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ADVOCACY
Current Advocacy Issues and Involvement Information
United….We Will Make a Difference!
 Please note that advocacy never stops. During the entire year (even when the legislators are not in session), we need to continue to help educate our elected officials, media and society in general on the needs of the disability community to be successful. Please get involved to help in this educational process throughout the year!
Dearest Advocates: please review the Amended FY 2011 Budget Proposal Presentation by Board of Directors, Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. Advocacy starts now as the new budget is developed and recommendations are given to Governor Perdue. Note- that the new BHDD recommendation for 1500 NEW waiver slots.
View the proposed budget
Brief Legislative Overview FY 2010 (starting July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010):
- House Bill 228 passed. This allowed for restructuring of agencies and the development of a new Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) reporting directly to the Governor. Due to all of our advocacy efforts DD was included in the naming of the new dept that will service children and adults with disabilities. View Press release from Governor Perdue
- No additional funding for home and community based disability waivers (including: NOW and COMP waivers). BAD NEWS! See Unlock information below.
- Autism Bills are in study committee now. (Senate Bill 161)
- Additional funding for Special Needs School Voucher program (SB 10).
- Reduction in funding formula for schools (less money to schools).
- Protection of the Medicaid programs due to Federal stimulus funding.
- No additional cuts to Medicaid provider rates.
- School nurses were not cut from the state budget. Thanks to everyone that got involved in advocating for funding for this important service in the public school system!
Unlock The Waiting Lists!
Funding for disabilities waivers in Georgia is needed. For more information, please go to http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/advocate.html The campaign is a targeted effort by a coalition of Georgia disability organizations to educate the public and change public policy. The mission is to reduce and/or eliminate waiting lists for thousands of people with disabilities (currently over 6,000+), the frail elderly, and their families who need home and community-based services.
National Disability Awareness for Children and Adults with Disabilities- September 8, 2008:
Last year, I worked with the Associated Press on an article regarding bringing attention to disability awareness/issues/concerns across the United States. See below the actual article from the below links:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/politics/main4427450.shtml?source=related_story
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/20080908_Palin_raiseshope_forparents_of_disabledkids/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-09-08-3833286571_x.htm
As you can see, we are continuing to get national attention on disability issues which is my goal in all my advocacy efforts.
Society needs to see the potential of individuals with disabilities, given the right resources, love and support (which, yes, means funding too). If you do find that your local newspaper, radio or TV station is giving attention to this issue, please speak up and let them know that children and adults with disabilities in this country need help.
The media needs to hear that this is a serious issue and family and friends of individuals with disabilities needs everyone's support in order for them to reach their full potential. Education is the key to success of developing programs that help support our children.
As you talk to the media please stress the importance of bringing disability awareness to all disabilities and the need for proper education, funding and supports. I do believe that disabilities is a bipartisan issue and hope and dream that our elected officials bring awareness and education and help others see the potential of children and adults with disabilities----given the right resources!
Let’s keep up the education and momentum and get involved! Sincerely, Heidi
Senate Bill 507:
The Governor signed SB 507 in May 2008 which helps families in the following ways:
1. Extends the time period for prior authorization for therapy from 3 months to 6 months;
2. Ensures Medicaid (DCH) fulfills the notice provisions for denial (exactly what
service the child is being denied and why)
3. And defines Medical necessity straight from the Medicaid statute. In other words, the bill supports the intent of Federal (Early Periodic Screening and Diagnostic Testing) EPSDT.
Here is a link to SB 507:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/sum/sb507.htm
Moore vs. Medows- Important case for all families (EPSDT):
On 6/9/08 in Moore vs. Medows, the Federal District Court ORDERED the State of Georgia's Medicaid to cover services for Callie Moore under EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment services).
This is a HUGE step in showing advocacy does pay off for our children. I am sure many will be watching on how this landmark decision impacts the services our children need in Georgia. This specifically could impact (in a positive way) the amount of therapy, nursing, treatment and other medical costs the State of Georgia's Medicaid tries to push service limits on.
We will be watching carefully how this impacts our children but I truly hope you see that getting involved, uniting our voices and educating the public and media on the issues our children face does pay off.
Click here to find out more regarding EPSDT and YOUR Rights:
- EPSDT Parents Version
- EPSDT Parents Version - EZ
- EPSDT Professional Version
Disability Day:
Disability Day at the Capitol is held every year in February. Please go to GCDD's website for additional information and times: www.gcdd.org.
General Networking &
Building Alliances
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Contact Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) regarding being placed on their “Moving Forward” e-mail update during the legislative session. |
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Contact your State Senator and Representative's by going to www.vote-smart.org and inputting your zip code. They need to hear from you about your situation and how it impacts your family. |
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Contact Governor Perdue: Georgia.Governor@gov.state.ga.us. |
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Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is also involved in advocating for the disability waiting list. http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/ |
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Work with the media to get the message out and to help educate the general population of our concerns. |
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Get Involved! Advocating is the key to success in getting the services we need for our children. Please be placed on Heidi's advocacy distribution list (see bottom of any page on the site) if you have not done so already! Heidi's goal is make the issues easy to understand and explain to advocates what they can do to influence change in this State. |
Other Things You Should Know
Get involved and monitor your child's Medicaid card.
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www.ghp.georgia.gov and request a password from GA Health Partnership to be able to track Medicaid charges to your child's account. |
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This is very important in order to verify and report problems. You can report a complaint via the website as well. |
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Only through education, accountability and communication are we going to be able to make a difference in the process. |
“United….We Will Make a Difference!” |
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