On 3/20 at 11 am the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will hold a public hearing on LD 464, An Act to Eliminate Waiting Lists for Community-based Services for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Brain Injury or Other Related Conditions, and LD 659, An Act to Promote Seamless and Flexible Home and Community Supports Across the Lifespan for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities or Autism.
LD 464 would eliminate the wait lists for MaineCare Section 21 (the comprehensive waiver), Section 29 (the supports waiver), Section 18 (brain injury waiver), and Section 20 (other related. conditions). It would also eliminate the wait lists for state-funded elder services (Chapter 5, Section 63, and Chapter 11). This bill would go well beyond the biennial budget, which would eliminate only the Section 29 wait list. LD 659 would establish a waiver to provide services to people regardless of their level of need. It also: Establishes a stakeholder group to advise on design and implementation (which is already up and running); and establishes goals for the Lifespan waiver. If you support LD 464 and/or LD 659 you can submit testimony in person, in writing, and/or via zoom. To testify:
If you checked the ‘testify via zoom’ link then you’ll get a zoom link emailed to you. On hearing day you’ll be able to attend as a participant (who can’t talk or turn camera on) until shortly before it’s your turn to testify. When it’s your turn, they’ll “promote” you to a “participant”. Your zoom might look like you’ve lost the connection just momentarily, but then you’ll reappear as a regular participant who can unmute, turn on camera, etc. And you can tell the committee what you think about LD 464. (Senator Baldacci, Representative Meyer, and Distinguished members of the HHS Committee) If you would like to submit testimony for both bills you will have to go back to https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/ and fill out the form separately and select the other LD number radio button. Thank you for raising your voice and taking action! Aging and Disability CONNECTIONS Newsletter
Director’s Message Governor Mills’ Budget Proposal Boosts Funding for Older Adults, Individuals with Disabilities Governor Mills has delivered her proposed budget to the Legislature for the two-year period that begins July 1, 2023, and it includes significant increases for older adults and individuals with disabilities. The proposal includes $169 million in new investments to promote healthy aging, including several high-priority items from the Elder Justice Roadmap, developed by a private-public partnership to address abuse, neglect and exploitation among older adults. The Elder Justice package includes funding for the Elder Service Connections program, operated by the Elder Abuse Institute of Maine to connect Adult Protective Services clients to services and facilitate meaningful changes in their lives. The package also includes more funding for civil legal services as increasing numbers of older adults face eviction proceedings in Maine’s tight housing market. The budget proposal also expands the capacity of Adult Protective Services. The Governor’s budget also promotes sustainable living, a key theme emerging from the Cabinet on Aging. This includes a significant investment of state funds in home delivered meals to ensure that a million meals per year can continue to be delivered as one-time federal COVID-19 funding tapers. It also includes funding to expand home based care and significant rate increases for a range of home and community based supports, including adult day centers, assisted living and supports to people living in apartment settings. The budget also includes funding for Area Agencies on Aging to expand information and assistance through their Aging and Disability Resource Centers. Finally, the budget proposal includes significant additional funding for nursing homes, including the Maine Veteran’s Homes. The proposed budget also includes $84 million to expand access and promote innovation in programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This includes funding to serve 900 more people in the Section 29 waiver program, which will eliminate that program’s waiting list and keep up with new applicants. It also includes funding to ensure ongoing availability of reserve capacity in Section 21 for individuals with priority 1 needs. The budget also includes funding for rate increases in all of Maine’s waiver programs, including Section 18 for individuals with brain injury and Section 20 for individuals with other related conditions. As she noted in her budget address to the Legislature, the Governor also included funding to implement a new Lifespan waiver program beginning January 1, 2025, and enroll 540 individuals in the final six months of the biennium. Lifespan will expand eligibility of waiver services to children with intellectual disabilities beginning at age 14, and will have a flexible service design that will enable individuals to change the supports they receive as their needs change over time. Once Lifespan is operating, individuals will no longer need to start services in one program while getting on a waiting list in anticipation of changing future needs. Lifespan is expected to include several service innovations currently being tested as part of recent innovation grants made by the Department (story below). You can find more information on Lifespan here. The Department has proposed a companion bill, LD 659, which articulates the program’s goals and its relationship to existing programs. Governor Mills’ budget proposals will enable significant progress to continue for older adults and individuals with disabilities in Maine. Public hearings on the budget occurred in February and deliberations are now underway. ~Paul Saucier, Director Direct Care and Support Professional Advisory Council The Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) established the Direct Care and Support Advisory Council with