No action is expected at Thursday's hearing on any major issues.
Highlights:
- The Department of Developmental Services oversees the operations of the 4 remaining State owned and operated developmental centers and contracts with the 21 non-profit regional centers who coordinate and fund community-based services and supports to over 260,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.
- For the first time in over a decade, no major cuts are proposed to the developmental services budget, and the Governor is proposing that the existing 1.25% payment reduction to most regional center providers and regional center operations end on June 30, 2013.
- The subcommittee will hear updates on the closure process of Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, and also an update on the licensing and related issues at Sonoma Developmental Center in Eldridge that has drawn some controversy in previous months.
- One issue of that has sparked some concern among advocates – especially among families with children with autism spectrum and related disorders, is the issue of reimbursement of certain health insurance co-payments. The Governor’s budget includes increases of $15 million in State general funds in the 2012-2013 State Budget and $9.9 million in State general funds for the 2013-2014 State Budget to fund payments by regional centers of health insurance copays for services identified as necessary in the consumer’s Individual Program Plan (IPP)
- The Department of Developmental Services estimates that these costs include both “co-pays” that are payments made by the insured directly to a health care provider for each service or visit, as well as what is known as “co-insurance” and refers to a balance of costs for services above and beyond what is covered by the health insurance.
- The Brown Administration, regarding this issue, also proposed in February, budget related language to specify the conditions under which regional centers would be authorized to make such co-payments when necessary to ensure that the person with developmental disabilities receives the service or support, when health insurance covers the service in whole or in part, when the person (or family if the person is under the age of 18) has income that does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and when there is no third party who is liable to pay for the cost.
- The Department of Developmental Services estimates that roughly 50% of persons with developmental disabilities receiving services or families, have incomes below 400% of the Federal Poverty level.
- The proposed budget related (trailer bill) language also includes provisions that would provide flexibility for regional centers to cover co-pays for consumers or families with income above 400% of the Federal Poverty Level under extraordinary circumstances when needed to successfully maintain the child at home or adult with developmental disabilities receiving services in the least restrictive setting. The proposed legislative language would also prohibit payment by regional centers of insurance deductibles (the amount the insured must spend on his/her own before insurance benefits can be utilized).
SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TIME: 09:30 a.m., or when Senate floor session adjourns
WHERE: State Capitol – Room 4203
Even if you cannot attend the hearing, you can still watch and/or listen.
LIVE VIDEO STREAM – INTERNET - Most of the scheduled hearings can be viewed live on the CalChannel website at http://www.calchannel.com/live-webcast/ The page will say “LIVE Webcast California Legislative Hearings” Below that heading, look for the floor session, committee or subcommittee you wish to monitor and the scheduled time of the hearing or floor session. When the hearing or floor session starts, the posted date and time will changed to “In Progress – View Event” Click on that, and a box should open up with the live stream.
LIVE CABLE TV BROADCAST - You can also view the hearing via cable TV through CalChannel. Check this listing for your city or area and local cable company: http://www.calchannel.com/local-listing/
LIVE AUDIO ONLY INTERNET BROADCAST – Look for the hearing you want to listen to below, find the room number, and then click on the Assembly website link: http://assembly.ca.gov/listentorooms and then click on the room number (or chamber) where the hearing or floor session is located. The audio quality varies depending on the room and who is speaking. (It doesn’t matter if the floor session or hearing is an Assembly or Senate floor session or hearing – you can access either through this site)
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SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
This three-member Senate subcommittee focuses on health and human service budget items in the Governor’s proposed budget. The Senate budget subcommittee is one of several subcommittees dealing with specific areas of the Governor’s proposed budget and is under the full Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, chaired by Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco, 11th State Senate District).
MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITEE
Sen. Bill Monning – Chair (Democrat – Santa Cruz, 17th State Senate District)
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Concord, 7th State Senate District)
Sen. Bill Emmerson (Republican – Redlands, 23rd State Senate District)
Subcommittee staff (human services issues): Jennifer Troia
Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee Office Phone: 916-651–4103
Where to Send Comments:
Sen. Bill Monning, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services
State Capitol - Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814
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This information was provided by Marty Omoto of the California Disablity Community Action Network (CDCAN). You can receive updates from CDCAN and support their work by contacting them at:
1500 West El Camino Avenue Suite 499
Sacramento, CA 95833
916-757-9549
Email Marty at martyomoto [at] rcip [dot] com to ask to be added to the circulation list.
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