CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (CDCAN)
CAPITOL NEWS REPORT #002-2005   www.cdcan.us 
January 5, 2005 - Wednesday
Linking people to disability rights and unified action
Remembering The Late US Congressman Robert Matsui of Sacramento

MEDI-CAL REDESIGN
* Health & Human Services Secretary Belshe Schedules Two Briefings
* January 13 In Sacramento at Dept of Health Services
* January 21 In Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Chamber
* Budget Likely To Contain Redesign Proposal With Specifics

SACRAMENTO  -  California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Belshe has scheduled two meetings for interested persons and organizations for a briefing on the Schwarzenegger Administration's plan to overhaul the State's Medicaid program, on January 13 in Sacramento and January 21 in Los Angeles. The two meetings will have identical briefings by the State Medi-Cal program officials and also Secretary Belshe.  There will be an opportunity for questions and answers.

The briefings signal that the Governor's proposed budget for 2005-2006 that he will release on January 10 will include some level of detail and specifics regarding his plan to redesign the Medi-Cal program that will have major - though at this point - unknown impact on children and adults with developmental and other disabilities and seniors, people with traumatic brain injuries and others.  Some Administration officials indicated that the budget proposal will not include specific cost savings from the redesign, which would seem to indicate that the proposal will not have a certain level of detail.

The California Health and Human Services Agency is also providing a way for people to participate via conference call line.  The Agency has been praised in the past by some advocates for their work in outreach in the Medi-Cal redesign - though those same advocates indicate they probably will not agree with the Administration's proposal.

Some advocates fear that with a $8 billion budget shortfall, the Governor will push forward a plan that will result in a loss or major changes in eligibility or benefits that will impact people with disabilities and seniors at a time when cuts are likely to be made in other areas of support they depend on.  Administration officials in the past have indicated that the State cannot sustain the current program with a major redesign that they believe will protect core benefits for those in need.

SACRAMENTO MEETING
January 13, 2005 - Thursday afternoon
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Department of Health Services Main Auditorium
1500 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814

RSVP for January 13 Meeting (seating is LIMITED)
Call toll-free at 888/452-8609 or email:  MCRedesign@dhs.ca.gov  no later than January 11.
If you are unable to participate in person, you can participate via toll free conference call line by calling:
1-800/857-9668   Passcode:  "Medi-Cal Redesign"

Special Requests and Needs and Conference Call Number
Requests for sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or other accommodations for those people with disabilities should be made no later than January 11 by calling 916/440-7871 or emailing pswan@dhs.ca.gov 

LOS ANGELES MEETING
January 21, 2005, Friday
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor's Board Room
500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2713

RSVP for January 21 Meeting (seating is LIMITED)
Call toll-free at 888/452-8609 or email:  MCRedesign@dhs.ca.gov  no later than January 18.
If you are unable to participate in person, you can participate via toll free conference call line by calling:
1-800/857-9668   Passcode:  "Medi-Cal Redesign"

Special Requests and Needs and Conference Call Number
Requests for sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or other accommodations for those people with disabilities should be made no later than January 18th by calling 916/440-7871 or emailing pswan@dhs.ca.gov 

TTY ACCESS TO EITHER MEETING
If you use a TTY Teletypewriter and wish to participate in this either meeting via the California Relay Service (CRS) dial CRS at 711 or 1-800/732-2929
* Tell the CRS operator that you wish to participate in the Medi-Cal Redesign conference call
* Give the CRS operator the USA toll-free phone number for the conference call (1-800-857-9668) for either Medi-Cal Redesign meeting in Sacramento or Los Angeles.
* From this point forward, the operator will give you further instructions.

OTHER BUDGET RELATED MEETING
* The Schwarzenegger Administration has scheduled a briefing for people with developmental disabilities, their families and other advocates and groups impacted by the proposed closure of Agnews Developmental Center, for January 7, Friday afternoon from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at the Secretary of State Office Building main auditorium, two blocks from the State Capitol.
* The Department of Developmental Services is hosting the briefing by giving an overview - but no specific details until the proposed budget released.  Other meetings will be scheduled in the future regarding the closure of the state facility built in the late 1800's where just under 400 people with developmental disabilities reside.  Closure is slated for July 1, 2006 - though any closure plan needs final approval of both the Governor and the Legislature through the budget process this year.
 

URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT CAN CONTRIBUTE VIA NON-PROFIT 501(c)3  see below
Many many, thanks again,  to the friends, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed contributions and donations.  Contributions from people and organizations is very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months, as we work to establish non-profit status which we are working on.. Apologies to anyone who have not yet received a thank you - email, letters, calls have been overwhelming!  Your help is needed though to keep the effort going in 2005.
Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN) OR, if for tax deduction purposes, you can make the check out to TTSR (Training Toward Self Reliance), which is a 501C-3 non-profit organization, and indicate on check that contribution is for support for "CDCAN".
A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.us [new site address]  Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network (see below for mailing address)
* How To Receive CDCAN Capitol News Reports and Alerts
The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain and other injures, seniors and their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports is for all of them.   If you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that  request to:  martyomoto@rcip.com  OR sign up via the NEW CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us   Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy  this (attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
* How To Contact CDCAN
Marty Omoto, director/organizer  New WEBSITE address:  www.cdcan.us 
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814   VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com