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The Usual--
On the way to the men's bowling league this past Wednesday (thankfully before anyone besides Ron was in the car), a deer jumped out in front of the "ruby" Toyota Sienna. Both combatants came away scarred in this encounter. I'm taking it to the body shop on Monday to see if we can keep it on the road until the real bodywork can happen. So, it you see us pulling into your driveway in this van-- don't be alarmed.
Speaking of larger perspective. The Ohio Department of DD's Provider Compliance Department will be on site inspecting CLI's programs and paperwork on Monday, November 3rd. We're excited about this opportunity to have the reviewers look at what CLI is doing and let us know what they'd like to see more of and what they'd like to see tweaked moving forward.
Holly, Haven & I had the opportunity this week to attend the 2025 OPRA fall conference this week. It's a good opportunity to network with other providers and learn about what's working in other parts of Ohio. It's easy to get so focused on the day to day in regular CLI operations that we lose the larger perspective. There are always better ways to do at least some things and sometimes when you are so busy, you can't always see the better method(s). Also, I think Ohio is the brink of significant changes over the next few years. It's important that CLI continues to collaborate with OPRA and other DD Providers.
As Ohio's DD system shifts, it's on all of us to work to make sure that the changes are good for the people CLI serves. Ohio is so lucky that our funding through local property tax levies was built in the late 1960's. Our state is better funded than most other states. I know that there are differing opinions on property taxes and I don't know what will happen with this issue. The reality for DD programs is two-fold. First is that that we are dead in the water if those tax levies were to go away. Second is that I know that people are mad about how much their property taxes cost them, but the reality is that the DD portion of their tax bill is a very small percentage of that bill.
The Huron County Board of DD is on the ballot this fall. When residential or day providers like CLI provide a service to a person with DD, we bill the Ohio Department of DD, who then collects more than a third of that amount from the County Board of DD in the county that the person lives in. That Medicaid money can't be accessed without the local match that currently comes from the property tax levies. Encourage people to look at their tax bill breakdown.
Have a great weekend!
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