funding from the Maine Health Access Foundation (MEHAF) and funds available under section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan, in partnership with the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS). The mission of the Council is to bring direct care and direct support professionals together to create a strong voice to inform policy makers about the issues that are important to them. Current Council members span across the state and in various long-term support and care settings. They are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), Personal Support Specialists (PSS), and Direct Support Professionals (DSP). Additionally, Council members represent the diversity of Maine’s essential workers. Since the creation of the Council, members have met with OADS staff to learn about workforce initiatives and legislation that provided funding to increase wages. Representatives from the Maine Women’s Lobby met with members to discuss the Family Medical Leave Act. Council members participated in the Caring for Maine campaign and served on a panel for the Maine Association of Community Services Providers. Recently, Council members participated in a presentation before the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. Additional information about the Council’s work is available here. Maine Ranks 4th in Direct Care Workforce In a recent report comparing Direct Care Workforce efforts Maine is excited to have placed fourth in the nation! The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) created a Direct Care Workforce State Index, designed to help policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders understand how states support direct care workers, where they can improve, and how they compare to other states. These results are in part due to the coordinated efforts of the Governor’s Office, the Department of Labor, Maine’s Community Colleges, the University of Maine System and DHHS. Maine’s efforts to improve the direct support workforce are summarized in a report recently released by the Department, Second Annual Report on Efforts and Progress in Implementing the Recommendations of the Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues. The report provides an update of activities including payment increases, recruitment campaigns, education and training assistance, self-direction, curricula and credentials work and more. Although workforce shortages continue to constrain services, year-over-year data in the report show modest increases in services from 2021 to 2022. Report highlights can be found here. Tribal State Collaboration Act The Tribal State Collaboration Act of 2022 aims to promote respectful, government-to-government dialogue and communication between Maine’s state agencies and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation. The Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to engage in a tribal collaboration process regarding contemplated programs, rules or services that substantially and uniquely affect the Indian Tribes or their members. In December 2022 the Department issued the DHHS Tribal Collaboration Policy which governs our work. OADS looks forward to engaging with Maine’s four federally recognized Indian Tribes on topics of mutual interest. DHHS Makes First Round of Innovation Grant Awards for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Innovation Pilots The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $4.3 million in its first round of HCBS innovation grants to 13 organizations throughout the State in a competitive process, using federal HCBS improvement funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act. The projects cover a broad range of innovations, from technology to self-advocacy, and seek to make community participation a reality for people with diverse needs, including individuals who require significant behavioral health supports. OADS is pleased to be partnering with The National Disability Institute (NDI) who will be acting as fiscal agent to distribute funds and monitor grant activity, providing technical assistance to awardees, and supporting project evaluation and reporting. For more specific information about these exciting projects, please see DHHS’s blog DHHS Awards First Round of Grants for Innovative Projects Supporting People with Disabilities which was posted on February 28, 2023. Attention IDD Service providers! Did you know that the COVID Immunization Grant program will reimburse providers of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) services for hosting COVID/flu vaccination clinics? Eligible clinics should be focused on serving individuals with IDD, their families, and staff. A reimbursement of $2,000 is available for clinic-related costs, such as provider staff expenses, clinic set-up, advertisement, and clean-up costs. The program will cover costs for two vaccine clinics per year, each being eligible for reimbursement (up to a grand total of $4,000 for two clinics). If you would like to participate in the program or learn more, please email Trinity Baker, the OADS Vaccine Outreach Manager, at [email protected] Cabinet on Aging Update In Volume 1/ Issue 1 of Aging and Disability Connections you heard about the launch of Governor Mills Cabinet on Aging. We are pleased to share that Elizabeth Gattine has joined the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future as a Senior Policy Analyst and Cabinet on Aging Coordinator. Many of you may know Elizabeth through her various positions such as, Senior Policy Associate at the Catherine Cutler Institute, part of the Muskie School of Public Service, at the University of Southern Maine, or by her fifteen years of experience as a Program Manager at the Office of Aging and Disability Services overseeing Long-Term Services and Supports programs. As the Cabinet on Aging Coordinator, Elizabeth has been full steam ahead. Based on recent input from public stakeholder meetings, the Cabinet is currently focused on identifying and implementing strategies