Good Morning Members,

Yesterday the Ohio Senate Finance Committee published their version of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 State Operating Budget. Here are the highlights as they pertain to DODD services. We will discuss the budget provisions in greater detail on this Friday’s All-Member Update Call.

· The DSP wage increase for providing HPC services got cut by roughly $6 million over the biennium from what the House proposed. The $6 million includes both state funds and federal match. The increase will be phased in over the biennium starting January 1, 2020. For all of 2020, the increases should get to an average wage of a DSP providing HPC to $12.82 and from January 1, 2021 to July 1, 2021 the average wage of a DSP providing HPC should get to $13.23. Despite losing appropriations from the House, the Senate Finance Committee’s appropriation is still significantly higher than the administrations initial budget proposed in March!!

· Removes the workgroup established by the House to study nonmedical transportation (NMT) before any changes can be made.

· Revises language that was inserted by the House that requires county boards of developmental disabilities to provide certain information to individuals seeking services. The language proposed by the Senate Finance Committee states county boards would have to provide information on ICFs to any individual or family seeking any service from the County Board. This is a complex issue and we will discuss it on the Friday call.

o When a County Board is discussing services with individuals and their families, there are certain resources the county board must provide to individuals and their families.

· This revision also states ICFs are not considered a residential service. OPRA is advocating to remove this redefinition.

· Removes language inserted by the House that would require the Legislature to review Disability Rights Ohio’s (DRO) role as Ohio’s protection and advocacy system and client assistance program.

· Reinserts current law allowing DODD to authorize innovative pilot projects in consultation with stakeholders.

· Makes various changes to the five-year projection plans submitted by the county boards of development disabilities to ensure appropriate penalties for noncompliance.

· The Senate Finance Committee proposed budget did NOT include the amendments supported by various system stakeholders that revised the franchise permit fee for ICFs and revise ICF quality indicators created by the previous administration. OPRA is advocating hard to remedy this before the full Senate votes on the budget.

o Without these revisions, both remain as they are written in law today.

Overall we are pleased with the budget passed by the Senate Finance Committee. The proposed budget will be voted on sometime next week and will eventually move to Conference Committee. After approved by Conference Committee, the budget will go to the Governor to be signed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Christine

Christine Touvelle

Policy Analyst

Ohio Provider Resource Association

O- 614-224-6772

1152 Goodale Blvd.

Columbus, Ohio 43212