News Updates
"Our elected leaders must show up for battle and demonstrate more courage and more foresight. and of course, as always, families and advocates must be ready to sound the clarion call."
~ Donovan A. Fornwalt
Director of Governmental Affairs & Disability Policy
In The News
State blasted on girl's slaying
Legislative Testimonials
Protocols, Techniques &
Organization - Guide for Advocates
- News & Notices
- Legislative Updates
- Public Forums
- Health Care Reform
- Guide for Advocates
- Medicaid Timeline
- Resource Center
| We are fortunate enough to convince the State to remove the language related to screening for Down Syndrome. Mark Leach was instrumental in this victory. He discovered the problem and relentlessly organized our efforts. Thanks fot all of the advocateds, most especially parents of children with Down Syndrome, who took the time to testify. Advocacy does work! The Council's Position The Council has partnered with Down Syndrome of Louisville and other advocates to express their concern about some provisions in Kentucky’s proposed Medicaid Managed Care Contract. The Proposal singles out one disability group for mandatory prenatal screening of every pregnant Medicaid recipient (est. 29,000). This seems to violate the principles of informed consent (to medical treatment) and to unfairly discriminate against children with Down Syndrome, a condition which cannot be prevented or cured either before or after birth. The fiscal impact of these mandatory screens is estimated to be $6 million and could be much higher depending upon the utilization of genetic counselors and information & referral resources. If there is no medical benefit to the screening and a consequent large fiscal impact, then The Council requests that the mandate for Down Syndrome screening be removed from the Contract (RFP). Continue |
Health Care Reform Press Release: Debate Required for Public Funding of Prenatal Testing for Down Syndrome Legislative Updates Medicaid Timeline Guide for Advocates |
2011 Legislative Session Briefing
By Donovan A. Fornwalt
House Joint Resolution 83
A JOINT RESOLUTION declaring the month of February 2011, as Direct Support Professionals Recognition Month, and recognizing the invaluable role of direct support professionals in the lives of Kentuckians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Senate Bill 38 & House Bill 101
Requires the CHFS (Cabinet for Health/Family Services) to prepare to implement a registry of each person against whom a charge of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult has been substantiated, require the CHFS to promulgate regulations upon the implementation of the registry, require adult institutional and community based long term care service providers to not employ a person whose name appears on the registry upon implementation of the registry; require the cabinet to implement a fingerprint-based background check program if federal funds become available for the National Background Check Program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; amend KRS 205.5606 to require that each person that provides services under that section shall not employ a person whose name appears on the registry upon implementation of the registry; amend KRS 210.795 to require that upon implementation of the registry a person on the registry is ineligible to be a provider under that statute and providers shall not employ persons whose name appear on the registry; amend KRS 209.140 to state that upon implementation of a registry the names of persons with substantiated claims of abuse, neglect & exploitation may be available to potential employers and the public.
Received two Readings in the Senate, but died for lack of final action.
Read more
Questions/Comments
| The KCDD is hosting a series of public forums to: 1. Discuss some of the changes that have been made to the SCL waiver and why. 2. Discuss proposed changes to the Michelle P. Waiver |
The KCDD will us the information: 1. The Council Planning 2. For sharing with Medicaid (they have also been invited) 3. Influence upcoming changes to the Michelle P. Waiver. |
|
| June 9, 2011 6:00 - 8:00PM |
Public Forum Holiday Inn Hurstbourne 1325 S. Hurstbourne Parkway Louisville, KY 40222 |
We encourage you to share your experiences in any way that you are comfortable: |
| June 22, 2011 6:00 - 8:00PM |
Public Forum Madisonville Community College Brown Badgett Sr. Tech Center 2000 College Drive, Room 309 JHG Madisonville, KY 42431 |
|
| June 30, 2011 6:00 - 8:00PM |
Public Forum Embassy Suites 1801 Newtown Pike Lexington, KY 40511 |
|
| July 13, 2011 6:00 - 8:00PM |
Public Forum The Center for Rural Development 2292 South Highway 27 Ballroom E Somerset, KY 42501 |
|
Health Care Reform
Why Should I be InterestedThe Affordable Care Act marks an enormous shift in health policy and funding in America, the largest change since the passage of Medicare in the 1960s. In politics and in health care the biggest, most prevalent symbol is the $. And while the $ is certainly front and center, the biggest symbol in health reform is the ?. Will it work? Can we afford it? Will health care be rationed? Can States manage these new health insurance exchanges? (...more)
Health Care Reform .Gov
Press Release: Kentucky's Troubled Facility & Most Profoundly Disabled Citizens Get a New Lease on Life
Legislative Updates
Medicaid Timeline
Guide for Advocates
Welcome to the Resource Center
If you are unable to find a program or item you are looking for, please feel free to contact us:
The Council on Developmental Disabilities
1151 S. Fourth Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40203
Phone (502) 584-1239 Fax (502) 584-1261
Council ProgramsClick Here to go to the full Resource Center
Help Now
Self Advocacy
Parent Outreach
Leadership Institute
Governmental Affairs
Education Advocacy