FAMILY CARE COUNCIL
AREA 4
May 8, 2008 Meeting Notes
HISTORY
APD declared a projected budget deficit of around $100 Million last year.
On or around July 07, the
Legislature passed a Rule regarding a “Tier” system to be implemented by APD no
later than
APD has devised “criteria” for the new Rule, to assign each client on the Waiver into a Tier.
“Notices to APD Clients Receiving Waiver Services” are being mailed now describing the Tier caps.
A Letter from APD will follow shortly informing each client which Tier they will fall into.
A Petition challenging the Rule and Tier Implementation was filed by
the Advocacy Council and others on May 5, 2008.
An Administrative Law Judge will decide within a few days whether to
hear the case or not. If the ALJ
decides to hear the case, the Tier assignments should be halted until the Judge
decides on the case. (Usually in 45 days a hearing is set, unless attorneys
from either side ask for an extension).
Our District 4 Council would like to have local media coverage on this important issue that includes people affected from the following groups by this Tier assignment:
1. Group Home clients
2. Clients under 21 living at home
3. Clients in Supported Living
4. Clients over 21 living with aging parents or grandparents.
After reviewing the Tier criteria
with your Support Coordinators to determine which Tier you may be assigned, and
how deep the cuts will affect you, and you would like to tell your story to the
media, please share your story by emailing us at vardashouse@yahoo.com . Once we know if the Petition will be heard or
not, we will plan on setting a time, place and date for a Media Coverage
conference. Everyone is invited!
Please check back continually to your local site for updated information as things progress.