that; support sustainable living for older Mainers in their communities; support community connections that improve quality of life, inclusion, and engagement of older adults; and engage older residents in active retirement and work. For information related to work of the Cabinet and how you can provide input please visit: https://www.maine.gov/future/initiatives/aging What's New with COVID-19? Flu season 2022-2023 has been especially challenging due to the collision of 3 respiratory viruses, resulting in a triple threat or “tripledemic.” Not only did we see an uptick in COVID 19, but the Influenza virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) peaked earlier and harder than in recent years, overwhelming emergency rooms and hospitals yet again. Luckily, the worst appears to be behind us. But here’s a reminder. COVID- 19 remains active, and we continue to see new cases every day. As in the past, those who might be in a high-risk category should still do everything they can to stay safe and healthy. This includes avoiding big crowds, and masking when in closed crowded spaces. And of course, be sure to get that COVID-19 Bivalent Booster. It’s not too late. Attention CAREGIVERS! Have you heard about Respite for ME? Respite for ME Grants, funded by the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, will allow caregivers to access respite care as well as other services not currently covered by existing programs. Eligible caregivers may receive up to $2,000 to access needed services. You can learn more at the FAQ found on our website! OADS to Hire New Housing Coordinator to Support Growth in Housing Options for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and AutismThis new housing coordinator position, funded under the Innovation FMAP project, will lead a significant project to transition a current rental subsidy program to one that affords direct access to this program by waiver members. The person in this position will also liaise with the Housing Authority of Maine with the goal of ensuring that individuals with IDD and Autism and their families are represented when discussion arise about new housing projects in Maine. As the Department considers alternative housing options in the new life span waiver, and other Innovative projects, this position will assist with developing policies and rule to support these other options. Maine SIS Program: OADS and Maximus Move Toward Mid-Spring 2023 Supports Intensity Scale (SIS-A) Needs Assessments Launch | SIS Process Overview | Volunteer Members Sought for Training Assessments | Program Resources The State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is implementing a new needs assessment for all Section 21 and 29 members. This assessment will be a requirement for members who want to participate in the new “A Path for ME” Lifespan Project planned for 2025. Read below for an overview of the SIS-A assessment process, including a timeline, reminders about initial training assessments, helpful resources, and program support contacts. “A Path for ME” SIS- A Assessment and Lifespan Project Timeline PROCESS OVERVIEW: Basics of the SIS-A Assessment
Before the Assessment A scheduler will contact the case manager and guardian (if applicable) to schedule the assessment. They will ask for a date, time, and location that works best. The scheduler will also ask if others should be invited to the assessment. Those who participate in the assessment are called respondents. The SIS requires at least two qualified respondents. A qualified respondent must have known the person for 3+ months and be able to speak to their day-to-day support needs. Respondents will talk about the types of supports the member needs to be successful. They must attend for the whole assessment. It can take 2 to 3 hours. OADS needs to ensure the best results from the SIS-A and respect the member’s privacy. It is critical to have the attention of all respondents during the assessment. This means that the interview excludes the use of any outside electronics. Examples of these devices are cell phones, laptops, or recording devices. During the Assessment The interviewer will explain the process to everyone at the assessment. It’s important that the member attend, if only part of the time. There will be occasions when the member cannot attend. If this happens, the interviewer will schedule a time to meet them in person prior to the assessment. After the Assessment Once the assessment is completed, members will:
Case managers can use the information from the SIS assessment. It will assist with greater understanding around the frequency and type of support needed. Information from the SIS assessment may also assist with developing goals. REMINDER: Currently Seeking Members to Volunteer for Training Assessments As shared previously, there is an initial training phase for SIS assessors from February 1 through March 15, 2023. During this period, $100 stipends may be provided to participating members and up to two nonpaid assessment respondents, such as family members and friends. If you know a member who would be interested in volunteering to participate in a training assessment, call the Help Desk: 833.771.4639 or email: [email protected] with the subject line, “Member interested in SIS training assessment participation”. TOOLKIT: SIS Resources
