ABCDNJ FY 25 Year in Review

• Preventing a 5% across the board cut to DDD Community Programs and Early Intervention providers in the Governor’s Proposed FY’26 Budget.
• Securing a rate increase for Early Intervention providers in the FY’26 Budge.
• Preventing passage of legislation which will threaten the capacity of licensed and certified agencies to perform vital services and provide desired results for the I/DD community.
• Preventing passage of legislation which would have required Early Intervention providers to carry out ill-fitting tasks which are not being properly completed by contracted and governmental agencies.
• Creating a video to cast light on the need to provide adequate payment for transportation to and from the individual’s chosen pursuit, day habilitation.
• Presenting at the NJ Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma’s event, Dual-Diagnosis: A Vision for Better Mental Health Care for the IDD Population, to discuss advocacy efforts to develop mental healthcare services for people with IDD.
• Participating in DDD special committees focused on the operationalization of the new DDD training modules and Therap/ERMS pilot.
• Completing the first annual ASAH/ABCD Future Care and Planning Survey for Students Ages 15, 16, 17, and 18.
• Hosting three introductory meetings between the ABCD Board and New Jersey Gubernatorial primary candidates.
• Regarding potential federal cuts to Medicaid, beginning January 21, 2025, creating 20 unique action alerts to membership and their networks (tying in to ANCOR’s National Voter Voice) in addition to a primmer explaining what Medicaid is and how it is funded, speaking at 4 hearings/town halls, meeting 10 times with members of NJ House majority and their staff, and posting numerous letters to NJ majority and minority members of Congress. Helping prevent the reduction in FMAP, monthly member capitated rates, and the inclusion of IDD in Medicaid expansion work reporting requirement.
• Securing DDD agreement to promulgate guidelines for Unlicensed Group Homes (UGH) to prevent the erosion of the current licensing system.
• Securing and working with DDD to prevent the erosion of the current certification system and immoderate dwindling of individual budgets.
• Advocating for promulgation of an oversight and enforcement process requiring service provider compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and rules before service may be provided and payment received.
• Promoting legislation to permit certain licensed professionals to provide behavioral supports in DDD Community programs

In addition:

• 36 newly introduced bills reviewed, each of which we have taken a position on and continued to monitor with additional action taken as needed. This, in addition to the 255 bills from the first year of the 221^st Legislature which we continue to monitor.
• 66 ABCD member meetings led by 31 members.
• 9 new policy positions which include responses to NorthJersey.com Hidden at Home series, the fatal passenger plain collision, the Urgency of Now proposal, and the FY’24 Ombudsman Report to white papers focused on the shift from contract based to fee-for-service, unlicensed group homes, the need for a mental health acuity rate, and on an oversight plan for improvement.[1]
• Creation of “Looking for an Adult Day or Residential Program? – 52 Key Questions to Ask,” A tool to help the individual, family, and/or guardian in their search for services and supports.
• 9 website education trainings
• 1 live day-long training by Mercadien
• 22 visits from state staff and affiliated organizations in and outside of NJ which included CQL, CARF, FSSU, CARES, DRNJ, DFHS, NJBA, and LSNJ to ABCD committees and forums.
• 25 Legislative visits

[1] Papers can be found on our website at https://abcdnj.org/advocacy/