Blog & News
OSSA Announces Kathryn Weit as Association Executive Director
By Margaret Theisen Oregon Support Services Association President The Oregon Support Services Association (OSSA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Kathryn Weit as our Executive Director. Kathryn is well known as an advocate and leader for services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her extensive history in our State includes participating in launching the Oregon Support Services Brokerage system, leading the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition and serving as the Executive Director of the Oregon Council on...
read moreState Announces Payment Systems Change Delay; Provider Enrollment Agreements Still Needed
Dear Providers, Yesterday, newly-appointed ODDS Interim Director Trisha Baxter announced that Oregon is putting the brakes on its move to centralize payment to providers of brokerage services. The new target date for the change is July 1st, 2014, pending agreement between the State and SEIU. For quite some time, there has been great concern amongst brokerages, providers, and customers regarding what has been a rather rocky implementation process. Payment to our essential provider base must be top priority for our community and system. We...
read more11/26/2013 Update on Provider Payment Changes and Provider Enrollment into the State’s System
Dear Providers,There continues to be a lack of timelines and details regarding the State’s move to take over payment to providers of brokerage services.Representatives from the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services promise there’s continued work on a solid plan, but as of right now they have produced no clear plans or feasible timelines. What we understand is this:Due to the lack of a transition process presently, payment will not be coming through the State effective January 1st, 2014 Brokerages will continue to provide your payment...
read moreNotice to Providers Regarding Issues with State Payment System Changes and Processes
Dear Personal Support Workers, Domestic Employees and Independent Contractors,Recently, there have been some mixed messages regarding the new State payment system and the Provider Enrollment Number you will need in order to access it – including what you need to turn in and to whom you should submit those items. Many of you have reported getting conflicting information from one contact person to the next. Once the brokerages were alerted to the issue by calls from providers, we quickly made contact with leadership at ODDS (Office of...
read moreOSSA/Brokerage Positions on K Plan Implementation; DHS Response to Concerns
On June 12th, 2013, several brokerage directors met with Erinn Kelley-Siel (Director of the Department of Human Services), Tricia Baxter (Chief Operating Officer for Aging and Disability Programs) and Patrice Botsford (Director of the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services) to discuss concerns related to planned changes to services for brokerage customers and individuals throughout the system. During the meeting, we shared a formal position document (see below*) outlining concerns, questions, and recommendations. Given the...
read moreOSSA Response to Personal Support Worker Agreement 06.25.2012
Under the headline Historic Tentative Agreement Reached for Care Providers, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503 has described the negotiated agreement for Personal Support Workers who are employed by customers of brokerages. View SEIU’s document here Although the actual Collective Bargaining Agreement has not been published yet, some of the thirteen points made by SEIU in its document will need to be closely monitored to ensure the philosophy and practices that Oregonians with intellectual and developmental...
read moreBrokerages Send Nearly 900 Messages to Salem Legislators in One Week
Last week, as part of the DD Coalition’s Week of DD Advocacy, support services brokerages statewide made a major advocacy push. Brokerage staff, customers, family members, direct care workers and community members worked hard to schedule visits, make phone calls, send letters, write emails and post video postcards telling their legislators they oppose cuts to essential brokerage services. Final tally for these efforts reached nearly 900 messages (and many more if you count hits to posted videos and an online petition!) Brokerages...
read moreOSSA Position Statement for Brokerage Services 2011/2013 Budget
In current budget proposals, Support Services Brokerages for Adults includes an additional set of cuts to what has already occurred multiple times since October, 2010. This program has had specific cuts distinct from all Developmental Disability services. Given the array of cuts to all programs we do not support any additional cuts to Developmental Disability Services. Specific to Support Services Brokerages the following cuts have already occurred: • Quality Assurance funding eliminated. Overall impact, nearly 6% reduction to operations,...
read moreAn Open Letter to James Toews, Beloved Friend of Support Services in Oregon
Dear James, The Oregon Support Services Association hosted a 10th anniversary party celebrating the opening of the first brokerage in Oregon last month. This fantastic gathering was nearly perfect, and it would have been if you would have been with us! You were sorely missed and deserve significant recognition for your accomplishment. Support Services as we know them would not have been accomplished without your vision, leadership and heart. As you will see by the photo display on our Facebook page, the 125 people in attendance included...
read moreDeadline TOMMOROW for Feedback on Budget Cut List – Brokerage Cuts Indicated
Message from Erinn Kelley-Siel, DHS Director As a result of the ongoing economic weakness facing the state, and the potential for additional projected revenue declines in future forecasts, Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) requested the submission of reduction options from all state agencies. LFO requested agencies to develop a total of 10.5% in reduction options, based on 2011-13 legislatively adopted budget level, including the 3.5% supplemental ending balance adjustment amount. This list is due to LFO by November 14, 2011. To reach...
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