Monday, December 8, 2014

Next Developmental Services Task Force Meeting Set for Dec. 16th

The next Developmental Services Task Force meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 16, 2014. Consider attending -- or sending your comments beforehand to Secretary Dooley -- and sharing our concerns over:
  1. The recent Sonoma Developmental Center ICF survey appears to have not had the well being of SDC residents as the focus. Is there another agenda driving surveyors?
  2. Recommendations for medical health clinic both north and south not yet realized but regional centers are moving people out of SDC at increased rates.
  3. Dental issues and durable medical equipment remain issues of concern.
  4. The community lacks transparency and oversight. It's good when services work but poor when crises in mental or physical health occur.
  5. Medication management and mental health issues remain major issues of concern.
  6. And finally -- your own issues for your loved one!
The likely location for the meeting is the following:
California Department of Health Care Services
1700 K Street, First Floor Conference Room
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you can not attend in person, it is possible to join the meeting by phone at 1-888-204-5784; participant passcode  597147#.  Please confirm with Jim Suennen at 916-651-8056 and let him know if you would like to attend in person or with the conference call option.

From Message to Task Force members from Secretary Dooley:

Thank you for your continued involvement in the process to strengthen services in the community. We have had a lot of thoughtful discussion in our last two meetings and it is our goal to keep the momentum going. In looking over the meeting notes and reflecting on our discussions, we would like to convene four general workgroups on the following topics:

o   Rates/Rate Structure
o   Caseload Ratios/Regional Center Operations
o   Medical & Mental Health Services & Supports
o   Housing & Employment

Many of you have expressed that there is an urgency to examine rates. We agree that this is a foundational issue and we would like to have our first workgroup meeting on rates for Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. During this first meeting we would like to set some parameters for our work on rates and give a thorough overview of the current rate system and the CMS Home and Community Based Services regulations to provide a foundation for work in this area.

In January we would like to come together to begin the work of the Caseload Ratios/ Regional Center Operations Workgroup. In February we can return to the Rates Workgroup, and then in March return to the Regional Center Workgroup.

...

Please find attached a summary of our last Developmental Services Task Force meeting for your review. Thank you again for your continued participation in this process, especially during the holiday season.

Diana S. Dooley, Secretary
California Health and Human Services Agency

Attachment: DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TASK FORCE: STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY SYSTEM, October 8, 2014

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