SUPPORT: Contact the Maine SIS Assessments Help Desk Do you have other SIS assessment related questions? Contact the Maximus – Maine SIS Help Desk team from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday to learn more: Phone: 833.771.4639 Email: [email protected] Program updates and support information are also available on the OADS website, as well as the newly launched Maximus – Maine SIS Assessments tools and resources page. Bookmark these helpful sites and check back to them for frequent updates in the months ahead. Sign up for the SIS Assessment Mailing Lists: Review the instructions and click one or both links below to stay updated on all the latest program updates and new resources available. Receive program updates from Maximus: Send an email to: [email protected]. Use the subject line “Add to the Maine SIS Mailing List” and include the following information in the body of your message for all members of your team who should be added to the mailing list: full name, title, facility/organization, email address. Receive program updates from OADS: Go to the Office of Aging and Disability Services | Department of Health and Human Services (maine.gov) website and enter your email address in the available field to Receive Updates by Email. You will see options listed for various State offices and programs. Select the checkboxes for the OADS information most relevant to you, then follow the prompts to complete your mailing list setup. LEARN MORE: Who is Maximus? Maximus has extensive experience partnering with state, federal and local governments to administer conflict-free assessment services for persons with intellectual, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities, as well as older adults and individuals with complex medical conditions. This includes current management of the State of Maine – Assessment Services Agency (ASA), which is an integrated service for assisting individuals across a range of support programs. Learn more about Maximus services and capabilities. About Maximus For over 40 years, Maximus has partnered with state, federal and local governments across the country. We administer complex programs that provide individuals with the appropriate care and resources necessary to improve their quality of life. The company has extensive experience in conflict-free assessment services for persons with intellectual, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities. Maximus currently manages the State of Maine – Assessment Services Agency (ASA), an integrated service for assisting individuals across a range of support programs. Community Connect Maine Offers Online Training: Digital Storytelling Workshop with Anne Aronson3/7/2023
Community Connect Maine Offers Online Training: Digital Storytelling Workshop with Anne Aronson
The workshop is FREE to participants. (Typical cost is $300.00 for the workshop and equipment.) Class is limited to 8 participants. For more information or to register contact: Kim Humphrey at [email protected] or call 207-754-3435 The workshop will be offered over four Sunday mornings from 8:30A.M.-12:30P.M. on April 16, April 23, April 30, and May 14. Attendance at all four sessions is strongly recommended. No previous digital media experience is required. Editing equipment is provided. Learn to Create a Digital Story In the workshop you will create a personal digital story based on your experience with disability. Digital stories are short videos that use the power of narration, images, and music to tell a compelling story. Digital stories are used all over the world to empower individuals, build community, and connect small stories to big issues. With guidance from Community Connect, you can share your digital story with policy decision-makers, other families and individuals experiencing the same challenges, and the general public. The stories will move, inform, and raise awareness. This Zoom workshop will lead participants through the process of creating a digital story from start to finish. Topics include:
About Anne Aronson Anne Aronson, the workshop trainer, is the teacher and storyteller behind Digital Story Makers. She is a Professor Emerita at Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN. She is an award winning teacher with over 30 years of experience teaching professional writing, rhetoric, gender studies, information literacy and digital storytelling. She has a B.A in English from Yale University and a Ph.D in Rhetoric form the University of MN. In 2011 she attended a digital storytelling workshop offered by StoryCenter. Since then, digital story telling has become the centerpiece of her life. Learn more at www.digitalstorymakers.com Join us for the premiere of invisible: Personal stories from the front lines of disability A screening of short videos by and about people living with disability in Maine, followed by a conversation with the filmmakers. Thursday, March 23, 6 p.m. Curtis Memorial Library, Morrell Room 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, Maine (fully accessible facility) Free and open to the public Please register at: [email protected] Snacks will be served - Parking available For more information, call (207) 754-3435. (One video deals with sexual abuse and may not be appropriate for all viewers.) These videos are presented by Community Connect Maine. Forwarded Action Alert: Public Hearing 3/13 LD 886- Please ask VLA to make it easier for us to vote3/3/2023
Forwarded Action Alert from Maine Disability Alerts:
On Mon March 13 at 10 am, the Veterans and Legal Affairs (VLA) Committee of the Maine Legislature will hold public hearing on LD 886, “An Act to Allow Clerks to Issue Absentee Ballots After the 3rd Business Day Before Election Day to Voters Who Have a Nonphysical Disability and Voters Who Support a Person with a Disability”. Please consider testifying via zoom, in writing, and/or in person (437 State House, Augusta) to make easier for folks like us to vote. Background:
To testify:
If you checked the ‘testify via zoom’ link then you’ll get a zoom link emailed to you. On hearing day you’ll be able to attend as a participant (who can’t talk or turn camera on) until shortly before it’s your turn to testify. When it’s your turn, they’ll “promote” you to a “participant”. Your zoom might look like you’ve lost the connection just momentarily, but then you’ll reappear as a regular participant who can unmute, turn on camera, etc. And you can tell the committee what you think about LD 886. (Senator Hickman, Representative Supica, and Distinguished members of the VLA Committee) There are four bills scheduled for the 10 am public hearing, with two more bills scheduled for 11 am. So connect at 10, but be prepared to wait for about an hour if take up the other bills first. Maine Parent Federation 2023 Annual Conference on Saturday, March 11th at the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center at 765 Old Portland Road Brunswick ME 9:00AM to 3:00PM
