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Events of Interest to CYSHCN:
Finding Your Way: A Navigation Guide for Wisconsin Families Who Have Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities has been published. Download a pdf version of the booklet here.
The National Youth Leadership Network announces their new curriculum: Reap What You Sow: Harvesting Support Systems Curriculum Training Packages. Reap What You Sow brings youth and adults together to build support systems. For more information, click here.
September 16. Second Annual Wisconsin FoodShare Outreach Network Conference. Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Stevens Point, WI. Topics will include advocacy, mental health, transition and a health benefits update. For more information, visit maxishare.com.
September 21. Care in the Community: Making Connections. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, Wauwatosa, WI. For more information click here.
October 4. Did you know? Now you know! Marathon County Health Department, 1200 Lakeview Drive, Wausau, WI. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Training for parents, foster parents, caregivers and providers on health care and community services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Meet other families and become more informed and empowered to get the services and supports your child needs! To register, call 866-640-4106 or email Julia at Julia.Stavran@co.marathon.wi.us.
October 7-8, November 4-5, January 13-14, February 24-25, April 20-21. Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment. 5 p.m. Fridays ending by 3 p.m. on Saturdays at the Tundra Lodge Resort & Conference Center, Green Bay, WI. Youth, parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Martha DeYoung at 800-862-3725 or deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us.
October 14-15, December 2-3, January 20-21, February 17-18, March 30-31. Parents in Partnership: A Leadership Development Opportunity for Parents of Children with Disabilities. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Paradise Shores Conference Center, 26364 County Hwy. M, Holcombe, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Ruth Adix at 715-864-3014 or raadix2@yahoo.com.
October 20 and November 3. Did you know? Now you know! Waisman Outreach Office, 122 E. Olin Ave., Madison, WI. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Training for parents, foster parents, caregivers and providers on health care and community services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Meet other families and become more informed and empowered to get the services and supports your child needs! To register, call 800-532-3221 or email Susan at sbreitbach@waisman.wisc.edu.
October 21-22, December 2-3, January 13-14, February 10-11, March 23-24. Parents in Partnership: A Leadership Development Opportunity for Parents of Children with Disabilities. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 1001 Amber Ave., Stevens Point, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Martha DeYoung at 800-862-3725 or deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us.
October 21-22, December 2-3, January 20-21, February 24-25, March 23-24. Parents in Partnership: A Leadership Development Opportunity for Parents of Children with Disabilities Going Through the Transition Process. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center, 2810 Golf Road, Waukesha, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Jenny Neugart at 608-266-8778 or jennifer.neugart@yahoo.com.
October 24. Did you know? Now you know! Jefferson County Health/Human Services Department, 1541 Annex Road, Jefferson WI. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Training for parents, foster parents, caregivers and providers on health care and community services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Meet other families and become more informed and empowered to get the services and supports your child needs! To register, call 800-234-5437 or email Brad at bholman@chw.org.
November 5. Did you know? Now you know! ADRC of Manitowoc County, 4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc, WI. 9:00am-12:00pm. Training for parents, foster parents, caregivers and providers on health care and community services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Meet other families and become more informed and empowered to get the services and supports your child needs! To register, call 877-568-5205 or email Kara at KVanVooren@chw.org.
November 8-9. Fourth Annual Self-Determination Conference. Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells. There will be lots of hands-on sessions on navigating adult systems, getting more involved in the community, supported employment and more. The $75 registration fee includes meals and materials. For more info, click here.
A Training Announcement for All CYSHCN Collaborators: The Next CYSHCN Live Web Cast is Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 10:00am
Topic: "Wrap Around Coverage for CYSHCN"
It is common for children with complex needs to have several sources of coverage. For some, coverage is available through private insurance, either with the parent’s employer or purchased individually. However, there are a variety of funding sources through federal and state government programs such as Katie Beckett, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), school funding and other community resources. For example, private insurance may serve as the primary source of payment, with Medicaid used to “wrap around” to cover some services not covered in the private policy. Learning objectives for this training include, how to:
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Keep these different policies straight and understanding which funding source will cover which bills.
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Work with all of the various providers and payers to make sure a child gets the right mix of services AND gets covered.
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Achieve the goal of coordination to create the best possible care delivery for the child.
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Help coordinate health care coverage between the primary insurer and other financing and service agencies.
