On Target is a monthly publication
of the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities.
We welcome your suggestions for newsletter content and
ideas concerning the actions of the Council. On Target is made available
in accessible formats upon request.
Suellen Jackson-Boner
Executive Director
Christine Dahlberg
Associate Director
Paul Shankland
Grants Manager |
New state budget flat lines Medicaid
Meanwhile, federal program reevaluates coverage
People with disabilities who rely on Medicaid have reason to be concerned about the program on both state and federal levels.
In late April, the Indiana legislature passed a two-year state budget that flat lines Medicaid spending. It did not provide funding to offset inflation or to serve the thousands of Hoosiers on waiting lists for waiver programs.
Medicaid now faces the task of maintaining services for current recipients. But advocates are unsure what the budget fallout will be in terms of the program's ability to provide services.
"On one hand, the budget says the Governor can pull funds from the general fund to assist the Medicaid program," said Kim Dodson, ARC of Indiana director of government relations and development. "But it also says he may 'pro rata' (Latin meaning proportionately) cut all optional Medicaid services."
Optional services include waiver programs, case management, dental programs, prescription drug coverage, occupational and physical therapy, and more.
However, advocates are encouraged that Governor Frank O'Bannon is supportive
of the Medicaid program.
"The Governor has promised not to cut services, but we don't know how long the money will truly last," Dodson said.
Advocates achieve some state-level success
Despite concern over potential cuts in Medicaid services, people with disabilities achieved some successes in the legislative session.
"We did get the money we needed from the tobacco settlement to keep 1,500 people on the Medicaid waiver," Dodson said.
In addition, those who participated in Medicaid rallies and contacted their legislators played a large role in raising awareness of Medicaid-related issues, smoothing the way
for future lobbying efforts.
The federal tax relief package
Last month, Bush signed into law a controversial $350 billion tax reduction and economic stimulus package endorsing $20 billion in unconditional state and local aid for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2003 and all of FY 2004. The additional federal aid to the states is critically important to avoid more cuts to Medicaid. Both Senators Lugar and Bayh voted for the Medicaid state aid amendment.
The $20 billion in state fiscal relief includes two parts: $10 billion in increased federal Medicaid matching funds and $10 billion in revenue sharing from the federal government.
An important provision locks in eligibility levels as of Sept. 2, 2003. States accepting
additional federal matching funds will not be allowed to limit eligibility beyond those levels.
The $10 billion in federal revenue sharing will be split 60/40 between state and local governments. They will have substantial discretion in spending these funds, as long
as they are used for essential government services or the cost of financing an unfunded federal mandate (e.g., education, homeland security and Medicaid). Funds will be allocated by population, with every state guaranteed at least $50 million.
Nationally, state revenue shortfalls are estimated at $85 billion this year. Extreme shortfalls in state revenues and a slow economy have driven states to make unprecedented cuts in education, health care and public safety to meet constitutional requirements for balanced budgets.
Organization protects rights of people with disabilities
People with disabilities often find themselves fighting for the rights guaranteed them under the ADA and other legislation. Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services (IPAS) exists to assist people with disabilities in this struggle.
The mission of IPAS is to protect and promote the rights of individuals with disabilities through empowerment and advocacy. IPAS is a sister agency of the Council. Both were established by the Federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
Created by the Indiana General Assembly in 1977, IPAS establishes annual service priorities, including:
Freedom from abuse and neglect
Appropriate treatment
Free and appropriate public education
Employment assistance
Freedom from discrimination
Privacy
Physical access to buildings
Freedom to make one's own decisions whenever possible
Freedom to live one's life as fully and normally as possible
To meet these needs, IPAS offers informational resources, services referrals, training workshops and technical assistance, as well as individual and system advocacy to address specific problems.
For more information, visit www.IN.gov/ipas or contact IPAS at (800) 622-4845 (voice), (800) 838-1131 (TT) or grichter@ipas.state.in.us (e-mail).
Indiana's plan for accessible elections
Written for On Target by Todd Rokita, Indiana Secretary of State
Today, Indiana is implementing the most significant voting reform measures since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to provide fairness, accuracy and accessibility to all voters. Leading the effort is the Vote Indiana Team - a group of 28 Hoosiers representing three
political parties, the State Legislature, county election administrators, disability groups, media, the military and others. Three of the 28 team members represent voters with disabilities.
In February, the team was asked to formulate a comprehensive plan to administer future Indiana elections. Since then, members have met almost weekly to begin framing a
comprehensive state election reform plan.
It is important to formulate a long-term election plan that accounts for the challenges of voters with disabilities. Every effort will be made to allow all voters to cast a vote in private and without the assistance of poll workers.
Landmark changes are coming to elections in Indiana. For example, by the year 2006
the now infamous punch card voting systems, along with widely used lever voting machines, will be replaced by new, more reliable voting equipment. Another significant change will be a new statewide voter file allowing county election officials to communicate with each other and officials from the Indiana Departments of Health and Corrections. Such communication will ensure that every voter is registered at the proper location and only the proper location.
These improvements, along with advances in technology, will help guarantee the voting rights of all Hoosiers and will position Indiana as a nationwide model for election success and reliability.
Although I'm confident the plan will be among the most aggressive and thorough
in the country, we cannot fully implement it without funding from the federal government.
I personally have met with members of Indiana's congressional delegation to underscore the importance of fully funding the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) so Hoosiers are not left to foot the bill. I am encouraged that Congress has already allocated $1.5 billion of the $3.93 billion total cost of implementing HAVA nationwide. However, I urge you to contact your members of Congress and ask them to make appropriating the remaining $2.43 billion a priority.
