Founded in 1997, Family Voices of California (FVCA) is a statewide collaborative of locally-based parent run centers working to ensure quality health care for children and youth with special health care needs.
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FVCA Links
Recent
- Webinar on 7/3: Private Insurance Coverage under California’s Affordable Care Act (Covered California)
- New Webinar Recording 6/5: Home and Community Based Waivers
- New Webinar Recordings 5/22 and 5/29
- IDA Policy Action Request: 2nd Round of Calls Needed Now
- New FDA Patient Network Website
- Settlement of IHSS Lawsuit will Prevent Devastating Cuts to Home Care Services
- April 2013 Webinar Recording: The Affordable Care Act and Exchange – What are the Specifics?
- Webinars for Autism Awareness Month
- 11th Annual Health Summit is another Success!
- November 2012 Webinar Recording: Changes to MediCal and Healthy Families
Webinar on 7/3: Private Insurance Coverage under California’s Affordable Care Act (Covered California)
June 10, 2013Wednesday July 3, 2013; 12:00pm-1:00pm PDT
Peggy McManus, President of the National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, will be discussing her latest research on the benefits and cost sharing requirements under the new California Health Exchange affecting children and youth with special health care needs. Peggy’s research on this topic was funded by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/417342514
New Webinar Recording 6/5: Home and Community Based Waivers
June 7, 2013Home and Community Based Waivers (Nursing and Institutional Deeming) (June 5, 2013)
This one hour webinar reviewed home and community based waivers: how waivers work, who is eligible, what services are received, waiting lists. Presenters: Kathryn Smith, RN, Dr.PH, Associate Director of Administration, USC UCEDD at CHLA; Elissa Gershon, Senior Attorney, Disability Rights California
For the powerpoints and webinar recording, click here to go to our archives page.
New Webinar Recordings 5/22 and 5/29
June 5, 2013Regional Centers and Insurance Companies –Who pays for what services (May 29, 2013)
This webinar reviewed California’s Autism Insurance Mandate – Who is the payer of first resort to cover necessary treatments for children with autism or PDD? Presenters: Amy Westling, Senior Policy Analyst at Association Regional Center Agencies (ARCA), Katie Hornberger, Director, Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy, Disability Rights California, and Janice Milligan, Director of Health Net of California.
Go to our archives page to download a recording of the presentation.
In Home Support Services (IHSS) (May 22, 2013)
This webinar will cover a brief overview of IHSS, developments in the Oster v. Lightbourne case, recent changes and developments in the IHSS program, and where families may go for help. Presenter: Maria Fernanda Iriarte, Managing Attorney, Disability Rights California
Go to our archives page to download a recording of the presentation.
IDA Policy Action Request: 2nd Round of Calls Needed Now
May 24, 2013URGENT
It has been proposed to cut the funding for Early Start Family Resource Centers, among other services and supports for children with special needs.
There are proposed cuts to agencies like ours -- which support families of children with special needs. The money may seem small, but agencies have not had a cost of living increase in 18 years -- so this is a big deal. If you want to give input please see information from IDA on the Support for Families website.
http://www.supportforfamilies.org/IDAalert.html
FROM IDA
Thank you everyone - your calls made a difference! At the Assembly Budget Subcommittee yesterday, a recommendation to keep the Early Start budget items open for the next meeting was approved. Another round of calls is needed prior to the next hearing:
Friday, May 24, 2013 - Upon adjournment of Appropriations Committee
State Capitol (Room not announced yet)
Watch the hearing at: http://www.calchannel.com/local-listing/
If anyone is available to attend the hearing on Friday, please contact the IDA Office, mail@idaofcal.org / (916) 453-8801 to share your availability.
ACTION:
Continue calls to members of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 to oppose Early Start cuts in the recently proposed reductions by the Department of Administration.
New FDA Patient Network Website
April 15, 2013New FDA Patient Network Website:
The site gives patients and advocates a bigger voice in medical product regulation, which includes drugs, devices, and biologics. This site will:
- Educate the community about FDA regulatory and policy issues, the medical product development lifecycle, mechanisms in place to provide stakeholder input, Federal Register notices, and public meetings.
- Encourage patients and advocates to communicate with FDA.
- Show how patient advocates can serve on FDA working groups, become Patient Representatives, speak at meetings and more. This is one way the FDA hopes to expand inclusion of the patient perspective in FDA initiatives, problem-solving, decision-making, and medical product development, review and approval.
- The new Web site provides a wealth of patient-friendly information on drug and device development and approval, clinical trials, latest treatment options, important safety information and much more. Useful interactive tools help visitors of the site find “Approved Drugs at FDA,” and “Search for a Clinical Trial.”
- This Web site also is home to the Patient Representative Program, where members of the public can apply to sit on official FDA Advisory Committees and act as consultants during the drug and device review processes.