This last week marked another busy week for ARRM staff at the Capitol, many of our legislative priorities received a hearing in either the House or the Senate.
On Monday, in the Senate Human Services committee, ARRM’s Technology Grant Project Manager, Alaina Gallagher, provided testimony in support of our initiative to create a new grant focused on expanding education for different assistive technology and remote support options. At the same hearing, Ken Bence provided supporting testimony to an initiative being brought forward by RPAMN that would delay the DWRS compensation thresholds to 2029 and require the Department to work with stakeholders to clarify provider cost reporting obligations. You can review that legislation here.
Wednesday, our attention turned to the House Human Services Finance and Policy committee with both ARRM’s Policy bill as well as the Best Life Alliance DWRS rate legislation receiving a hearing. During the policy bill hearing, we amended out the language that would have created a penalty for counties if they did not meet a 30-business day timeline to approve service authorizations. The penalty language carried a cost to the state to oversee and administer the collection of penalties and was not going to move forward this session.
Finally on Thursday, ARRM’s proposal to allow for indirect billing for certain tasks performed through IHS was heard in the House Human Services Finance and Policy committee. Both Ken Bence from ARRM as well as Larissa Beck from Reach for Resources provided supporting testimony. The committee also heard the DHS policy bill. Within the policy bill, the Department is making technical changes to the part of the statute that creates new criteria for admission into a CRS or Customized Living setting. This language included in the bill opened the door for discussion on the memo that the Department released earlier in the week, announcing an implementation timeline for this criteria. ARRM Board of Directors member, Josh Berg, testified during the hearing to the potential unintended consequences of implementing the criteria. ARRM staff will further engage with legislators and the Department on next steps moving forward.
Looking ahead to this coming week, we are excited that Disability Services Day at the Capitol is finally here! We can’t wait to rally with everyone at 10:00 am in the Rotunda with ARRM staff being ready to support members the remainder of the day in meeting with their legislators.
In addition to Day at the Capitol, ARRM’s technology grant legislation will be heard in the House Human Services Finance and Policy committee on Tuesday morning and our Family Residential Services rate tier legislation will be heard in the House Human Services Finance and Policy committee on Thursday morning. We are also anticipating the Governor’s revised budget to be released soon, as he updates his recommendations based on the newly released February forecast.
Please reach out with any questions.
--Sara Grafstrom, Senior Director of State and Federal Policy