MPF will host parent training sessions, youth activities, lunch and a keynote introduction from Dr. Ross Greene. The link below provides more information. https://www.mpf.org/2023-annual-conference/ Space is limited so register now. MPF looks forward to seeing you! Maine Parent Federation Virtual Family Support Navigator Training
March 1 & 2, 2023 Are you the parent of, or caregiver to, a child with a disability or special health care need? Would you like to share your knowledge and provide peer-to-peer support to other Maine families? If so, this virtual training opportunity may be for you! Maine Parent Federation (MPF) is seeking parents, grandparents, and caregivers to children with disabilities and/or special health care needs who would like to attend this training to become a Family Support Navigator (FSN) and provide peer support to other Maine families. The FSN program matches experienced parents with other parents who need support while learning to navigate systems such as Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, MaineCare, Adult Services, etc., and assists them in locating local and statewide resources while helping parents learn to advocate for themselves. During the Pandemic all support was provided through phone, text, email, and social media platforms such as Zoom. Now that restrictions are easing if both parent and Navigator agree, meetings can be held in-person. As a parent who has been involved with MPF in the past, we are contacting you to see if you would like to use your skills and knowledge to support other families. A Family Support Navigator is a part-time independent consultant position. MPF contracts with you to provide up to 10 hours of support to each family you help. We pay $15.00 per hour for direct support to a family, provide a $40 monthly stipend for phone/internet when actively working with families, and .46 cents per mile travel reimbursement. This is a flexible opportunity where you set your own hours/schedule. MPF provides on-going supervision and technical assistance. This virtual training over zoom will be held on Wednesday, March 1 from 9:00 AM to Noon, and Thursday, March 2 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. There will be four other pre-recorded segments to the training that you can complete at your convenience. Once you have completed the 10-hour virtual training we will provide you with a $150 stipend. Please contact Deborah Newcombe at (800) 870-7746 or E-mail: [email protected] to receive an application and job description and to answer any questions. OADS to Implement the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS-A) Needs Assessments Mid-Spring 2023, with Vendor, Maximus
Review Program Details and Learn How Members and Their Supports Can Be Paid for Participation in Training Assessments The State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) will be starting a new needs assessment process. This will affect all Section 21 and 29 members. This assessment is needed for members who want to participate in the new “A Path for ME” Lifespan Waiver. This waiver is planned for 2025. These assessments will be performed by new State partner, Maximus. Training assessments will begin in mid-February. Later there will be a launch in Mid-Spring 2023. Why is this new assessment important for you? Information gathered from the assessment will help you plan. With the plan, you can reach your goals. Volunteer for a paid “A Path for ME” SIS training assessment We are asking Section 21 and 29 members, to help train new assessors in Maine. We will need two support people for the training. These people should have known you for more than three months. They can be family members, friends, direct support, or staff. And they can be from residential or day service providers. The community case manager should attend. Helping with the training is voluntary, but if you do, you will be paid for your time. Timeline: These training assessments will take place February 1 through March 15, 2023. Assessment details: The assessment typically takes 2-3 hours. Participants should set aside 3 hours. These will be conducted remotely. Payment is available for helping with training. Members and individuals who volunteer are each eligible to receive a $100.00 prepaid gift card. Volunteers must attend for the entire training session. Paid support staff do not qualify for the stipend. Members – click here to volunteer. Please note that a training assessment can't be used for an official assessment. Learn more about “A Path for ME” assessments Stakeholders were invited to attend a recent orientation session. That session was held earlier in December 2022 and hosted by OADS. The session provided an overview of “A Path for ME” SIS-A assessment. If you were unable to attend, you can review the presentation. Orientation to "A Path for ME" SIS-A Assessment - December 2022 (PowerPoint) For more information: Bookmark and check the web below for updates and helpful resources: A Path for ME SIS-A Implementation Email about “A Path for ME” assessments: [email protected] Sign up for the Maximus – “A Path for ME” Assessments Mailing List OADS will provide you with updated information in the weeks ahead. Those interested can also sign up for the Maximus mailing list. That list will provide updates and information on new program resources. To sign up for the mailing list, email [email protected]. Use the subject line, “Add me to ‘A Path for ME’ assessments member mailing list.” About Maximus Maximus works with state, federal and local governments across the country. They administer complex programs. These programs provide people with the care and resources to improve their lives. One program is their current management the Assessment Services Agency (ASA) for the State of Maine. This program is an integrated service for assisting individuals across a range of support services. Reposted from the DHHS Website
