Policy Post-It Notes

Paid Family Caregiving
What it does: 
Requires TennCare to develop a statewide, comprehensive program by which relative caregivers can get paid for their care within the state’s long-term supports and services programs
Why it is important: 
Tennessee ranks 51st in the amount of support it provides family caregivers. 
Payment and support can improve the quality of life of caregivers and the loved ones they care for. 

TennCare Access Reporting
What it does: 
Requires TennCare to report the size of their waitlists, how long people wait on it, the time between approval and receipt of services and the percent of services people actually receive in the state’s long-term supports and services programs
Broken down by geography, demography and type of service
Why is it important:
It highlights the state’s inadequate provider network
Increases service delivery transparency
It is a HUGE point of leverage to advocate for a better provider network

Katie Beckett Part A HRA
What it does:
Permits families in Katie Beckett Part A to utilize their home- and community-based services (HCBS) funds through a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), similar to that found in Part B
Why it is important:
Part A funds (and supports) are difficult to access and use effectively and efficiently
Provides more flexibility to Part A families to best meet their needs

Residential Policy Options
What it does:
Increases access to and quality of supported residential options for Tennesseans with disabilities
TBD! Options: increase supply, increase support, fix the waiver - no silver bullet
Why it is important:
The need: there is a huge shortage of the spectrum of residential options for people with disabilities
Helps us combat regressive disability housing policies

Open Meetings Protections
What it does:
Reiterates the requirement that state and local boards, councils, etc., must provide reasonable accommodations for the participation of people with disabilities
Why it is important:
You have to follow the ADA, but some boards/councils/etc. are not
People with disabilities need to be represented on decision-making bodies, this helps facilitate that

Threats of Mass Violence Protections
What it does: 
Increases protections for students with disabilities from being charged with a felony for committing a “threat of mass violence”
Why it is important:
The law thus far has reportedly led to the criminal investigation of over 300 students, some of whom have disabilities
The disability protections in the law do not go far enough
Children are impulsive and emotional, charging them with a felony for unserious threats is the wrong answer

Supporting students with behavior needs
What it does:
TBD! But it could create a category of teaching license that focuses on teaching this population
Why it is important:
This is a special education population that is not succeeding within the state’s current application of IDEA
Many teachers say they are not prepared to work with this population, this helps prepare them

Medicaid Expansion
What it does:
Raises the eligibility threshold for Medicaid to 138% of the Federal Poverty Line
Unlocks $1.26 Billion in extra Medicaid funding over two years
Why it is important:
It increases the number of Tennesseans who have access to health insurance
It allows the disability community a pool of funds to address our legislative and policy priorities