This web cast training was selected by YOU! Thank you! Through the competency self-assessment survey, you indicated that you wanted to learn more about the interaction of public and private health coverage programs for children.
Watch your inbox for a confirmation of the date and time, future instructions, and login information! This is a live web cast, so you are able to participate, ask questions, and answer polls. Not able to join the live web cast? Don't worry, we'll share the archive link with you, and hope that you can join us again in the future.
Ops Memos
Ops Memo 11-49: FoodShare Mass Change
Released August 29
New Policy: The FoodShare mass change will select all FoodShare cases and process eligibility for October using the new reference table changes and standards. Reference table changes will be made in CARES on September 10, 2011, so that ongoing cases will use the new amounts effective October 1, 2011. The mass change will occur on the weekend of September 10, 2011. Eligibility determinations for FoodShare for October 2011 and later will use the new amounts. These amounts will be added to Chapter 8.1, of the FoodShare Handbook. Note: The correct amount for Excess Shelter is $459 not $444 as originally reported in the Ops Memo.
State & National News
Analysis and Comment
Standing Up for Income Maintenance
In a Joint Finance Committee meeting this week, Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) laid out his concerns about serious funding disparities that exist in how the state funds county services. According to the press release issued by Sen. Jauch's office on September 14, the Senator brought the issue to the committee’s attention after local county staff expressed concern to him about the significant disparity state aid cuts would dramatically hurt counties in northeastern Wisconsin. “During the state budget, we decided to allow counties to create regional consortiums to help reduce the impact of a 15% cut in state aid for local income maintenance programs,” said Jauch. “What we created was an inequitable, unfair system that allows wealthier counties to avoid deeper cuts while forcing rural, lower spending counties to take deeper cuts.” On a party line vote, the committee rejected Jauch’s proposal to make $400,000 available to the Department of Health Services to address inequalities of the proposed consortium. On an 11-5 vote the committee did adopt a second motion by Jauch directing the Department of Health Services to provide a full report on the consortia funding plan that explains state efforts to ensure adequate and equitable provision of income maintenance services throughout the state.
New Uniform Insurance Plan Summary Form is Unveiled
A new national uniform standard in health insurance coverage plans-a new format to consistently lay out the details of each policy-was unveiled this week. The new summary form reminds most people of the popular "food-nutrition label" required to disclose relevant information to a consumer. In the context of private health insurance, the label here lists an overall insurance deductible, or the amount a consumer must pay before coverage kicks in, and deductibles for specific categories, such as drug coverage. A list of medical events and associated services, such as home health care and emergency transportation, would likely be shown along with the consumer’s cost for each. The summary would also explain the consumer’s possible expenses for three common situations: having a baby, treating breast cancer, and managing diabetes. This form would likely be given to people shopping for plans, before they are locked into a selection, by means including insurance agents, email, or websites where policies are sold. Under the health reform law, it is also supposed to be supplied to workers with employer coverage when they sign up for plans as new hires or during open enrollment. Federal regulators unveiled the proposed summary form, part of the health-care overhaul law, on Wednesday. The requirement is supposed to take effect next March.
Headlines
Federal COBRA insurance subsidies end for laid-off workers
Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News, 31 August
"One of the key consumer benefits of the federal stimulus package--subsidies to help laid-off workers continue their health care coverage--draws to a close Wednesday, raising concerns about how the unemployed will cover those expenses."
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin names Christensen president
Guy Boulton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sept 6 2011
Cindy Christensen, chief operating office of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, has been promoted to hospital president as well as to executive vice president of Children's Hospital and Health System.
Whistleblower lawsuit accuses 3 drugmakers
Linda A. Johnson, Associate Press, Sept 6 2011
Three generic drugmakers are being accused in a whistleblower lawsuit of scheming to overcharge the government by tens of millions of dollars for medicines.
Wisconsin, nationwide public health departments shifting focus to population-based services
Adam Rodewald, The Northwestern, Sept 7 2011
Area public health departments are moving away from providing clinical based services for individuals and instead focusing on broad assessment, education and policy initiatives.
Act 32 modifies “adult child” insurance requirements
Andrew J. Bezouska, Inside Track, Sept 7 2011
Starting in January, insurers and self-insured governmental plans that provide dependent coverage will be required to cover adult children until age 26, regardless of marital status or the cost of health insurance premiums.
