We will hold a meeting for adults with developmental disabilities and their families tonight, May 30, 2023, at 6:30 pm MT / 5:30 pm PT. The meeting will be online, by Zoom. You can register here.
U.S. Congress Features K.W. Lawsuit at Hearing
United States Capitol building (photo credit: Jessica Rodriguez Rivas - CC license)
Tomorrow, Tuesday 5/16, the U.S. Congress will hold a hearing featuring the Idaho K.W. v. Armstrong class action lawsuit. The hearing will be at the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. The committee wants to learn about artificial intelligence (AI) in government. They want to know more about the K.W. v. Armstrong lawsuit.
Ritchie Eppink will testify at the hearing. Ritchie is one of the lawyers who represents adults with developmental disabilities in Idaho in the K.W. case. Ritchie will tell the senators on the committee about the case.
You can watch the hearing live or watch a recording of it after. Go to the hearing’s website to watch. The hearing will be live on
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
8:00 am MT / 7:00 am PT
Ritchie’s written testimony will also be posted on the hearing’s website.
¿Qué está pasando con la nueva herramienta de presupuesto?
Formulario de prueba con burbujas para rellenar, con un lapiz encima (credito de la foto: lecroitg)
El mes pasado, tuvimos una audiencia judicial sobre el SIS-A (por sus siglas en inglés) (la "Escala de Intensidad de Apoyos – Adulto"). El SIS-A es una nueva evaluación que Idaho Medicaid quería usar. Idaho Medicaid quería reemplazar el SIB-R (por sus siglas en inglés) y el Inventario de Necesidades Individuales con el SIS-A.
En la audiencia judicial, Idaho Medicaid argumentó que a los adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo y sus familias y defensores no se les debe permitir ver el manual SIS-A. El manual que explica cómo funciona la evaluación SIS-A. Argumentamos que los adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo tienen derechos constitucionales para entender cómo funciona el SIS-A y acceder al manual SIS-A.
La semana pasada, Medicaid le dijo al juez que no tomara una decisión. Medicaid dijo que el SIS-A no estará disponible en Idaho. Las personas que venden el SIS-A tampoco quieren que los adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo o sus familias y defensores vean el manual. La gente de SIS-A dice que no trabajarán con Idaho si las personas con discapacidades del desarrollo pueden entender completamente cómo funciona el SIS-A.
¿Qué pasa ahora?
Idaho Medicaid acordó lanzar una nueva herramienta de presupuesto justo para 2020. No cumplió ese plazo. Así que el Tribunal le ordenó lanzar la nueva herramienta para junio de 2022. Tampoco cumplió ese plazo. Idaho Medicaid ha violado el acuerdo de acuerdo de K.W. v. Armstrong y la orden de la Corte. Es posible que el Tribunal tenga que decidir qué hacer con respecto a las violaciones de Medicaid. Compartiremos actualizaciones aquí a medida que aprendamos más.
¿Por qué es tan importante el manual SIS-A?
La nueva herramienta presupuestaria se construyó en torno al SIS-A. Para la mayoría de las personas, su puntaje SIS-A establecería su presupuesto. Un cambio de solo un punto en el SIS-A podría cambiar su presupuesto en miles de dólares. El manual SIS-A es el único lugar donde puede aprender todo sobre cómo funciona la evaluación SIS-A. El manual indica a los evaluadores qué hacer y qué no hacer. El manual es también el único lugar para encontrar las tablas para averiguar su puntuación. Y el manual tiene estadísticas sobre cuánto más alto podría ser su puntuación. La gente de SIS-A no quiere que sepas esa información. Idaho Medicaid le pidió a la corte que le prohibiera obtener esa información.
¿Cómo se eligió el SIS-A si tenía este problema?
No lo sabemos. Idaho Medicaid trató antes de ocultar cómo funcionaba la herramienta de presupuesto. También luchó en la corte para evitar que los adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo vieran sus folletos SIB-R. El tribunal falló en contra de ellos en ambas ocasiones. Después de eso, Medicaid preguntó a los defensores de Idaho qué era importante en una nueva herramienta de evaluación. Les dijimos que la transparencia - Ser capaz de entender todo sobre cómo funciona - la evaluación fue tan importante que clasificó un "10" en una escala de 1 a 5. Les dijimos que la transparencia era un "motivo de ruptura". Idaho Medicaid debería haberse asegurado de que el SIS-A fuera transparente. Aprendimos por primera vez en 2021 que la gente de SIS-A quería mantener partes en secreto. Seguimos diciéndole a Idaho Medicaid loimportante que era esto, pero nada cambió.
¿Cómo puedo aprender más?
Tendremos una reunión para adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo y sus familias el 30 de mayo de 2023, a las 6:30 pm MT / 5:30 pm PT. La reunión será en línea, por Zoom. Puedes registrarte aquí.
Y si tiene preguntas, contáctenos.
What is happening with the new budget tool?