We have come a long way since the presidential election of 2000. As Secretary of State, I am committed to making sure that Indiana's elections are administered fairly, and that Hoosiers never have to question the outcome of an election in Indiana.
As the Vote Indiana Team concludes its work, I want all Hoosiers to have an opportunity to review our plan. You can access the plan at www.in.gov/sos/elections/vit
After reviewing the plan, I encourage you to send me your comments and suggestions. Public comment will be accepted from June 1 through June 30, 2003.
You may send your written comments to: Todd Rokita, Indiana Secretary of State, 200 W. Washington Street, Room 201, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or VoteIndianaTeam@sos.state.in.us (e-mail). You may also call my office at (800) 622-4941 (voice).
Patient privacy standards stepped up
The first federal privacy standards protecting patients' medical records and other health information took effect April 14. Developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, these new standards provide patients access to their medical records and more control over how their personal health information is used and disclosed.
The regulations are a response to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
The new federal patient privacy standards are designed to:
Provide patients access to their medical records and allow them to request corrections of any errors they identify.
Require health plans, doctors and other health care providers to inform patients about how medical information will be used.
Limit how health plans and covered providers may use personally identifiable health information. Health care providers may share information needed to treat patients effectively, but must obtain authorization from the patient before sharing this information with life insurers, banks, marketing firms and other outside businesses.
Restrict the use of patient information for marketing purposes.
For more information, visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa
Travel agencies focus on travelers with disabilities
As summer gets underway, many of you are probably planning vacations. However, many people with disabilities hesitate to travel because they are unsure
of the access barriers they might encounter. To meet the needs of these travelers, several travel agencies in the country specialize in travel services for people with disabilities.
Those travel agencies, all of which arrange group tours, cruises and individual itineraries, include:
Nautilus Tours
[www.nautilustours.com, (800) 797-6004 (voice)] - Recent tour destinations for this California travel agency have included Holland and Ireland. The agency offers a free newsletter for travelers with disabilities.
Flying Wheels Travel
[www.flyingwheelstravel.com, (507) 451-5005 (voice)] - Flying Wheels Travel has recently sponsored trips to Egypt, Jordan, the Caribbean and China. The Minnesota-based agency is more than 30 years old.
Accessible Journeys
[www.disabilitytravel.com, (800) 846-4537 (voice)] - Since 1985, this Pennsylvania-based agency has focused on the travel needs of people who use wheelchairs.
It provides a variety of travel resources, equipment rentals and a travel companion service. Recent tours include Northern Spain and the "scenic Southwest."
Access Adventures
[www.melwood.com/CAMP/accessadv.htm, (301) 599-8000 (voice)] - The mission
of this group is to provide year-round, community-based, affordable vacations
to people with disabilities. Travelers are supported by a dedicated staff that provides a safe and caring atmosphere. Participants have opportunities to explore exciting new experiences, make friends and try a variety of age-appropriate activities.
For resources and travel tips, visit the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality Web site at www.sath.org or call (212) 447-7284 (voice).
Improved airport security
People with disabilities will find it easier to maneuver through security now that
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented a new training
program for its screeners. The Persons with Disabilities Program provides a more secure and dignified system for screening persons with disabilities.
"Before September 11, 2001, [people] with disabilities were on their own, unsure of
how they would be treated at the security checkpoint," said Admiral James M. Loy, TSA administrator. "Today, our professional screeners have the unique opportunity to
better serve this group of Americans."
The program was designed to train TSA screeners how to screen consistently, safely and with sensitivity to individual needs. In addition, TSA publishes travel tips on its Web site so people with disabilities can learn what to expect at security checkpoints.
For more information and travel tips for people with disabilities, visit www.tsatraveltips.us
And the winner is ...
Congratulations to the following people who returned Disability Awareness Month evaluations to win a free Disability Awareness Month T-shirt. These names were drawn from hundreds of evaluations returned to us earlier this year:
Cyndi Cooper, Hoover School
Linda Herendeer, Kendallville Middle School
Karen Hurst, North Central Juvenile Correctional Facility
Angie Hein, St. John School
Pat Nuffer, Fort Wayne
Alice J. Olson, Methodist Hospital - Behavioral Medicine
Margaret Knass, Hopewell Center
Kathy Sue Brown, Michigan City High School
Lisa Coffman, Indiana Housing Finance Authority
Nicole Pesante, Indiana Department of Environmental Management
T-shirts will be mailed directly to winners. More than a
thousand advocates ordered Disability Awareness Month materials in 2003.
Of Note
IU South Bend is accessible
In April, Indiana University - South Bend passed an accessibility investigation with
flying colors, the South Bend Tribune reported. U.S. Department of Education investigators cited the school only for a sidewalk with a slightly greater slope than allowed by law, which school officials said will be altered by Aug. 1. The investigation was prompted by a student's complaints that the university had a number of accessibility problems, many of which he said were corrected before investigators arrived.
Statewide transition conference
The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is hosting the 2003 Indiana Statewide Transition Conference, focusing on the transition from high school to the adult community. The conference will be held in Indianapolis Aug. 7-9. For more information or to register, visit www.iidc.indiana.edu/cclc/tregistration.pdf (Acrobat Reader Format) or call (812) 855-6508 (voice) or (812) 855-9396 (TT).
Count Us INCountdown
The deadline to register for the Nov. 4 general election is Oct. 6.
Save the date!
The 2003 Conference for People with Disabilities will be held Dec. 2-3 at the downtown Indianapolis Westin hotel.
Indiana Governor’s Planning
Council for People with Disabilities
150 West Market Street, Suite 628
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 232-7770 voice
(317) 232-7771 TT
E-mail: GPCPD@gpcpd.org
Web site: www.state.in.us/gpcpd
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