The Re-KAPP 11.4.16

Election Day November 8, 2016

Click here for your Kentucky Election Directory!

Kentucky General Assembly:

 

• In the Kentucky State Senate, there are 11 Democratic incumbents and 27 Republican incumbents. Two incumbents faced primary challengers in the Democratic Party. Two primary challenges took place in the Republican primary.

• In the House, there are 53 Democratic incumbents and 47 Republican incumbents. Six state representatives faced primary opposition in the Democratic Party. There were eight primary challenges in the Republican primary.

• Overall, 19.3 percent of Democratic incumbents and 21.2 percent of GOP incumbents faced primary opposition in all of the state legislatures that have had filing deadlines.

• The cumulative figure for how many state legislative candidates will face no major party opposition in November in these states stands at 43.4 percent. This compares to 32.7 percent in 2010, 38.3 percent in 2012, and 43.0 percent in 2014.

• More details on electoral competitiveness in Kentucky can be found here.

Link to ANCOR Amplifier’s Voter Resources page HERE for a national election overview.

---

KAPP ANNUAL Membership Meeting & Elections

Wednesday – November 9, 2016

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Indiana Wesleyan University Building – Hamburg

2530 Sir Barton Way, Suite 200
Lexington, KY 40509

Agenda will include:  Strategic Planning for 2017, Election Updates & Analysis, Waiver & Workgroup Updates, Committee Reporting, etc.

Confirmed Speaker:  Commissioner Debbie Anderson

*catered lunch provided by local Double H Barbecue – limit attendance to 2 members per provider agency

---

Other News & Updates

• The Department of Justice released this new Olmstead Guidance on the Employment and Integration of Americans with I/DD this week.  ANCOR’s Governmental Relations Committee is reviewing and having a call next week to discuss.   I also shared THIS ARTICLE from Disability Scoop on our KAPP Facebook page.
• The KAPP Waiver Redesign Workgroup continued its weekly call schedule, working to finalize a Guiding Principles document on redesign and rate setting principles and gathering data from other states.
• KAPP’s workgroup efforts are directly aligned with that of ANCOR’s Service Model Redesign Group.  Shannon & ResCare’s Sr. VP of Government Relations, Ken Lovan are both part of the 14 member group working with ANCOR staff to formulate a document of guiding principles/best practices for CMS.  The group will convene Nov 7 & 8 in DC for meetings with HSRI and Burns & Associates to discuss:  

•  KARES reg has been filed, 906-kar-1-190-10-13-16:  The new reg does not mandate participation in KARES.  It was filed to restore OIG’s legal authority to implement rap back, a feature they had to turn off after withdrawing the emergency regulation that had contained the rap back language.  Also, of benefit to providers, the new reg allows applicants to authorize the release by the KARES system of the applicant’s State rap sheet to employers.  This will allow providers to view any state offense(s) that may not rise to the level of an employment disqualifier, but which may be of interest to the provider when making employment decisions.  I talked with Stephanie Brammer at OIG and told her what provider concerns have been in the past re KARES (accessibility to scanners and cost), this was her response:  
  We received a CMP grant to purchase 35 scanners in addition to the current 35 we already have.  We’re currently in the process of deploying the new scanners, so after the holidays, we should have 70 scanner sites.  Also, we are in the process of acquiring DCBS’s scanners, which are currently used to fingerprint foster/adoptive parents, so we eventually hope to have around 90 scanners available later next year.
   
  I understand the concern about costs, but rap back is a feature that will help decrease costs.  Of course, the more employers that participate, the lower we can make the cost of the fingerprint fee post-grant, so we hope LTC providers will participate voluntarily to build up volume and help lower the fee…   

   

• Workgroups:  I have reviewed the proposals for the Monthly Summary & Recoupment workgroups.  Commissioner Anderson and I had a call yesterday to discuss our comments/questions.  She hopes to have those 2 proposals to share with you and get your input at our meeting Wednesday in Lexington.  I’m not sure if I’ll have them to distribute for your review prior to the meeting, but will certainly get them to you if I do!  The Exceptional Rate protocol revisions are still being drafted.  
• The 4th Quarter DDID Webinar was yesterday.  I posted a link to the notes, clarifications and handouts HERE.  There have been lots of questions regarding the Michelle P behavior plans being submitted through BIC.  I listened to both webinars and both times Alice Blackwell said, the expectation was to submit plans “as they are developed moving forward.”  I see that clearly as only being required to submit new plans that are developed from 11/3/16 and beyond.  I (like you) didn’t love the Michelle P BIC answer to our question, but keep in mind that we are opening up and “fixing” all waivers in the next several months.  Let’s pick our battles.
• Eligibility Update:  I have communicated to Laura Sanders (DCBS Medicaid Specialist) that the list of local workers has not been very helpful in resolving issues.  She sent that on to the Division of Family Support to address.  I asked her for any updates…her response:  
   
  One major update is that with release 6.0 that went into effect last weekend, an individual will not be enrolled in managed care for 60 days from the discharge date. This grace period should allow for the updated prior authorization period to populate to Worker Portal if appropriate and prevent individuals from preemptively being enrolled in an MCO.
   
  They have also implemented fixes to ensure that when a special circumstance is completed, that the MAP 552 is issued correctly with the appropriate information.  They continue to work and identify syncing issues to ensure that information passes correctly from the eligibility system to the billing system.

---

Announcement:  IJC on Health & Welfare

Wednesday – November 16, 2016

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Capitol Annex – Frankfort

The agenda will include:  KAPP – Raising Awareness, Value & Wages of our DSP Workforce

Shannon McCracken, with 2016 DSP State Winner Betsy Byrnes

(Meeting is open to the public, members & DSP’s are encouraged to attend!)

Is your legislator on this committee?

---

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Community Options is searching for a dedicated and experienced Executive Director to oversee and improve operations of our Bowling Green, KY region.

More details HERE!!

***if you’d like to list job opportunities on future blogs, please email me!

---

N E W S

Georgia Toddler with Down Syndrome to be feature in Osh Kosh Holiday Ads

Preparing for new Overtime Rule

RI:  Drive Launched to Increase Pay of Direct Support Professionals

Lifeskills Marks 50 Years of Service

Majority Rules:  Kentucky State Legislative Races to Watch

---

Congrats to Brandon & Nicole Griffith!

Best Wishes to board member Brandon Griffith (No Boundaries Case Management) & member Nicole Kelley Griffith (Employment Solutions) on their superhero themed Halloween nuptials this weekend at the Kentucky Theater in downtown Lexington! 👻

---

Congratulations, KAPP Member Leticia Villarreal (A Brighter Choice)

& family on their newest arrival! 

Aubrey

---

Hope you are enjoying the weekly Re-KAPP’s!  Have a wonderful weekend and go VOTE Tuesday!