is a private not-for profit organization of families, self advocates, professionals and community members dedicated to assisting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc is a membership organization affiliated with The Arc of New Jersey and The Arc of the United States.

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ACTION ALERT:

Please take action regarding the New Jersey Fiscal Year 2014 Budget! We need your help!

CLICK HERE to learn how you can help.

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Important Update From DDD on Mandatory Medicaid Eligibility

Please click on the attached:

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid Eligibility

DDD Troubleshooting form for individuals who are denied Medicaid eligibility

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Preserve Medicaid- Protect the Services You or a Loved One Rely On to Survive! Take Action Now!

Current Events/Issues/Announcements...

This week is National Preparedness Week and June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season. With the federal government’s Climate Prediction Center warning of an active or extremely active 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, Rx Response officials said today that its two key programs that help citizens and communities recover from the impact of hurricanes - Rx Open and Rx on the Run - were ready for action.CLICK HERE to learn more about these programs.

When the children under age 21 were transferred to DCF from DDD any family support services they were receiving were authorized to continue automatically through either June 30, 2013 or December 31, 2013. For the 200 families whose services were authorized through June 30th, a letter is going out early this week asking them to call into PerformCare to fill out their family support applications, if they have not already done so. CLICK HERE to view the letter.

The New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center is pleased to announce the start of the NJ CURE Pilot Program. The goal of this Pilot Program is to make it possible for any individual in New Jersey, who does not have insurance or does not have the financial ability to pay for an eye exam or a pair of eyeglasses, to receive assistance through NJ CURE with the application help of a local Lions Club and a local Eyecare Provider who is willing to donate an eye exam.  CLICK HERE to find out more.

Check out The Arc in the News:
The Record: N.J. group homes offer care and community for the severely disabled

The Record: Day programs a critical piece of the community system of care for the disabled

To celebrate Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities has traveled across the state to profile people with I/DD who live, work, learn, and play in our communities for a four-part internet podcast series.

CLICK HERE to see part two and learn more about Elda and Myrta, two women with developmental disabilities who live in the community in Plainfield, NJ and are thriving - pursuing their own interests and enjoying full and active lives.

Help us with our strategic planning process by completing this short survey: Click here to take survey.

CLICK HERE to view all of the information that was presented at The Arc of New Jersey's two recent Medicaid Eligibility Webinars (March 5 and 11, 2013).You can view the Webinars in full and also click on the downloadable PowerPoint presentations of each of the five speakers.

Summer Camp Tuition Assistance for Children
The Department of Children and Families has posted their 2013 summer camp application, tuition guidelines and procedures at the perform care website. CLICK HERE to visit webisite. Applications are due by April 30th. NOTE: Adults over age 20 should contact the Division of Developmental Disabilities or the Division of Disability Services. For more information on The Arc's Camp Rainbow, CLICK HERE.

In order to help answer some questions and concerns regarding The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) new rule, mandating that all individuals 21 and over must be eligible for Medicaid in order to continue receiving services through DDD, they recently added a "Medicaid Eligibility and DDD" section to its website. On it you will find Frequently Asked Questions, Fact Sheets and Medicaid Document Checklists.

DDD also established an an email address and phone number specifically for provider agencies and for families to use to contact DDD with questions or concerns regarding Medicaid eligibility (DDD.MediElighelpdesk@dhs.state.nj.us,
609-631-6505).

Additionally, The Arc of NJ provided THIS FLYER with information about Medicaid’s Disable Adult Child (DAC) provision.

Mark Vanderwerf and Kathy Walsh are interviewed by Fox 5 News about Joe Flacco’s use of the "R" word. CLICK HERE to view the interview.

IMPORTANT: New DDD Rule Mandates Medicaid Eligibility for Adults Age 21 and Over to Receive Services

• Require individuals be MEDICAID eligible  (CLICK HERE)   to be eligible for DDD and to receive any funded DDD services such as Residential (Group Homes etc) , Day Program, Family Support, Respite, Camp, Real Life Choices, Self Determination, Self Directed Services, etc.
• Individuals who are not currently MEDICAID eligible they must become eligible by MARCH 23rd. For extenuating circumstance DDD may grant an additional 30 days.
• Individuals who are not MEDICAID eligible as of March 23rd will not be able to continue to receive services.

• If the individual has never applied for MEDICAID you must immediately submit an application for them to the County Board of Social Services.
Bergen County
Bergen County Board of Social Services
216 Route 17 North
Rochelle Park, NJ 07662
(201) 368-4200
Fax: (201) 368-8710

Passaic County
Passaic County Board of Social Services
80 Hamilton Street
Paterson, NJ  07505-2060
(973) 881-0100
Fax: (973) 881-3232

• If the individual currently has Medicaid, they must remain eligible. The person’s assets must remain below $2,000. Medicaid periodically does a reauthorization review. Please ensure that the paperwork they need for the review is sent in promptly.
• If the individual has lost their Medicaid due to a delay in providing paperwork or information, you MUST resolve any outstanding issue immediately. Non-compliance is not grounds for an extension of the 60 day time frame.
• If the individual lost their Medicaid or was deemed ineligible or you know they will be ineligible due to a problem that cannot be resolved, please call me for assistance.  If I cannot help you I will put you in touch with someone who can. 
REMINDER
 Medicaid is an income and asset related benefit. No funds such as insurance policies, investments, inheritances, burial funds or other accounts should be in the name of the individual or have the individual as a beneficiary.  Likewise individuals cannot receive cash in excess of the income limits nor have certain assets used to pay for room and board.
For individuals who have assets which would make them ineligible for MEDICAID, The Arc’s Planning and Guardianship Corporation can provide you with assistance in establishing a Medicaid eligible Special Needs Individual Trust and/or participating in The Arc’s MEDICAID eligible Community Trust. We can also assist you in setting up a Medicaid eligible prepaid Burial Trust if needed.
We are always available to help and answer questions.  Please contact us if we can be of any assistance.
For more information please visit:  http://www.arcnj.org