STANLEY LIGAS, et al. v. JULIE
HAMOS, et al.
First Annual Report of the
Monitor
September 27, 2012
Tony Records, Monitor
traconsult@mindspring.com
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Introduction
Organized into Five Sections
 Activities of the Monitor
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Full Cooperation from All
Parties’ Meetings
Information Sessions
Work with Defendants
Contact with providers, families and class members
Compliance Evaluation Standards
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Overall Activities of the
Defendants
Ligas Implementation Team Established
 Ligas Budget Developed
 Some New Policies Established/Modified
 Ligas Website Established and Modified
 Significant Progress on Class Member List
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Resources and Capacity
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Ligas Budget Developed
– FY13 - $38.9 Million (less 4%)
– Costs Projected over 6 Years
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Recent Rates Adjustments
– Increase in Benefits for Staff
– Modifications to Remove Disincentives for Smaller (14 Person) Homes
New Ligas Team Members Hired
 Enhancements for PAS Agency Reimbursement
 Waiver Amendments for Expansion Approved
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 Rates Workgroup to Be Re-Assembled
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Resources and Capacity (Cont.)
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Much More Needs to be Done!
– Only 8 of 18 Ligas Implementation Team Members
Hired
– Overall, DDD Seriously Understaffed
– Rates Still Among Lowest in the Country
– Budget for Consultants and Contractors Has Not
Been Utilized
– Payment Cycle is Still Looming as A Problem
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Class Member List
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Two Class Lists
– ¶2 (a) ICF/DD Class Members
 Current Total 697
 List Established and Documentation Maintained
 List Has Improved Over Time
– ¶2 (b) Waiting List Class Members
 Current Total 10,894
 Accuracy of PUNS List Data Deeply Flawed
 Inaccuracies Have Affected Funding Selection
Process
 Highlights the Need for Comprehensive Data System
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Transition Services Plans
Defendants Developed Transition Plan Documents
Through Stakeholder Involvement – Finalized in
July 2012
 2 PAS Agencies Selected for Pilot
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Have Been Trained (8/23/12)
Implementation Started September 2012
Initial Sample Size 141
Monthly Updates
Crisis Transition Planning Process is in Place
 Transition Planning Training Consultant Needs to
be Hired
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Transition for Class Members in
ICFs/DD
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697 Class Members in This Category
– 153 Have Received Funding Approval
– 113 Have Actually Started Services (4 in Home Based)
– 19 Individuals Have Changed Their Mind and Chosen
to Stay
– Updates on Remainder of Class Member are Obtained
Monthly
– Voluntary Downsizing and Closure Agreement have
and will Continue to have Significant Impact on this
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List
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Crisis Services
Notification of Non-Compliance, May 1, 2102
 Corrective Action Plan Developed, with Input from
Class Counsel. Includes:
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Internal Quality Assurance Controls
Streamlined Processing Steps
Adjustments to Data-Base
Changes Review Meeting Structure
Authorization for Network Coordinators to Issue PreAward Letters
– Training of Network Staff and PAS Agencies
– Management Review will be Included In Data Reports
Document
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Transition for Class Members
on Waiting List
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10,894 class Members in This Category (9/12/12)
– Two Selection Events (735 Class Members in February
2012 and 604 in June 2012)
– Third Selection Event Imminent (1,500 Class Members)
– Serious Flaws in List Eliminated Nearly Half of
Individuals from Selection Process
– Services Initiated for 135 Class Members
– Funding Approved for Additional 30 Class Members
– 73 Packets Have Been Submitted for Approval
– 343 Being Screened
– 114 Confirmed That They Want Community Services
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Transition for Class Members
on Waiting List (Cont.)
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An Optimistic Projection would Result in Services for
Around 700 Class Members – Far Below the 1,000
Required
Additional Steps are Needed
– Immediate Third Selection Event
– Additional Staff Supports in working with PS Agencies on
PUNS List
– Develop Technical Assistance Arm to Assist PAS Agencies
– Steps to Streamline Application Process
– Poll Provider to Identify Existing Opportunities
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Recommend Specific Review of These Activities with
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Class Counsel in January 2013
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OUTREACH
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Training Activities for PAS Agencies
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Development and Refinement of Ligas Website
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Outreach RFP
– Released September 13, 2012
– Proposal Due Date of October 16, 2012
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Implementation Plan
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Approved by Court on February 15, 2012
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Defendants Should Resubmit Revised Plan
Prior to Next Parties’ Meeting
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Data Reports
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Latest Submission on August 20, 2012 for
Data through FY 12.
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Next Due February 15 2013 for Data
Through December 15, 2012
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Services to Named Class
Members
Compliance Achieved
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Dispute Resolution
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Corrective Action Plan Developed to Include:
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Hiring of 3 New Hearing Officers
New Hearing Officers Trained
Application Process is Being Streamlined
Rights Statement is Being Modified
PAS Agencies to be retrained on Submitting Appeals
Request
– Crisis Appeals to be Given Top Priority
– Management Reports to Be Generated and Provided
with Data Reports Submission
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Final Comments
At Least 323 Class Members Are Have Received
Funding Approval for Services as a Direct Result
of Ligas!!
 This is the end of the First Year of at Least a
Nine-Year case!
 Ligas Activities Have Exposed and Will
Continue to Expose many Weaknesses in the
System!
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