Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
,
Wow! I can't believe that the summer is almost over. It feels like it just began.
We begin
this week's Update with the announcement of our major sponsors for our Annual Reception and
Award Ceremony. We are so fortunate to have such great partners.
We have news of a rally on September 20th in support of the PCA Program. We need to make this a huge event. More than a dozen organizations are sponsoring the rally. We need you there.
We also have a link to the application for overtime hours for your PCA.
We call your attention to two great articles from the New York Times.
Have a good week and a
s always, happy
reading.
John Winske
Disability Policy Consortium
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DPC News: Update on Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony
We are delighted to announce our lead sponsors for the DPC Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony to be held on Thursday, October 13, 2016. The event will be at the Non-Profit Center at 89 South Street in Boston from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
The Gold Sponsor this year is Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA). This is the fourth year that CCA has played a leadership role at our event. The DPC is very fortunate to have a committed partner in CCA.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will be our Silver Sponsor this year. Blue Cross Blue Shield is increasing their commitment this year from Champion to the Silver level.
This year we have a new Champion level Sponsor in the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH). ABH has been a sponsor of our events in the past. We are delighted that they have decided to play a leadership role this year.
"We are fortunate, at the DPC, to have great community partners. Without the support of our community providers, the DPC would have to drastically cut our advocacy efforts." stated DPC President, John Chappell. "We are thankful for these organizations and their long term support of our work."
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DPC News: Rally for PCA Program
Overtime, Not Nursing Homes!
When: Tuesday, September 20, 11:00 a.m.
Where: State House, Boston
PCA work hours will be restricted. The authorization process for consumer PCA hours may change. Rally for the PCA program! Visits with legislators directly after the Rally.
One story about the overtime cap:
An elderly veteran, with a range of disabilities, including cancer, gets over 60 total PCA hours per week. In response to the mailing he received from the state, telling him he can't have his one PCA work more than 40 hours/week, he said, "I might as well pack up my house and move into a nursing home."
Rally sponsors include: DPC, BCIL, MWCIL, Stavros, Mass Home Care, 1199SEIU, IA, NE Arc, OCES, CLW, UCP of Metro Boston, CP MA, GSES, Enable, Inc., Easter Seals, NILP, more wanted.
For more information contact:
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DPC News: Applying for PCA OT
We want to provide you with a direct link to apply for overtime for your PCA. We also want to remind you that if your PCA is working for more than one consumer, they need to total all of their hours. If they will exceed 40 hours per week, then at least one of the consumers should apply for them to work overtime.
You can find the application here. You will need to scroll down to the header Personal Care and then the sixth link says "Personal Care Attendant Overtime Approval Request Form [PCA-OAF] " with links for both pdf and word format forms.
After you fill the form out and forward it to your PCA Management Agency, we suggest you phone the Governor's Office at 617 725-4005 or 888 870-7770 (in state) to express your viewpoint on PCA overtime.
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Net News: Becoming Disabled
Recently, the New York Times began a new weekly series on disability. This is a major step forward for our movement. The first article is by Rosemarie Garland Thomson asks "Where is our Pride Day?"
This should be a great series. You can
read the first piece here.
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Net News: Private Equity Pursues Profit Keeping the Elderly at Home
The New York Times had an article about the entry of for profit companies into the market of providing Medicare Home and Community Based Services. The article also pointed out the they are raising private equity money as well. Is this good news or bad news? What do you think?
You can read the article here.
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Calendar:
One Care Information Sessions
MassHealth wants to help you understand the benefits of One Care. Join us at one of the information sessions listed below to learn more about this important program.
Drop by to talk one-on-one with MassHealth, Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA), and Tufts Health Plan representatives about One Care.
Suffolk County:
Monday, September 12, 2016
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Boston Health Care for the
Homeless Program
780 Albany St.
Boston, MA 02118
Saturday, September 17, 2016
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Upham's Corner Health Fair
Strand Theater
543 Columbia Rd.
Dorchester, MA 02125
Worcester County:
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Community Healthlink
68 Jacques Ave.
Worcester, MA 01610
Friday, September 23, 2016
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Worcester Public Library
Banx Room
3 Salem St.
Worcester, MA 01608
For more information about these events, call Kate at 617-886-8280
or email us at: [email protected]
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Calendar: Training Working with a Disability
When: Friday. September 30, 2016, 9:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Where: The Cambridge Public Library, Lecture Hall 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
9:30 am - 10:00 am: Registration
10 am - 12:30 pm: Training on SSI and SSDI, with Q&A
12:30 pm - 1:10 pm: Light Lunch Provided
1:10 pm - 3:00 pm: Training on Employment, with Q&A
Opening Remarks:
Michael Muehe, Executive Director, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities
Christine Griffin, Executive Director, Disability Law Center
Training Presenters:
Linda Landry, Senior Attorney, Disability Law Center
Tom Murphy, Senior Attorney, Disability Law Center
Svetlana Uimenkova, Senior Attorney, Disability Law Center
Learn About:
- Avoiding problems with SSI/SSDI if you go back to work
- Your rights when applying for a job
- Getting the accommodations you need at work
Register by September 23, 2016
Register Online, or contact Amanda if you have any questions.
[email protected] or 617-723-8455 x 123
CART will be provided
** Please Note: Out of consideration for people with environmental illness and/or multiple chemical sensitivity, please refrain from using perfume or other scented products.
Hosted by:Disability Law Center and
Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities
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DPC Needs your Help!!!
The DPC uses the PayPal PayFast system for your tax deductible charitable donations. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this system because credit card payments are also accepted.
The DPC also uses the Causes program for recurring donations (as well as one time donations). This is a great way to make a smaller monthly donation.
Donate by Mail Make check or money order payable to:
Disability Policy Consortium 11 Dartmouth Street Suite 301 Malden, MA 02148 |
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