ARRM News and Public Relations

News release: Health and Human Services Bill Deplorable for People with Disabilities

SOUTH SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The way the health and human services bill treats people with disabilities is “deplorable,” according to the CEO of ARRM, an organization of disability providers.

ARRM CEO Bruce Nelson said, “We anticipated some provider rate cuts and they were deeper than expected. But, even worse, is brand new policy that no one ever saw before that treats Minnesotans with disabilities like cattle and will result in disability providers going out of business.”

The new policy says that once someone leaves a four-person group home, the home loses its license for that bed.  Nelson said that means the home will have to maintain the same staffing with only 75 percent of its funding. “Many providers are already working on a slim margin, and will have to close and lay off caregivers. Where would those other three people go if all other providers are in the same bind with no new beds?” he asked. “It’s like herding people like cattle into the unknown.”

The bill also calls for a ten percent cut to 3,600 “low need” people with disabilities in foster care group homes. If a group home has just a couple of these low need people, providers may not be able to maintain services to them, and they would have to move. That puts everyone in the group home in jeopardy.

“It saddens me what will happen to many people and that this might not have happened if the public had been allowed to even talk with legislators and commissioners in the locked Capitol building during their negotiations,” Nelson added.

While ARRM believes the disability system must be reformed, the association was hoping to work cooperatively instead of being coerced.  “This does nothing to reform regulations,” Nelson said.

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Patch news: How the shutdown impacts people with disabilities

Shutdown Impacts City's 'Most Vulnerable Adults'

Minnetonka Patch story about how an OP client who lives independently could become among the hardest hit by the state government shutdown.

Minnesota Shutdown Could Hit Job-Seekers, Families of Disabled

Article in the Oakdale Patch about how Washington County families of people with disabilities could lose a $248 monthly grant, and programs providing mentoring and basic life skills could be cut if there isn’t a state budget agreement reached within 30 days.

Minnesota Budget More than Politics and Numbers for Adults with Disabilities

Story in the Oakdale Patch about how budget cuts and the shutdown hurt a foster care provider.

Golden Valley Nonprofits Say Shutdown Will Hurt the Vulnerable

Golden Valley Patch piece about how nonprofit leaders are bracing for the blow a shutdown will strike.

Home and Community Options in Winona braces for a shutdown

Winona citizens, disability advocates, families, and caregivers met with Sen. Miller (R-Winona) Friday to discuss the impacts of past budget cuts and a looming government shutdown. Much of the discussion centered on how disability providers and adequately funded services keep vulnerable people safe, healthy and independent. You can read more about the gathering here:

Winona Post: HCO braces for shut-down cuts

Winona Radio: HCO Shutdown Effect

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Ten Days and Counting: Why Minnesota's Government Could Shut Down July 1

Well done, Hammer! Disability provider Hammer was interviewed for this piece by Justin Horwath on the possible impacts of a government shutdown.

Read the entire article here:

http://ti.me/kOFWHT

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ARRM Alert: Preserving core disability services means paying providers

Let state officials and lawmakers know that payments to providers are core government services

Earlier this week, ARRM blogged about two critical developments that could significantly impact ARRM members in the event of a government shutdown. The first occurred on Monday, when Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a petition to keep some government services running after July 1st if the state does not have a balanced budget. Although her petition does not specify what those services are, it makes a case that any federally funded programs (such as Medicaid programs) should continue.

On Wednesday, Gov. Dayton submitted his own documents, outlining the services he considers “essential.” The list of services includes: Medicaid MFIP/DWP, General Assistance, & Minnesota Supplemental Aid and refugee cash assistance, Group Residential Housing, MinnesotaCare, Food Support, MN Food Assistance Program, Adoption Assistance and a minimal level of staff and operating expenses that are necessary to continue these operations. However, the governor’s list says that while entitlement programs will continue, related provider payments will not.

ARRM is doing everything possible to make sure our members will continue to be paid for services after June 30th. Over the weekend, ARRM will be preparing compelling legal arguments for the court as it considers what services – and payments – are essential. However, to make an even greater impact, we are asking all ARRM members, staff, family members and self advocates to call or email lawmakers by June 30th with this message and request:

This week, Gov. Dayton released a list of services he believes are essential to maintaining the security, benefit and protection of the people of Minnesota. While he includes services that will keep people with disabilities safe, he omits payments to disability providers for those services. If the state government shuts down effective July 1st, payments to providers for services for people with disabilities must be maintained by the state.

Who to contact:
• Governor Mark Dayton: Phone his office at 651-201-3400 or 800-657-3717 or complete this email form
• Lucinda Jesson, DHS Commissioner: [email protected] or 651-431-2907
• Loren Colman, DHS Assistant Commissioner: [email protected] or 651-431-2560
• Alex Bartolic, Director of Disability Services Division: [email protected] or 651-431-2381
• Ann Barry, DHS Deputy Commissioner: [email protected] or 651-431-3212
• Jim Showalter, Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner: [email protected]
• Your state legislators: Find out who represents you by going here.

Also, keep setting up site visits with your legislators to demonstrate why you – providers of disability services – are so valuable. Make it clear that preserving core services for people with disabilities means paying providers for those services – there should be no distinction between the two.

As always, contact ARRM with your questions, feedback, and advocacy reports.

--Barb Brynstad and Bruce Nelson

Disability providers make plans for a government shutdown

SOUTH SAINT PAUL, Minn. – As the governor and attorney general prepare for a state government shutdown, providers of disability services to Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens are making their own plans to weather a potential shutdown. The Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM), an association of 150 private providers of residential services for people with disabilities, is advising its members to make contingency plans given the conflicting and confusing information issued by the governor earlier this week.

“The documents Governor Dayton released specify that while entitlement programs will continue, related provider payments will not,” said ARRM’s chief fiscal analyst, Craig Wieber. “It is unclear how individuals with disabilities can receive services without paying providers.”

ARRM members do not maintain reserves to cash flow a cessation of payments. Because 75 percent of Medicaid payments to providers go directly to caregivers and 25 percent to fixed costs, many ARRM members would be unable to continue providing services to people with disabilities.

“At the center of this legal wrangling are our most vulnerable citizens,” ARRM CEO Bruce Nelson said. “I’m gravely concerned about them if their services are in jeopardy.”

ARRM will be meeting with other Medicaid providers in the ensuing days to discuss the governor’s latest information and formulate a response, which may include filing a legal brief to deem payments to providers core services.
 
About ARRM
ARRM is a non-profit association that was founded in 1970 by a group of private providers and advocates dedicated to leading the advancement of community-based services that support people with disabilities in their pursuit of safe and meaningful lives.

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