• National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• Federal Autism Cares Act Signed into Law
• FY20 Rate Increases: Still Waiting on Federal CMS
• IARF Webinar: Increase DSP Job Applications Online Recording Now Available
• Association Staff Meet with Illinois Governor’s Office on Assistive Technology
• 2019 Speak Up and Speak Out Summit
• Illinois Delays Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Foster Kids
• HFS Posts New Webinar Material- MEDI LTC Change in Billing 7/30/2019
• ANCOR Announces New Vice President for Government Relations
• US Senate Confirms Gene Scalia as New DOL Secretary
• Last Day! NatCon20 Looking for Presentations
• Illinois Becomes First State to Pass APA’s Model Collaborative Care Legislation
• Lt. Governor Stratton Tours Services Center at Peoria School

NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM dates back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week."  It is now observed each October to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and educate about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. Reflecting a commitment to a robust and competitive American labor force, the 2019 NDEAM theme is "The Right Talent, Right Now."  The theme emphasizes the essential role people with disabilities play in America’s economic success, especially in an era when historically low unemployment and global competition are creating a high demand for skilled talent. (Contact: Beth Owens)
 
FEDERAL AUTISM CARES ACT SIGNED INTO LAW
The "Autism CARES Act" was signed into law on Monday by the President.  The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Mike Doyle, will provide $1.8 billion in funding for autism programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and Resources and services administrations. Over the next 5 years it will provide funding for research, programs and treatment and increase the annual budget on Autism efforts to $369.7 million through 2024. Some funding will also go towards Autism research grants. The Care Act reauthorizes numerous programs across the country to ensure high quality service to people with Autism. It also includes the expansion of government programs to include the entire lifespan of people on the Autism spectrum. (Contact: Beth Owens)
 
FY20 RATE INCREASES: STILL WAITING ON FEDERAL CMS
To the frustration of IARF members, state agency staff, legislators – everyone – as of today we are still waiting on word from federal CMS as to approval on the 3.5% rate increase for I/DD services and the 2.5% rate increase for community-based mental health services.  It remains our hope that approval will come soon, and that retroactivity (for I/DD rates) is approved (MH rates would be put in place at the beginning of the quarter – August 1).  (Contact: All Staff)
 
IARF WEBINAR: INCREASE DSP JOB APPLICATIONS ONLINE RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
On Tuesday, the Association was pleased to host Scott and Craig de Fasselle with Blitz Media Design for a one-hour webinar on how to increase DSP applications online.
 
This was a free webinar for IARF Members and the recording link has been shared via email. If you were unable to attend or did not receive the link to the webinar, please contact Maggie Henley at mhenley@iarf.org for the link to the webinar recording. Additionally, if you are interested in scheduling a free job post audit with either Scott and Craig, please click here. (Contact: Maggie Henley)
 
ASSOCIATION STAFF MEET WITH ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
On Wednesday Association staff met with the Governor’s office to discuss IARF’s efforts these past two years to advance policy related to greater utilization of existing and emerging assistive technology.  Based on the work we’ve done with the General Assembly, as well as the Assistive Technology Ligas Subcommittee, we discussed opportunities presently available in waiver to fund assistive technology with the I/DD population, as well as the projects the Division of Developmental Disabilities may look to fund through its recent pilot project. Specific enabling technologies such as remote monitoring were identified as opportunities to increase individuals desired outcomes, promote independence and assist in reducing the impact of the ongoing DSP workforce crisis. 
 
Our principal goal in this meeting was to start a dialogue with the Governor’s office on the importance of collaborating with stakeholders to make Illinois a Technology First, similar to states such as Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. We hope this will be the first of several discussions on this topic as we seek to guide Illinois towards greater utilization of Assistive Technology! (Contact: Beth Owens)
 
2019 SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT SUMMIT
The Speak Up and Speak Out Summit funded by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and organized by the ARC of Illinois is open for registration.  The 2019 Summit will be held October 28 and 29.  Registration is $50 for both days and financial assistance is available.   For more information visit the Speak Up and Speak Out Summit website or access registration info here. Questions can be directed to Janet Donahue or Becca Schroeder with The Arc of Illinois (815-464-1832). (contact. Beth Owens)
 
