Personal Independence Commission

April 11, 2005

Hearing Room 3, State Capitol Building
MINUTES

Kirsten Dunham called the meeting to order.  PIC members in attendance were: Kyle Clower (for Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell, Kirsten Dunham, Kelly Flaugher (for Jeanne Loyd), Diana Poole, Anne Deaton, Sandra Levels, Roya Hough (for Nancie McAnaugh), Anne Jackson, Neva Thurston, Martha Hicks.

Co-Chair Reports:

Ms. Dunham feels PIC should give input to the new Medicaid Reform Commission. She also mentioned HB 827 sponsored by Representative Portwood. This legislation concerns the Medical Assistance to Workers with Disabilities Program (MAWD). There is concern about the number of hours someone on MAWD can work. One part of the bill lowers the spousal income limit. Another part relates to premium payments. The more hours you work the lower your premium payments would be.

Report on Bellefontaine:

Kay Green - They will be moving the residents out over the next one to two years. The focus will be on what is in the resident’s best interest and their health and safety. The residents will be moved to group homes and ICF/MR facilities both in the St. Louis area as well as other locations throughout the state, depending on the level of care they need.

Real Choice Systems Change Grant Update and Other Updates:

Sherl Taylor - The Information and Access database through the Area Agencies on Aging is underway. Resource information is continuing to be added to the database.

The Hospital Institutionalization Project following people who have been hospitalized and need to go to rehab for a while before moving back into the community. This is also underway, but they do not have any definite information about results. Will hopefully be able to provide more information at the June PIC meeting.

The School-Based Services Committee Work Group is in the process of sending out a survey looking at medically related and health related services provided in the school setting. These surveys will be sent out shortly.

Training Material: The Housing Guide has been printed and distributed. Are hoping to get input back about the Housing Guide by the end of May.

Waiting Lists: The Waiting Lists Work Group completed a recommendations document to track waiting list issues. This document is currently being reviewed by the departments for approval.

Office for Community Independence Update:

Andy Petti - Are in the process of distributing the Housing Guides. Printed 10,000 copies as well as a number of large print and electronic copies. Are also continuing to distribute the Home and Community Based Services Guides to all long-term care facilities and have distributed about 60,000 of these altogether, 12,000 of these since December 2004. Had two Informed Choice trainings scheduled, one in April and one in May, but these have been postponed. The Office has also been assisting with the Hospitalization and Institutionalization Pilot Project. Mr. Petti informed the PIC that all the positions in the Office for Community Independence had been cut and the office will be closing April 22nd. Some of the work the Office has been doing will be continued by other agencies.

Some discussion followed as to how the duties of the Office of Community Independence could be continued through other agencies.

Public Comment:

Susan Pritchard-Green – The Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities recently had a person from Kansas talk to them about closing state run institutions. Kansas has gone through this process and he has some good information. The Planning Council stands for every individual’s right to live in the community. They wrote to the Governor and offered to partner with him as he goes through the process of closing Bellefontaine Hab. Center as long as there were certain principals in place. These principals are:

• Movement of individuals must be done in a person-centered approach allowing the individual to direct his or her future home with the assistance of someone else as required.
• Individuals moving to the community should have small community opportunities rather than other institutional settings.
• New admissions to institutions should be eliminated and alternative emergency placement should be developed and funded.
• Adequate resources to support community systems and crisis management systems should be in place.
• No one should move from the institution until the community services are in place to support that individual.
• Institutions should remain open until the community services are in place to support the individuals.

Tish Thomas - Adult day health care is going to be impacted by the cuts to Medicaid. Adult Day Programs serve people with developmental disabilities as well as people with dementia and Alzheimer's. As people come out of institutions more day program services will be needed. Need to look at community capacity. She complemented the PIC on the work they have done. Also said there needs to be community crisis teams to help families and individuals when they are at risk of going into an institution.

Dolores Hampton - Talked about the meaning of the Olmstead Decision and asked how much Missouri has really done to implement the Olmstead Decision. Do people in institutions know they have the right to receive services in the most integrated setting? Commended the advocates on the PIC for the work they have done and encouraged them to keep working.

A quorum was not established so the minutes from the November 2004 PIC meeting and those from the February 2005 meeting were not approved.

The next meeting of the Personal Independence Commission will be Monday, June 13th.

The meeting adjourned.