2004-05 Legislative Agenda

The RSA Legislative Committee is charged with providing guidance to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee on the creation of and reaction to state legislative proposals, administrative rules, state agency regulations and other government forums. The RSA Legislative Committee members review and analyze proposals, offer opinions, and provide information to promote the RSA philosophy.

The RSA Legislative Committee works to: promote and protect the Association philosophy to encourage and endorse the provision of quality services in a homelike setting to individuals in need of transitional services; and to aid them in achieving the maximum level of independent living possible.

The RSA Legislative Committee has established goals for the 2004-05 legislative sessions. These goals serve as a basis for action and will be expanded and modified as new challenges and opportunities occur.

1. Obtain New \ Increased Funding to Promote and Maintain Quality Community Based Care Programs:
• Ascertain how the Community Aids program funding is being allocated at the county level and identify improvements with how the funding can better focused to provide necessary care services to individuals.
• Seek statutory and administrative rule changes that would require simplified and standardized accounting reporting by counties to ensure accountability.
• Seek legislation that would require a cap or limit on administrative costs \ managed care costs for COP, CIP, Community Aids and other community-based funding programs.
• Determine what the actual cost of providing community-based care truly is and compare to the current reimbursement rates being provided by county, state and federal governments.
• Seek legislation that would require that state dollars being distributed by local governments be contracted on a biennial (two year) cycle, to complement and simplify the biennial budget process used by state budget process.
• Seek changes in the “Allowable Cost Manual” to accurately reflect the “fair market value” of facility assets for related parties and require a legislative audit of community-based funding programs to serve as a basis for future state budgeting purposes.
2. Work to improve and correct the CNA testing \ training dysfunction created when DHFS contracted out the process to PROMISSOR, Inc.
3. Seek legislation to modify the “2,500 foot rule” to ensure Wisconsin’s disabled individuals can access quality community-based care.
4. Work with the Department of Health and Family Services and the Wisconsin legislature to ensure consistency of BQA surveys of healthcare facilities and require greater education and competency qualifications for BQA surveyors.