Summary of August 4, 2017 meeting with Paul Francis and OPWDD

SWAN Aug 4 2017 mtg with OPWDD and Paul Francis FINAL

Attendees

SWAN of NYS – Brad Pivar and Pat Curran of ENYDDA , Kathy Bunce of DDAWNY Family Committee, Dan Maillet of GROW, Elly Rufer, Jim Karpe, and Meri Krassner of NYC FAIR. Kathy, Dan and Meri on phone, the remainder in person.

New York State – Paul Francis, Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services; Kerry Delaney, Acting Commissioner OPWDD; Shelly Weizman, Ass’t Secretary for Mental Hygiene; Helen DeSanto, Acting Executive Deputy Commissioner OPWDD; Megan O’Connor, Deputy Commissioner of Service Delivery OPWDD.

Summary

SWAN requested this meeting to discuss how families can deepen their involvement in making improvements in the services provided to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) in New York State. Deputy Secretary Paul Francis joined Commissioner Kerry Delaney in welcoming an expanded role for families. Discussion focused on how to move from broad agreement to the “nuts & bolts” of participation.

 

• OPWDD policy setting, messaging and governance. Commissioner Delaney summarized for Paul Francis the July 24^th meeting with SWAN and re-iterated her commitment to continuing to expand the relationship with SWAN: “The more coordination, the better off we all are.” K. Delaney noted SWAN’s August 3^rd review of a draft OPWDD communication.
• Structure of Managed Care for I/DD. Commissioner Delaney and Deputy Secretary Francis provided assurances regarding how Managed Care will be rolled out for the I/DD population. They emphatically stated that the long-term supports and services would not be forced into a “medical model” with the goal of reducing usage. Instead, they repeatedly stated that Managed Care will be used as a tool to roll out reforms which provide greater flexibility and reduce regulatory overhead. Details and examples were not provided at the meeting. In addition Mr. Francis assured us that extra money the 90/10 split that is the funding for this program will remain with OPWDD.
• Justice Center. SWAN’s Pat Curran highlighted that families want to be part of the solution to the problem of how to protect individuals with I/DD. Paul Francis welcomed SWAN involvement and stated that there are changes underway at the Justice Center including new leadership and other reforms. He assigned Shelly Weizman to make arrangements for SWAN to meet with Justice Center leadership, and have follow-up discussions throughout the state.

Pending action items

1. Delaney- Continue the work to “operationalize” the involvement of families in policy, messaging and governance, as detailed in the action items from July 24^th meeting.
2. Francis and K.Delaney- Coordinate with their staff, to provide a briefing to SWAN on the road-map for Managed Care roll-out to I/DD population. Will highlight the programmatic reforms which create flexibility and streamline processes.
3. Weizman- Arrange meeting between Justice Center leadership and SWAN. Coordinate arrangements for follow-up small group discussion sessions around the state.
4. O’Connor- Will look into details of how to get high acuity individuals to qualify for “enhanced funding” or “intensive support rate” and talk with SWAN’s Kathy Bunce. Will then publish this guidance to SWAN and on OPWDD web site.
5. Francis and SWAN- Mr. Francis’s staff to provide information about possible ABLE tax credit policies. SWAN to come back with a response and recommendation, in advance of State budget negotiation season.