Legislature delves into home health problems, state response Nov 5, 2009
Web search powered by YAHOO. State legislators Tuesday looked into the state's response to a moratorium imposed by Medicare and Medicaid officials last summer after the state's home health program failed to meet federal guidelines. (Juneau Empire)
Ready, willing and able Sep 30, 2009
The states Office of Developmental Disabilities Services is encouraging the effort as a means to help disabled individuals become more self sufficient and more integrated in the community ... To do that, it will have to challenge the perception that people with physical and mental shortcomings are not able to meet an employers needs, explained Mariah Forrest, regional coordinator for the states Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Medicaid ban lifted partially for emergencies Aug 25, 2009
More than 500 annual evaluations have been conducted, senior and disabilities services director Rebecca Hilgendorf said in a written statement Monday. ADVERTISEMENT. (Anchorage Daily News)
Obama Vows to Change Insurance Polices Aug 16, 2009
"Because we're getting close, the fight is getting fierce" critics are fighting back with by trying "to scare the American people. "Because of all the scare tactics out there, what is truly scary is if we do nothing," he said. MMIX, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share: Video and Galleries from Politics Video Video Video Latest in Politics 1 ... by rightbehind August 15, 2009 6:42 PM EDT Public health care... (CBS News)
State works to lift moratorium on home health care admissions Aug 14, 2009
They were unaware it was operated under the state's Senior and Disabilities Services Division, separate from the four other programs, Schell said. Federal authorities also recently confirmed that individuals who have had their applications completed and accepted by June 26 - when the moratorium was imposed - are not affected. (Juneau Empire)
Scare Tactics Over "End-of-Life" Bill? Aug 12, 2009
But a nationwide nursing shortage means about 40 percent of the nurse positions stay vacant, hence the backlog, said Marcy Rein, chief of programs for senior and disabilities services. The state now is looking into allowing other types of professionals, including clinical social workers, to do the assessments -- something the feds say it should have already done. (CBS News)
Alaska's Medicaid suspension gets lifted Aug 9, 2009
"It's my understanding and impression they became more clear on how we were operating personal care services," said Rebecca Hilgendorf, director of the state Division of Senior and Disabilities Services. The program is aimed at keeping people out of nursing homes. (Juneau Empire)
2 DDSO suspects plead guilty in bid-rigging scam, 1 to stand trial Aug 8, 2009
During Friday s proceeding, one private contractor and one state-employed maintenance supervisor for the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office pleaded guilty to felony charges. James Cummings, 60, of Turin, who has been a DDSO maintenance supervisor since 2003, pleaded guilty to combination in restraint of trade and competition in exchange for five years of probation. (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
Alaska struggles to meet health care demands Aug 4, 2009
Children with complex medical conditions approaching adulthood were poised to lose services, until the state's Senior and Disabilities Services program announced they will be able the apply for adult services despite the moratorium, with permission from CMS.. At Juneau's REACH, which provides services to developmentally disabled children and adults, Executive Director Richard Fagundes said he appreciated the effort the state has put into solving the problems and getting the moratorium lifted. (Juneau Empire)
DDSO supervisor pleads guilty; others in court Friday Jul 31, 2009
Risucci also agreed to resign from his post as maintenance supervisor at Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Rome. Risucci was one of nine people indicted in connection with the alleged bid-rigging scheme. (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
Sen. Begich: Government should lift Medicaid suspension Jul 20, 2009
The services are paid for by Medicaid and overseen by the state Division of Senior and Disabilities Services. State officials do not know how long the moratorium will last but estimate it will affect about 1,000 people. (Juneau Empire)
3 plead guilty and name names in DDSO bid-rigging scam Jul 18, 2009
The men, plus another, face charges tied to at least 94 projects at the New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Rome ... So with encouragement from within the agency, the contractors said, they continued to provide fraudulent bids to various maintenance supervisors at the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office from 2003 to 2008. (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
Begich wants to lift ban on health programs Jul 18, 2009
The troubled programs are overseen by the state Division of Senior and Disabilities Services. The state hopes to resolve within four or five month 00004000 s one critical area: a backlog of 1,800 cases in which people already getting help are waiting for their annual assessment of needs. (Anchorage Daily News)
Feds halt Alaska health programs Jul 15, 2009
The services are paid for by Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor and the disabled, and overseen by the state Division of Senior and Disabilities Services ... "We do believe that quality care is happening in Alaska. Our system for getting that information is not well established. That's what we have to fix," said Rebecca Hilgendorf, director of senior and disabilities services ... But a nationwide nursing shortage means about 40 percent of the nurse positions stay vacant,... (Anchorage Daily News)
Cambridge Family and Childrens Service receives grant from Cambridge Savings Foundation Jul 2, 2009
This is achieved through providing resources for adoption, foster and group care, developmental disabilities services, volunteer mentoring and community based programs. Many of the programs and services are run in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and the Department of Developmental Disabilities. (Cambridge Chronicle, MA)
State says bidding process shored up after allegations against DDSO Jun 21, 2009
Somewhere along the line, there was a breakdown in the bidding process at the Rome-based Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office, prosecutors and auditors agree. Some might blame it on laziness, and some might call it simply bending the rules until they broke, prosecutors explained. (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
Retired state employee faces 77 counts in bid-rigging scam Jun 18, 2009
ROCCO LaDUCA / Observer-Dispatch Thomas VanDresar, 60, of Rome, awaits arraignment in Oneida County Court Wednesday, June 17, 2009, on 77 counts in connection with an alleged bid-rigging scheme at the Rome-based Central New York Office of Developmental Disabilities Services Wednesday, June 17, 2009 ... Thomas VanDresar, 60, of Clinton Street in Rome was the first of nine individuals to be arraigned on a 143-count sealed indictment alleging several state employees at the Central New York... (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
More Firings and Suspensions at Texas Homes for Mentally Disabled Jun 17, 2009
The Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (DADS), which oversees Texas' 13 state schools and their nearly 5,000 residents, and employs more than 12,000 full-time workers, believes the increased number of firings and suspensions could be interpreted as a sign they're doing their job. "We don't tolerate abuse and neglect of the residents in our institutions," says Cecilia Fedorov, spokeswoman for the DADS. "We have a zero tolerance policy that says if you are involved in any confirmed case... (ABC News)
Suicide at Texas Home for Mentally Disabled Under Investigation May 19, 2009
The Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (DADS) is charged with overseeing Texas' 14, state schools; including the where night shift employees are accused of forcing the mentally disabled to take part in a brutal "" sessions that were. 1. (ABC News)
Improper contract probe nabs 9 Apr 9, 2009
2 million in contracts relating to the Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in West Seneca ... Roman was one of six supervisors at the Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) in West Seneca who steered contracts to favored bidders ... OMRDD s Western New York Development Disabilities Services Office provides housing, employment, and family support to individuals with developmental disabilities. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
Providers say they need help with costs Mar 29, 2009
"Providers need a significant increase just to maintain their businesses," says Jan Cahill of the Montana Association of Community Disabilities Services. "You may see them cutting services, cutting people or even closing their doors." Cahill spoke last week at a Capitol news conference of providers, who say the proposed state budget should further increase their payments for taking care of state-funded clients. (Montana Standard, MT)
Medicaid-funded providers say they need help covering costs Mar 29, 2009
Providers need a significant increase just to maintain their businesses, says Jan Cahill of the Montana Association of Community Disabilities Services. You may see them cutting services, cutting people or even closing their doors. (Missoulian, MT)
Rome agency targeted in fraud case Mar 14, 2009
The arrests of two people this week may only be the beginning of the fallout from an alleged rigging of bids at the Rome-based Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office, state and Oneida County officials said. In January, the state Comptroller s Office released a report that stated employees at the agency had spent more than $1 million for 168 rigged contracts from 2003 to 2008. (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
Programs for seniors in danger of being cut Mar 11, 2009
Joan Gone, a program manager with the state's Senior and Disabilities Services Division, visited the center this week to look at ways to keep the program going. The program includes meals served at the center as well as those delivered to home-bound seniors. (Anchorage Daily News)
Contractor to challenge conclusions of audit Mar 7, 2009
The state detailed in the January audit how Scott Risucci of the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Rome used taxpayer funds to overpay vendors who worked on group-home buildings for developmentally disabled people. The state said the agency would often pre-select vendors to win the bidding process, set a price target and ask the vendor to submit a bid. (Utica NY Obserer, NY)
Coalition to host expo on Saturday Feb 22, 2009
com A coalition of local organizations will host an "Enhancing Our Abilities" disabilities services expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St. in downtown Athens ... A coalition of local organizations will host an "Enhancing Our Abilities" disabilities services expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St. in downtown Athens. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Budget woes leave parents of autistic kids anguished Feb 8, 2009
Paul Donato and Thomas Sannicandro, attended Thursday s rally to offer broad support for disabilities services and vowed the protesters would have their ear. Cox and McDonough said they intended to seek the help of Rep. (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