Click here to view the Blog Post on the DHHS website Governor Mills’ Budget Proposal Supports Access and Innovation in Services for Maine People with Intellectual Disabilities January 19, 2023 Governor Janet Mills’ biennial budget proposes $84 million to support access and innovation in services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and brain injury. The proposed funding addresses access by adding individuals to Maine’s IDD programs and keeping pace with inflation through additional cost-of-living rate adjustments. The budget promotes innovation with a new Lifespan program that simplifies and centers the program on the people it serves and their changing needs and plans. Initiatives include:
Lifespan: A Program for a Lifetime Lifespan is one of three system improvement prongs that the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is implementing under A Path for ME, an initiative to improve and transform how services are delivered to people with IDD. The second prong is a robust identification of needs using the Supports Intensity Scale, a nationally validated and reliable tool used in several other states. Individuals enrolling in Lifespan will have an assessment and the person-centered planning team will use information from the assessment to develop an individualized service plan. The third prong is innovation. Lifespan recognizes that individuals with disabilities each have their own paths, and services must be flexible and responsive in order to support those paths. To that end, OADS is using one-time federal funding to stimulate innovation through a grant-making initiative. The first round of grants, issued this month, includes projects that expand the use of technology and remote support; promote employment and financial independence; enhance supports for individuals with exceptional medical or behavioral needs, and offer alternative residential options. Grantees will receive technical support from the National Disability Institute (NDI), and projects will be assessed for effectiveness in real time, with the most promising innovations to be folded into Lifespan. Currently, individuals with IDD can experience abrupt and confusing transitions as they move from children’s services to adult services. Typically, they begin receiving adult supports through Section 29, Maine’s supportive services waiver, and place their names on the Section 21 wait list in anticipation of needing the more intensive services offered by Section 21 in the future. Lifespan will enroll individuals earlier (at age 14), enabling the development of a life plan and making the transition to adulthood smoother. If needs become more intensive, different services can be accessed without changing programs. Lifespan would:
Stakeholder Engagement OADS began planning for Lifespan in September 2022 with the first of five stakeholder feedback sessions. Stakeholders expressed strong support for Lifespan and for participation in an advisory committee that includes individuals with disabilities, family members, advocates, and providers. OADS is leading the work, collaborating closely with the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS). Lifespan will be created as a Medicaid (MaineCare) waiver program, making the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) a key partner as well. DHHS will also be working closely with the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) and the Department of Education. Broader Improvements to Home- and Community-Based Services The Mills Administration has made historic investments to improve home- and community-based services (HCBS) for older Mainers and people with IDD through the budget as well as new federal funds. The biennial budget for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 invested $90.6 million to increase MaineCare rates for HCBS waiver services for older adults and people with disabilities and brain injury. The supplemental budget added another $68.5 million, for a combined investment of $159.1 million. The HCBS cost-of-living rate increases that took effect January 1, 2023, included an additional $19 million to keep up with higher than projected inflation, bringing the total for the current biennium to $178.1 million. In addition to these ongoing investments, the Department is implementing its HCBS Improvement Plan with over $240 million in one-time federal funding made available specifically for this purpose through the American Rescue Plan Act. As of December 2022, $132 million has been invested from the plan, with most of the funds supporting bonuses to direct support workers. In addition to the bonuses, in September 2022, group home providers received a one-time payment of $6 million to address continuing COVID-related staffing challenges, and providers subject to the federal HCBS settings rule received $5 million in remediation grants to help bring their programs into compliance. In addition to supporting payment improvements, the Mills Administration has worked with the Legislature to expand access to HCBS waiver services with an expansion of the number of individuals added to these services. Each year since 2019, the Governor has supported increased funding to provide greater access to waiver services. New preliminary data shows that as a result, the number of adults with IDD receiving support for residential services through MaineCare jumped 46 percent between State Fiscal Year 2017 and July 1, 2022. This was possible through an expansion of shared living, a family-style living situation that affords opportunities for individuals with IDD to become a member of the household, a family, and their local communities. Staffing challenges caused group homes to decline slightly in the same period, underscoring how important it is to offer a range of options to ensure resiliency of the service system in emergencies. |
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