ILLINOIS DELAYS MEDICAID MANAGED CARE TRANSITION FOR FOSTER KIDS
On Monday,  September 30, 2019, the directors of the Illinois Department of Child and Welfare Services and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services sent a letter to the Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Advisory Workgroup stating that Illinois will delay the transition to managed care for foster children from November 1, 2019 to February 1, 2020. The transition to the managed care program, called YouthCare, will impact 36,000 foster children. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 
HFS POSTS NEW WEBINAR MATERIAL – MEDI LTC CHANGE IN BILLING GUIDELINES 7/30/2019
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted new Webinar Material - MEDI LTC Change in income instructions, Required Staffing Plans, HFS LTC Billing Guidelines July 30, 2019. You may view the new material from the following LINK. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 
ANCOR ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
 Shannon McCracken has been appointed as ANCOR's next Vice President for Government Relations, effective January 1, 2020. Shannon has long been a member of the ANCOR family. The niece of an uncle with an intellectual disability, Shannon got her professional start in the field working as an executive director for waiver services on behalf of BrightSpring Health Services (formerly ResCare). She continued her work as a provider in the capacity of regional director for Independent Opportunities before establishing and leading Commonwealth Case Management, LLC. More recently, Shannon served as the founding executive director of the Kentucky Association of Private Providers (KAPP), where she organized KAPP's first annual conference and orchestrated the association's successful legislative agenda, achieving provider rate increases and establishing an adult abuse registry. Following her tenure at KAPP, Shannon transitioned to her current role as Vice President for Community Alternatives of Kentucky. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 
US SENATE CONFIRMS GENE SCALIA AS NEW DOL SECRETARY
Last week, the U.S. Senate voted 53-44 to confirm Gene Scalia as the new Secretary for the Department of Labor (DOL). The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee had approved his nomination on Tuesday, a week after his hearing for which ANCOR had submitted questions for the record. This Bloomberg Law article highlights DOL initiatives the Secretary will likely focus on in the near future. Notably, Bloomberg shares that the Secretary will be overseeing the implementation of the overtime rule, an issue ANCOR has engaged with because of its relevance to our members in their function as employers. The article also states that DOL is also hoping to unroll apprenticeship initiatives, a timely topic for the disability community given the 45 percent yearly turnover rate in disability supports. DOL is also relevant to disability supports because it plays an active role overseeing programs that facilitate the employment of people with disabilities.  (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 
LAST DAY! NATCON20 LOOKING FOR PRESENTATIONS
NatCon is known for ground-breaking presentations on the most significant innovations in finance, integrated health care, technology, and professional development.  Now is your chance to share your innovative thinking with a nationwide audience of your peers.  For NatCon20, the National Council is inviting leaders in evidence-based, data-driven research from across the behavioral health field to submit their bold, game-changing ideas that will:

• Reflect our dynamic community
• Benefit attendees’ professional need
• Present learning objectives that are measurable and achievable
• Demonstrate strong outcomes
• Inspire attendees to implement what they’ve learned

Submit a proposal to be considered for the general conference, the second annual Research Symposium, or the all-new NatCon Technology Shark Tank, where you could win $10,000.  Submit your proposal by TODAY, October 4, or contact the National Council for Behavioral Health to learn more.  (Contact Dan Frey)
 
ILLINOIS BECOMES FIRST STATE TO PASS APA’S MODEL COLLABORATIVE CARE LEGISLATION
Last month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law SB 2085, Coverage of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model. The language includes APA’s model legislation, requiring private insurers and Medicaid in Illinois to cover collaborative care CPT codes. With the strong support of the Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS), Illinois is now the first state in the nation to enact a law requiring the coverage of collaborative care codes that will increase access to mental health care for patients in primary care settings. (Contact Dan Frey)
 
LT. GOVERNOR STRATTON TOURS SERVICES CENTER AT PEORIA SCHOOL
Nearing its one-year anniversary of providing a one-stop social service operation for students and their families in the neediest ZIP code in the state, the Wraparound Center at Trewyn Middle School hosted on Monday the second highest elected state government official in Illinois.  Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton visited South Peoria and told a group of social service providers that she was impressed by what she saw, what she heard and what she knew of the work being done there.
 
The center opened last October under the direction of Derrick Booth in renovated space inside Trewyn. Agencies and services that have set up satellite services inside the center include Family Core, a food pantry, juvenile probation, OSF Strive (Surviving Trauma with Resiliency, Individual Vitality and Empowerment), Unity Point Health and Chestnut Health Systems. Combined they include help with substance abuse, individual and family counseling, job seeker and housing services, food assistance and more. (Contact Dan Frey)