Test form with fill-in bubbles, with a pencil laying on top of it (photo credit: lecroitg)
Last month, we had a court hearing about the SIS-A (the “Supports Intensity Scale – Adult”). The SIS-A is a new assessment that Idaho Medicaid wanted to use. Idaho Medicaid wanted to replace the SIB-R and Inventory of Individual Needs with the SIS-A.
At the court hearing, Idaho Medicaid argued that adults with developmental disabilities and their families and advocates should not be allowed to see the SIS-A manual. The manual explains how the SIS-A assessment works. We argued that adults with developmental disabilities have constitutional rights to understand how the SIS-A works and access the SIS-A manual.
On April 27, Medicaid told the judge not to make a decision. Medicaid said that the SIS-A will not be available in Idaho. The people who sell the SIS-A also do not want adults with developmental disabilities or their families and advocates to see the manual. The SIS-A people say they will not work with Idaho if people with developmental disabilities are able to fully understand how the SIS-A works.
What happens now?
Idaho Medicaid agreed to launch a new, fair budget tool by 2020. It did not meet that deadline. So the Court ordered it to launch the new tool by June 2022. It did not meet that deadline either. Idaho Medicaid has violated the K.W. v. Armstrong settlement agreement and the Court’s order. The Court may have to decide what to do about Medicaid’s violations. We will share updates here as we learn more.
Why is the SIS-A manual so important?
The new budget tool was built around the SIS-A. For most people, your SIS-A score would set your budget. A change by just one point on the SIS-A could change your budget by thousands of dollars. The SIS-A manual is the only place you can learn all about how the SIS-A assessment works. The manual tells assessors what to do and what not to do. The manual is also the only place to find the tables for figuring out your score. And the manual has statistics about how much higher your score could be. The SIS-A people don’t want you to know that information. Idaho Medicaid asked the court to ban you from getting that information.
How did the SIS-A get picked if it had this problem?
We don’t know. Idaho Medicaid tried before to hide how the budget tool worked. It also fought in court to keep adults with developmental disabilities from seeing their SIB-R booklets. The court ruled against them both times.
After that, Medicaid asked Idaho advocates what was important in a new assessment tool. We told them that transparency—being able to understand all about how the assessment works—was so important that it ranked a “10” on a scale of 1 to 5. We told them lack of transparency was a “deal breaker.” Idaho Medicaid should have made sure that the SIS-A was transparent. We first learned in 2021 that the SIS-A people wanted to keep parts of it secret. We kept telling Idaho Medicaid how important this was, but nothing changed.
How can I learn more?
We will hold a meeting for adults with developmental disabilities and their families on May 30, 2023, at 6:30 pm MT / 5:30 pm PT. The meeting will be online, by Zoom. You can register here.
And if you have questions, just contact us.
K.W. v. Armstrong Court Hearing next Thursday (4/6/23)
Photo of Boise federal courthouse, facing the entrance
The lawyers in the K.W. v. Armstrong lawsuit will be arguing in court on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 1:30 pm MT / 12:30 pm PT.
This court hearing will be about the SIS-A (the “Supports Intensity Scale - Adult”). The SIS-A is the new assessment that Medicaid will use. The SIS-A will replace the SIB-R and Inventory of Individual Needs.
Idaho Medicaid will be arguing that adults with developmental disabilities and their families and advocates should not be allowed to see the manual that explains how the SIS-A assessment works. We will be arguing that adults with developmental disabilities have constitutional rights to understand how the SIS-A works and to access the SIS-A manual.
Thursday 4/6/2023 at 1:30 pm MT / 12:30 pm PT, the lawyers for both sides will make their arguments to the judge. You can listen in by phone only:
1-669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 160 616 8140
Meeting Password: 675397
You are not allowed to record the hearing. You can just listen to it.
Have questions? Just ask us!
K.W. v. Armstrong Update: in court AGAIN this Tuesday (1/17/22)
Photo of Boise federal courthouse, facing the entrance
The lawyers in the K.W. v. Armstrong lawsuit will be meeting with the judge once again this Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 2:30 pm MT / 1:30 pm PT.
The Judge met with the lawyers about a month ago, in late November 2022. He said he wanted to hear from them again soon about what should happen next in the case.
The two sides filed a “status report” about the case this week. You can read that report here. Medicaid says it wants to have another year before it starts the new assessment and budget system. The lawyers who represent people who get Medicaid say we have already waited too long. They say that the new system looks like it could have problems, too.
This Tuesday 1/17/2023 at 2:30 pm MT / 1:30 pm PT, the lawyers for both sides will advocate to the Judge about what should happen next. You can listen in by phone only:
1-669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 161 745 8985
Meeting Password: 610496
You are not allowed to record the hearing. You can just listen to it.
Have questions? Just ask us!
