Advertisement

You are here

Home ›

Opportunity Center services at stake again, citizens asked to voice opinions

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).
Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 03/07/2016 - 12:01

By Correne Martin

Services like those offered at the Opportunity Center in Prairie du Chien are again at stake, as the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is drafting a new Family Care 2.0 Concept Plan, due to the Joint Finance Committee by April 1. Through a provision in the plan, states could make determinations that may or may not discontinue facility-based prevocational services like the Opportunity Center’s.

If the JFC approves the concept plan, DHS will draft and submit a waiver request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by the end of September. This will likely leave few opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their family members to voice their choice, according to A Team Wisconsin.

“The government is pushing for MCOs (managed care organizations) to kick employees out of the center,” said Kari Kossman, Opportunity Center community services coordinator.

As it is today, people can choose to work out in the community or in a work center/community-based prevocational setting like the Opportunity Center.

According to A Team Wisconsin, which supports work center employment, many such places in Wisconsin are part of the broader community and are not institutional in nature.

Citizens who wish for individuals with disabilities to continue to have a choice of the full array of service options are encouraged to contact their legislators and ask that center-based and community-based day services be explicitly listed as mandated benefits funded under Family Care 2.0.

The A Team held a Day for Choice at the Capital on March 1. Two public hearings in Madison and Eau Claire occurred March 7. When the concept plan is published, which is expected sometime this week, the email address where written testimony may be sent will also be published at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/familycareiris2/index.htm. Concerned citizens can add their comments there as well.

“We really hope people contact their legislators and voice their opinion,” Kossman added.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet