Across the Board
An Update on the Activities of the ANCOR Board of Directors
Winter Board Retreat In addition to hosting a member and prospective member event in San Diego on 2/10, the ANCOR board dealt with a packed agenda at their 2/8-2/9 winter retreat, held in San Diego on February 8-9 in conjunction with ASAE’s CEO/COO Symposium. Highlights included an extensive discussion related to successfully navigating the changed political environment in Washington and final approval of two major initiatives: moving forward with a Political Action Committee and launching a certificate program in partnership with Relias Learning. Look for major announcements of both in the coming weeks!
Responding to the lack of details available at the time to assess Republican proposals to restructure Medicaid and repeal/replace the Affordable Care Act, the board adopted principles to guide ANCOR’s 2017 priorities, and directed the Government Relations Executive Leadership Group to develop a specific position on per capita caps and block grants consistent with the adopted principles. Subsequent to the San Diego meeting, the board met by conference call on 2/17 to review and approve that position, which was communicated to all ANCOR members by email in conjunction with our grassroots advocacy action alerts. The full position is set out further below.
Notably, the board continued its discussion exploring a potential alternative membership dues structure – one that would permit all members of a state level association to become full ANCOR members through their association. The board formed a workgroup to assess the financial, cultural and governance implications of testing/piloting this approach. This workgroup has been meeting diligently since February, and will present their recommendations to the full board at the May meeting of the board.
Click here to review the minutes of the 2/8-2/9 ANCOR meeting of the Board of Directors.
Upcoming Board meetings:
April 30-May 1 – San Antonio, TX (In conjunction with Taking the Helm, ANCOR Annual Conference May1-3)
July 11-12 – Portland, ME (See below for a member invitation!)
Sept 17 – Washington, DC (Note: this is a Sunday)
Planning to be in Maine on July 12th? Continuing the new tradition established last July in Minnesota and observed in San Diego, the ANCOR Board invites our New England members (and any other member who may be in Portland) to join them at the conclusion of the board’s summer meeting for a casual roundtable discussion to share what’s on your mind. Ask questions, let the board know what you’d like to see from your association, what keeps you up at night, what you are excited about! Details will be announced, but for now, please save the date!
ANCOR POSITION ON BLOCK GRANT AND PER CAPITA CAP PROPOSALS
The system of Medicaid funded community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities(I/DD) is under critical stress. Services for people with I/DD are inadequately funded and cannot address the growing direct support workforce crisis nor accommodate extensive waiting lists across the country while managing significant regulatory oversight and local, state, and federal mandates.
We do not support block grants which would end guaranteed access for millions of Americans with I/DD who are eligible for Medicaid services as a way to reduce federal funding resulting in shifted costs to states and state taxpayers. We do not support per capita cap proposals which would result in cost shifts to state governments, providers, individuals and families and without knowing details of how each state would reflect the cost of care or determine growth rates for the variation of people with disabilities served.
We believe there are opportunities to improve Medicaid. We support greater flexibility for states to innovate and provide higher quality care. If a proposal for either block grants or per capita caps is put forward that does not reduce federal funding, eligibility or services, then we are open to that discussion–or any discussion that focuses on ways to improve the lives of people with I/DD, and ensure both a stable workforce and a sustainable Medicaid program. a stable workforce and a sustainable Medicaid program.