights Idaho, Comments on proposal for the Partnerships for Innovation, Inclusion and Independence (PIII) The PIII proposal is one of those concepts that seems like a good idea to people in Washington D.C. examining the various laws and grants, but is obviously a very bad idea to people with disabilities in the states where the councils actually do their work. I do not believe that there is any way to combine the three councils without diminishing their effectiveness. I do not believe that a single council can have effective representation from all of the affected constituencies. Combining the Councils … Continue reading Combining the SILC, the DD Council & TBI Programs into a Single Council is a Bad Idea

Medicaid Supported Living Rates for People with DD

By DRI

Comments of DisAbility Rights Idaho on  Medicaid Supported Living Rates for People with Developmental Disabilities. Rate setting assumptions and base wage rate. The rates appear to be based on an assumption that the appropriate average wage for all of the levels of support should be $10.47/hr. This is based on the mean wage for personal care aide in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupation Code 39-9021, Personal Care Aide. We think this assumption is flawed and that it will lead to undesirable consequences. Although direct support staff for all levels of support may share the same job title, the … Continue reading Medicaid Supported Living Rates for People with DD