Today's deep dive: New Jersey's DDD is refusing Goods and Services payments to some vendors of community classes for adults with I/DD and telling them to enroll as Medicaid providers. Here is the rest of today's news.
Lucas County, Ohio, DD board seeks a new 3-mill levy as waiver match costs climb The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities wants voters to approve a new 3-mill continuing levy in May that would raise an estimated $34.62 million a year, The Blade reported Nov. 7. The board expects to spend $77.26 million this year against $55.55 million from its three existing levies, which total 6 mills. Its superintendent said the board's required share of Medicaid waiver costs keeps rising by 6 to 8 percent a year; the board has already cut 23 positions through attrition and ended two programs. A citizens review committee recommended that county commissioners vote Nov. 10 to put the levy on the May ballot. Sources: The Blade, ToledoBuzz
Oklahoma: approved for waivers, but no staff to deliver them Leaders of The Arc of Oklahoma told the Oklahoma City Free Press that many people are now approved for home and community-based services waivers after the state's push to end its waiting list, but can't find enough direct support professionals to staff them. They said that shortage, along with the Justice Department's decision to stop relying on its Olmstead guidance and the Sept. 23 ruling in Texas v. Kennedy that struck community-integration provisions from HHS's 2024 Section 504 rule, could push more families toward institutional care. Source: Oklahoma City Free Press
Texas: an executive order likely can't expand Medicaid on its own Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has made Medicaid expansion a priority, but Texas law bars changing Medicaid eligibility without legislative approval, and it isn't clear whether she could direct the state health agency to file a plan with CMS anyway, The Texas Tribune reported Nov. 9. Republicans still control the state Senate. Some Democrats are discussing a "trigger" bill that would expand only if Congress repeals parts of H.R. 1, because new work-reporting rules would add to the state's costs. Source: The Texas Tribune
Congress has until Dec. 11 to fund the government Republicans keep control of both chambers through the lame-duck session that began Nov. 9. Lawmakers must pass a funding bill before Dec. 11 to avoid a shutdown and are expected to use another stopgap, leaving full-year spending bills for the new Democratic-led Congress, States Newsroom reported. Source: Missouri Independent
Iowa elects a Paralympian with spina bifida to Tom Harkin's old Senate seat State Rep. Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball who has spina bifida, won Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat and will be sworn in Jan. 3, Disability Scoop reported. The seat was held for three decades by Harkin, the chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Source: Disability Scoop