Hello, to all of our loyal readers, we hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving.  It’s hard to believe it’s that time of the year again.  Yes, the legislative session is upon us once again.  Time flies when you are having fun.  In this edition we will be discussing CDRC proposed legislation, implementing RTBI, MM!MD conference, and more, more, more. 

CDRC proposed legislation - we don’t have any legislation for the upcoming 2006 legislative session as of yet.  We will be working with Medicaid Matters Maryland (MM!MD) and Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC) on various legislation to protect our rights and to enforce some of the laws we have already passed. More info. at the December 11th CDRC membership meeting!!  Also, Montgomery County Delegate, Gareth Murray is interested in making the bridge subsidy pilot program permanent based on meetings CDRC had with him.  CDRC will be working closely with him if he introduces this bill. 

Housing stuff - we are trying to arrange a pre-session meeting with Montgomery County Senator, Sharon Grosfeld in early December to discuss possible legislation around the housing issues pertaining to the disability community.  CDRC will also be working closely with the Housing Coalition.

Implementing CDRC’s Bill, RTBI – John and Kenny had a meeting with DHMH reps. Diane Dresler and Leslie McMillan to discuss the implementation of The Right to Be Informed   RTBI gives residents of SRCs and recipients of DDA services in the community the right to be informed of “Least restrictive service options.”  We discussed what would be the best way to start telling these folks that receive services from DDA about RTBI.  Diane would like to have a training for the Resource/Service Coordinators to teach them how to determine, and offer individuals services in the “most integrated setting”.  They want CDRC to participate in the construction of the training and the actual trainings themselves for the Resource Coordinators. We are really looking forward to this partnership with DDA and Resource/Service Coordination.

MM!MD CONFERENCE – The Medicaid Matters Maryland conference was held November 3^rd.  There were an array of speakers that spoke on Medicaid related issues.  They spoke about how the government is cutting billions of dollars in Medicaid.   It is hurting the disability community.   Here’s an interesting fact that we learned at the conference, “70% of the Medicaid dollars are spent on long term care in institutions, like nursing homes and SRCs, for 10% of the Medicaid consumers, many of whom don’t even want to be there anyway.

Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) – is still working on getting consumer participation.  Applications are still welcome because they do not have enough consumers applying to be members yet! Contact Little John or Kenny to talk about applying to this statewide Medicaid and HealthChoice policy advisory group.  Things are still moving along very s-l-o-w-l-y with the New Direction Waiver.  CDRC believes it has been way too long for the New Directions Waiver to begin.  We have not heard anything about when it will begin.  But, we will let you know when we know.

Board of Leadership – CDRC has received eight applications for its new Board of Leadership.  The vote will take place for this big event at our next CDRC meeting. Be sure to attend the December 11th CDRC meeting and get your vote in!

Web Site - The web page is being updated frequently with new photos of different events and useful information.  Take a look around.  www.thecdrc.org

CDRC MEETING – Just a REMINDER because of the holidays, our next CDRC meeting will be held 2 weeks early on DECEMBER 11^th. .

Maryland City at Russett Library

3501 Russett Common

Laurel, MD 20724

1:00 – 4:00

December 2005