Meeting Reminder: Speak Out On Changes for AZEIP May 8th in Phoenix

There is a "Public Notice" posted on their site in regards to an application of funds and changes to the AZEIP program that they want to institute. The link to the site is here:https://egov.azdes.gov/cmsinternet/main.aspx?menu=98&id=3638

One of my concerns is still their proposed "Family Cost Participation Policy" it goes as follows: AzEIP will institute a Family Cost Participation (FCP), this would require that families whose children receive services from AzEIP and DDD (but not ASDB) families making over 200% of the federal poverty level will pay 15% of the costs of their child's services (therapies, not service coordination, evaluations/assessments or IFSP development) and then it will increase by 5% to 100% of the costs.

I don't really know where we would fit in all of this, but I find it disturbing to say the least. I looked through the policy, it just says that they somehow use your tax return and a calculation (with no real detail) as to how they determine your income. It doesn't discuss whether or not they fit your expenses into the equation, or what happens if you can't pay, or what your and your child's rights are if you can't pay. It also does not mention how those with private insurance fit into their little equation either.Then there is the phrase "and then it will increase by 5% to 100% of the costs" Huh? How often does it increase, how do they decide the interval of the increase, how do they determine whether or not it increases? Where does private insurance fit in? How do they fit your medical expenses in?

I sent them an email with those questions, and surprise of surprises, nobody bothered to respond.

There is nothing indicating any tax breaks or implications either, would these services qualify as a deduction? Who knows?Here is link to some info I was able to find on the Federal Poverty Line they they are thinking of using:http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml

I would encourage everyone that is able to attend the hearing in Phoenix and speak out on these changes. The info is as follows:

Phoenix May 8, 2009
2:30-3:30 p.m.AZ DOT – HRDC Grand Canyon Rooms 1&2 1130 N. 22nd Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85009

I plan on attending, and bringing my son since it is during the day I don't have a sitter, but I think this is important, and I figure they should have made it after business hours if they didn't want us to bring our children, it should be interesting to say the least.