Rep. Richards, Sen. Erpenbach: Unveil Wisconsin Patients’ Bill of Rights
WisPolitics.com, Sept 7, 2011
The Wisconsin Patients’ Bill of Rights secures key health care consumer and patient protections provided under the federal Affordable Care Act into state law.
Rules for health insurers proposed
David Wahlberg, Wisconsin State Journal, Sept 7 2011
With the challenge to the federal healthcare law expected to go before the U.S. Supreme Court, the state lawmakers want to make sure some of the law’s key provisions remain in Wisconsin.
AARP Wisconsin: Pleased with protections contained in proposed Wisconsin Patients’ Bill of Rights
WisPolitics.com. Sept 7 2011
AARP Wisconsin today voiced support for the proposed Wisconsin Patients’ Bill of Rights legislation that will extend – and make permanent – many of the important consumer protections in the federal Affordable Care Act to Wisconsin health insurance consumers.
WAWH: Wisconsin women can win with the Patients’ Bill of Rights
WisPolitics.com, Sept 7, 2011
The legislation secures key health care consumer and patient protections provided under the federal Affordable Care Act into state law. These meaningful protections for Wisconsinites will ensure that being a woman is not a pre-existing condition.
Lawmakers Introduce Protections against Health Insurance Discrimination
Citizen Action of Wisconsin press release, Sept 8 2011
At a Capitol news conference on Wednesday, lawmakers, health care advocates, and Wisconsinites with preexisting medical conditions unveiled a bill of rights for Wisconsin health insurance consumers.
Advocates wait for details on $500 million in Medicaid cuts
David Wahlberg, Wisconsin State Journal, Sept 12, 2011
Some decisions, such as whether to drop more than 50,000 people from BadgerCare Plus, depend on federal approval of the state’s plans by Dec. 31, a process that can take months, advocates say.
Advocates request Department of Health Services make proposed cuts to Medicaid and BadgerCare public
Delay lessens opportunity for review and public discussion of proposed cuts.
What’s At Stake with Possible Medicaid/BadgerCare Waiver Policy Changes?
Wisconsin Council on Children Families, Sept 9, 2011
If the state does not receive a federal waiver by December 31st, 2011, the budget directs DHS to reduce eligibility for adults (other than pregnant women and people with disabilities) to 133 percent of the poverty level, beginning July 1, 2012. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated this will end coverage for 60,000 Wisconsin adults.
Tea Party Debate Audience Cheers Idea of Letting Sick Man without Insurance Die (VIDEO)
Evan McMorris-Santoro, Talking Points Memo, Sept 12, 2011
In Tampa, Florida at the CNN/Tea Party Express debate Monday night, the tea party-filled audience literally cheered aloud for the uninsured to be allowed to die.
Small businesses can get new federal tax credit for offering health insurance
Donna Gehrke-White, Sun Sentinel, Sept 12 2011
The Internal Revenue Service wants to make sure that small businesses know they may qualify for a new federal tax credit if they pay at least half their employees' health insurance premiums.
Important Information for Small Businesses Owners
Richard Sorian, Healthcare.gov, Sept 5 2011
If you’re a small business owner, there are a few deadlines approaching that you won’t want to miss in order to help provide health coverage for your employees.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services want seniors to choose higher-quality plans
Sam Baker, Healthwatch, Sept 12 2011
Medicare is trying to push seniors into higher-quality Medicare Advantage plans while also giving plans stronger incentives to improve.
Health and Human Services Department rejects Delaware healthcare waiver
Sam Baker, Healthwatch, Sept 12 2011
Delaware asked HHS to phase in the 80 percent premium expense standard over the next three years.
Department proposes $8.3 million cut in county human services
Devin Rose, Wisconsin State Journal, Sept 13 2011
Dane County Department of Human Services proposes $235.2 million budget for 2012, $8.3 million less than 2011 due to decreased federal and state money.
Debate exchange offers window into larger question about role of health care
Robert Hendin, CBS News, Sept 13 2011
While many in the Tea Party favor more limited government and more personal responsibility, it was in fact the president most beloved by the movement who signed the law that firmly put government behind this part of the health care cost equation.
State Funding for County Income Maintenance Includes Huge Disparities
Sen. Bob Jauch, Sept 14 2011
Funding disparities in how the state funds county services, including medical assistance and Food share, would dramatically hurt counties in northeastern Wisconsin.
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