K.W. v. Armstrong Update: in court again this Monday (11/28/22)
Photo of Boise federal courthouse, facing the entrance
The lawyers in the K.W. v. Armstrong lawsuit will be meeting with the judge again this Monday, November 28, 2022, at 10:00 am MT / 9:00 am PT.
This will be a meeting called a “status conference.” The judge wants to talk to the lawyers about the status of the case. The two sides filed a “status report” about the case earlier this week. You can read that report here.
This Monday 11/28/2022 at 10:00 am MT / 9:00 am PT, the lawyers for both sides will make arguments to the judge on these issues. You can listen in by phone only:
1-669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 160 128 5376
Meeting Password: 008842
You are not allowed to record the hearing. You can just listen to it.
Have questions? Just ask us!
K.W. v. Armstrong Update: Lawyers in Court Again Friday (5/6/2022)
Photo of Boise federal courthouse, facing the entrance
The lawyers in the K.W. v. Armstrong lawsuit will be arguing before the judge this Friday, May 6, 2022, at 1:00 pm MT / 12:00 noon PT.
Earlier this year, the judge asked the lawyers if they have any disagreements about new budget system. The lawyers let the judge know there are at least three issues so far that the judge needs to make a decision about. The three issues are:
Until everyone is using the new system, should adults with developmental disabilities keep getting the budget protections they have now?
Can Medicaid give people budgets using the new system before the judge has approved appeal protections for the new system?
Does Medicaid have to show us the agreement that the SIS-A company has for Idaho?
This Friday 5/6/2022 at 1:00 pm MT / 12:00 noon PT, the lawyers for both sides will make arguments to the judge on these issues. You can listen in by phone only:
1-669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 160 227 8907
Meeting Password: 651002
You are not allowed to record the hearing, just listen to it.
Have questions? Just ask us!
Necesitamos sus comentarios: Plan de Medicaid para ayuda con apelaciones presupuestarias
Persona con gafas, cabello castaño hasta los hombros y chaqueta de pana rosa en silla de ruedas se sienta con una persona con cabello rizado castaño más largo en la mesa con computadora portátil (foto de Marcus Aurelius)
El juez en la demanda de acción de clase K.W. v. Armstrong dictaminó que Idaho Medicaid tenía que hacer grandes cambios. Una cosa que tienen que hacer es asegurarse de que los adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo puedan obtener ayuda para apelar sus presupuestos. Medicaid tiene que asegurarse de que todos los que quieran uno tengan un “representante” para ayudarles a obtener un presupuesto más alto cuando lo necesiten.
Medicaid tiene un nuevo plan para asegurarse de que las personas puedan obtener un representante que les ayude. Esto se denomina plan “representativo adecuado”. Tenemos que escuchar lo que piensan de ello. Si nos gusta el plan, podemos decirle a Medicaid que estamos de acuerdo con él. Si no nos gusta el plan, podemos oponerlo.
¿Cómo puedo obtener más información y decir lo que pienso sobre el plan?
Puede leer unas preguntas y respuestas sobre el nuevo plan aquí. Y usted puede ver el plan real que Medicaid publicó aquí.
Los abogados de K.W. v. Armstrong organizarán una reunión en línea para que pueda aprender más y decirnos lo que piensa. Esta reunión es sólo para personas que reciben servicios de Medicaid DD en Idaho y su defensor principal. La reunión no será grabada.
Aprenda más de los abogados de K.W. v. Armstrong:
Jueves, 5 de mayo de 2022
4:30 PM MT a 6:00 PM MT / 3:30 PM PT a 5:00 PM PT
Debe registrarse con antelación para asistir. Regístrese aquí.
¿Tiene otras preguntas que no se han respondido aquí? ¡Háganos saber!
We need your feedback: Medicaid’s plan for help with budget appeals
Person with glasses, shoulder-length auburn hair, and pink corduroy jacket in wheelchair sits with person with longer brown curly hair at table with laptop (photo by Marcus Aurelius)
The judge in the K.W. v. Armstrong class action lawsuit ruled that Idaho Medicaid had to make big changes. One thing they have to do is make sure that adults with development disabilities can get help appealing their budgets. Medicaid has to make sure everyone who wants one has a “representative” to help them get a higher budget when they need it.
Medicaid has a new plan to make sure people can get a representative to help them. This is called the “suitable representative” plan. We need to hear what you think about it. If we like the plan, we can tell Medicaid we agree with it. If we don’t like the plan we can object to it.
How can I learn more and say what I think about the plan?
You can read a Q&A about the new plan here. And you can see the actual plan that Medicaid released here.
The K.W. v. Armstrong lawyers will hold an online meeting so you can learn more and tell us what you think. This meeting is just for people who get Medicaid DD services in Idaho and their primary advocate. The meeting will not be recorded.
Learn more from the K.W. v. Armstrong lawyers:
Thursday, May 5, 2022
4:30 PM MT to 6:00 PM MT / 3:30 PM PT to 5:00 PM PT
You must register in advance to attend. Register here.
Have questions? Let us know!