SWAN – OPWDD Meeting Highlights – July 24 2017
OPWDD Representatives:
Kerry Delaney, Acting Commissioner,
Greg Roberts, Dir. of Legislative and Governmental Affairs
Neil Mitchell, Special Asst. to the Commissioner
JoAnn Lamphere, Dep. Commissioner Div. of Person –Centered Supports
Helene DeSanto, Acting Exec. Dep. Commissioner,
The representatives from SWAN were: Brad Pivar, ENYDDA, Will Mayerik, GROW, Elly Rufer & Jim Karpe, NYC FAIR, Kathy Bunce, DDAWNY Family Committee (on the phone)
- Overall Acting Commissioner Kerry Delaney agreed with SWAN on the need for greater participation by families in three important areas: policy setting, messaging and governance.
- Acting Commissioner invited members of SWAN to be part of an ad hoc workgroup on Value Based Payments. This group is to work intensively over the next few weeks to select the “first year” set of measures that make sense for members of the disabilities community.
- JoAnn Lamphere is to investigate the details on how to expand the role of families in governance. The ad hoc working group on Value Based Payments is to be developed as well.
- She also asked the members of SWAN to help publicize an OPWDD initiative called “Join the Conversation” https://opwdd.ny.gov/jointheconversation. In addition they requested assistance in setting up a statewide ‘listening tour” about the transition to Managed Care. They want input on what the structure and content should be for these sessions.
- She also agreed that families should play a greater role in all aspects of policy creation from sitting on the boards of the CCO (Care Coordinating Organizations) to being part of the appeals/review process.
- Concerns were raised about the CAS assessment tool. OPWDD agreed to send SWAN a copy if they can get it released by the creator, as there are issues of intellectual property involved.
- SWAN agreed to help with setting up the ‘listening tours”to spread the word on the “jointheconversation” initiative and to follow up with the actions identified above.