Today's deep dive looks at the death of a 33-year-old autistic man after staff restrained him at a QSAC group home in East Harlem, and at what New York's rules require during and after a restraint. Below are the weekend's other stories, each linked to its source.
Today's deep dive
New York man dies after restraint at QSAC group home. What police and QSAC have said so far, how OPWDD's restraint and incident rules work, and what DSPs and supervisors should know while the investigation continues.
More news today
Georgia: Amerigroup says it "rebalanced" ABA rates as pressure builds over foster children. State Sen. Brian Strickland joined families and providers at the Capitol on Thursday to call Amerigroup's 30% cut, effective Sept. 1, "indefensible." In a statement, the health plan said it raised rates for treatment planning and caregiver engagement, lowered rates for some technician-delivered services, and left licensed clinician rates unchanged. Advocates answered that technicians deliver much of the one-on-one care. We first reported the cut on Oct. 5. Sources: Fox News, FOX 5 Atlanta
Pennsylvania's Franklin County plans ahead to shorten ID/A waiting lists. Stacey Wilkins, who runs the county's intellectual and developmental disabilities program, told commissioners on Oct. 22 that a new statewide strategy aims to match waiver openings to need before families reach a crisis. Pennsylvania's Person/Family Directed Support waiver is capped at $47,000 per person a year and the Community Living waiver at $97,000. Wilkins said rural growth is hard: a provider might need 12 residents to make a group home work where only five people are waiting. DSN reported the state's 31% drop in its emergency waiting list in March. Sources: LocalNews1, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
California will cap Medi-Cal savings at $21,000 for seniors and people with disabilities. The June budget lowers the asset limit from $130,000 to $21,000 starting in July 2027, CalMatters reported. A home and one vehicle are exempt, but savings, certain retirement accounts and a second home or car count toward the limit. State data shows about 600 people lost Medi-Cal under the $130,000 limit, and the state did not publish an estimate for the lower one. Source: CalMatters
New Jersey advocates want the integration mandate written into state law. After a federal judge vacated the "most integrated setting" provisions of HHS's Section 504 rules on Sept. 23, New Jersey advocates told NJ.com that state law should protect the right to community services, as Connecticut did in June. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination still applies. Gov. Mikie Sherrill's office would not take a position but said the 2027 budget sustained funding for home and community-based services. Our explainer covers what the court ruling changed. Source: NJ.com