Service Provider News Archive
July 31 ~ Spots Available for “Bottom Dollars” Screening
Posted on: Jul 20, 2017
The law establishing a federal minimum wage was passed in 1938. However, it included a provision that allowed people with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage. This provision was designed to persuade employers to hire people with disabilities. Instead, people with disabilities were often employed in sheltered workshops earning sub-minimum wage. 79 years later, the sub-minimum wage provision still exists. In 2016, nearly 250,000 people were legally paid less than the minimum wage, on average about $2 an hour.
“Bottom Dollars” is a documentary that explores this issue in detail through personal stories and expert interviews. The SCDD L.A. Office in partnership with the Self-Advocacy Board of Los Angeles County and the Southern California Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) will be hosting a screening of “Bottom Dollars” followed by a panel discussion on Monday, July 31, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the California Endowment, 1000 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
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Service Provider ABX2-1 Rate Increase Survey Due 09.15.17
Posted on: Jul 18, 2017
With the enactment of Assembly Bill (ABX2-1) (Chapter 3, Statutes of 2016), programs that received a rate increase effective July 1, 2016, for the purpose of increasing wages and/or benefits for staff that spend a minimum of 75 percent of their time providing direct services to clients have a mandated requirement to complete the following survey.
The Department of Developmental Services (“DDS”), with regional center participation, must survey all service providers who received this rate increase effective July 1, 2016. The mandated survey must be completed no later than Sunday, October 1, 2017. In order to meet this statutory timeline, Lanterman requests that you complete the mandated survey on or before Friday, September 15, 2017.
We request that you complete the mandated survey by registering and logging into the following website links:
Step 1: Service Provider ABX2-1 Portal Registration Link (First Time/New User):
https://www.evoconportal.com/CADDS/authenticate.php
Step 2: Service Provider ABX2-1 Survey Link (Once registered, Use the following link to login into the portal to complete the survey):
https://www.evoconportal.com/CADDS/login.php
To assist you with completing the mandated survey, webinar trainings will be conducted on the following dates and times:
Webinar Title: ARCA/DDS ABX2-1 Survey Project Training – CA Vendors
Dial-In Number: 877-358-8686
Passcode: 1814233862#
Training Date and Time
Tuesday, July 25, 2017, 3 p.m. PST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8440236467849628162
Friday, August 4, 2017, 1 p.m. PST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2818882115775080706
Please know that the failure to complete the ABX2-1 rate survey(s) will result in your program(s) forfeiting the ABX2-1 rate increase. Therefore, we highly encourage you to complete the ABX2-1 rate survey by the established timeline above.
Should you have any questions about the ABX2-1 rate increase or need assistance, please contact one of the following Community Services staff:
Eduardo Del Rio, Provider Specialist – 213.252.5698 or edelrio@lanterman.org
Nellia Lippman, Provider Specialist – 213.252.6002 or nlippman@lanterman.org
Karen Ingram, Director of Community Services – 213.252.5694 or kingram@lanterman.org.
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HCBS Regulations - Provider Funding for Compliance Activities
Posted on: Oct 03, 2016
Please note...DDS has extended the deadline for submission to October 30, 2016.
On August 3, 2016, the Department sent the attached information regarding the process for requesting funding to assist providers in making changes to meet the federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings requirements. To allow more time for the development and completion of these proposals, the Department is extending the deadline until October 30, 2016, for service providers to submit proposals to regional centers. The information received with these proposals regarding strategies to address needed changes will be very important as we move forward. Therefore, it’s essential that service providers are made aware of this opportunity to, in conjunction with clients and family members, develop ideas for needed changes to meet the HCBS requirements.
Survey of Vendors Regarding Authorization and Payment Issues and Satisfaction with Services Provided
Posted on: Oct 03, 2016
At Lanterman, we are interested in looking at how we do things and if we can find ways to make improvements. As we have done in the past, we decided this year to conduct a survey of our vendors to gauge their satisfaction with services provided by our Accounting staff. We are pleased to share the results of the survey.
In May of this year, surveys were distributed to a sample of 120 service providers, 24 from each of the five Accounting Associates. Providers selected represented residential, day program, and other providers. Surveys were color-coded so responses could be grouped by Accounting Associate in addition to looking at overall results. A few weeks after the initial mailing, a reminder postcard was sent. In the end, we received responses from 58 providers for a response rate of about 48%. Each individual response, then, represents about 2 percentage points relative to each finding. Of the responses, 33% were from residential providers, 26% from day programs, and 41% from providers of other types of services.
View the entire survey results
City of Los Angeles and Pasadena Providers: Request Rate Adjustment Due to City Increase in Minimum
Posted on: Aug 23, 2016
Effective July 1, 2016, the City of Los Angeles and the City of Pasadena have increased their minimum wage to $10.50 an hour. Service Providers with rates set by the regional center who need a rate adjustment should complete the attached worksheet (one per vendor number) and submit to providerservices@lanterman.org by September 30, 2016. Approved rate adjustments will be made retroactively to July 1, 2016. Requests received after September 30 will be considered, but will not be retroactive.
Please see the following letter for more information.
View the letter
Download the workbook
Provider Rate Increases
Posted on: Jul 30, 2016
As a result of recent legislative changes, many providers received rate increases effective July 1, 2016. The amounts of the increases vary significantly. New authorization (106) forms are being sent out to providers that reflect these increases. In August, letters will be going out to providers that explain these increases in detail and the record keeping that may be required. Please contact Community Services staff at the Regional Center with any rate questions.
Impacts of the New Overtime Law
Posted on: Jul 13, 2016
Attention – The new Overtime Law may impact you and your staff. Please click on the following link to learn more: www.dol.gov/featured/overtime/, then ask your Human Resources Director or Consultant how this applies to your company.
Here’s How the New Overtime Law Will Affect You
Posted on: Jun 07, 2016
Federal overtime laws affect ALL employers.
Click here to learn more
