This spring, the court ruled once again that Medicaid cannot keep secrets from you. Idaho Medicaid wanted to ban adults with developmental disabilities from learning how the SIS-A assessment worked. (The SIS-A is the “Supports Intensity Scale – Adult,” an assessment tool that Medicaid wanted to use to pick people’s budgets.) The court ruled a year ago that Medicaid could not keep the SIS-A manual a secret. But Medicaid still tried again after that to get the court to change its mind. The court ruled this spring that its decision would stand.

After that, we asked the judge to give you more protections and speed things up. Medicaid agreed to finish a new, fair budget system by 2020. The judge gave Medicaid a final deadline of 2022 to finish. But now it is 2024 and Medicaid still has not done it. One of the ways we asked the judge to protect you and speed things up is to order something called a “Special Master.”

A Special Master is someone who helps finish a settlement agreement. The Special Master helps the two sides make decisions. The Special Master reports to the judge. The Special Master in K.W. v. Armstrong will help find a new assessment tool that is fair and that you can understand. The Special Master will also make sure everything stays on track to put a new budget system in place.

Most importantly, the Special Master is required to communicate with people who use adult DD services. The Special Master has to get your feedback. People using adult DD services in the Community NOW! Group said what they expect the Special Master to do:

Provide clear communication that is accessible to a variety of people with different disabilities and people who speak different languages

Move forward quickly to settle this lawsuit
Speak directly with members and treat us like human beings; be a good listener
Be responsive to our needs in a timely way
Be knowledgeable about Idaho system and our DD members
Conduct a statewide listening tour to understand people in underserved communities
Have a work group to consult with that includes self-advocates and consult with the DD council and use their expertise and information already gained

We have now picked a Special Master and she agrees to meet these Community NOW! expectations.

*Photo of Ruby Moore. She is smiling and has blonde hair, a braided ponytail, a blue jacket, and a purple scarf in this photo.*

The Special Master will be Ruby Moore. Ruby is also the Executive Director of the Georgia Advocacy Office. The Georgia Advocacy Office is the protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in Georgia. She is nationally known for her work with people with disabilities for nearly 50 years. You can read more about Ruby’s background and listen to an interview about her work to advocate for people with disabilities.

What happens next? The court will officially appoint Ruby as the Special Master soon. Then she will start her work. She told us that she would tour Idaho to get your feedback as she gets started. Stay tuned here to learn about when you can meet Ruby and tell her what you think.

Questions? Please let us know.