NorthDakotaBrainInjuryProviderCoalitionMeeting
March31,20171:30pm–3:00pm
Inattendance:TrinaGress(CommunityOptions),CarrieCooper(CommunityOptions),CherieSanstead
(HarmonyStables),RebeccaQuinn(NDBIN),DarcyHanson(HIT),JohnHricak(Survivor),SharonSwanson
(GFAirForceBase),RobinRosendahl(Protection&Advocacy),HeidiGustavson(IndependentLiving),
JoyceWolter(FreedomResourceCenter),BrandiCharnholm(Survivor),LynneOstrem(BelovedHope),
LisaAnderson(FamilyMember),JanetGrove(ProgressiveTherapy),NanKennelly(OnwordTherapy),
LindaKinzler(VocationalRehab)
1. LegislativeUpdate:
a. BrainInjuryCouncilBill–Noticeablechangesaremovingfrom11-13council
membersto5-9councilmembers.Also,includesonly1survivor.Andmusthave
atleastoneprovideronthecouncil.Thebillwillbegoingbacktothegovernorto
sign,oncethebillissigneditwillmoveforward.Hopingtohavemorefeedback
byJunetoreorganizethecouncilandhowwewillmoveforwardwith
determiningnewrulesinthefutureandwhowillsitonthecouncil.
i. Isthereapossibilitythatthiswon’tpass?Trina–doesn’tthinktherewill
beanyreasonforittonotgetthrough,hasgonethroughbothsidesand
isinagreement,nowitisjustaboutworkingthelanguagepiecesofthe
bill.Andnoreasonforgovernornottosignit.
ii. Currently,Trinaisthechairofthisgroup,however,shemaynotbethe
chairafterthisbillgoesintomotion,sheiswillingtogiveupthisposition
sothatthegovernorappointedchaircanalsochairthismeetingsothere
isaconnectingpoint.MusthaveatleastoneprovideronthecommitteeBrittany,Nan,Trina,andJoyce.
b. DHSBudgetBill
i. ThereisaConferenceCommitteeforbudgetbills.Currently,thereisa
BrainInjuryAmendment,itappearstotakemoneyfromtheBIprograms
soitcouldcreateaDHSparttimeposition(FTE)toworkona1915i
wavier.Thelanguageoftheamendmentisdifficulttointerpretbutall
currentbraininjuryfundingcouldbeimpactedbyit.
ii. Wheredowegofromhere,whatdotheproviderssuggest?Reachoutto
SenatorMathernforclarificationontheAmendment.Thisissomething
importantthatwewanttoadvocatefor,advocateforinterpretationand
possiblelanguagechange.
iii. Doweknowwhattheplanis?Wedonotknow,amendmentcamefrom
RepresentativeNelson,hewantedtotakegeneraldollarswhichwould
takefundingoutofworkprogrammingandthosedollarswouldbe
matchedfederally.Hewasundertheimpressionthiswouldexpand
servicesforBI.
iv. HasanyonespoketoRepNelson,doesheknowwhatthiscouldmean?
Trina–myfirststepistohaveaconversationwithPamandLauren.
Rebecca–ThiscouldaffectNDBIN.Theamendmentallowsforitto
nullifythelineitemsthatarecurrentlyavailableforBraininjury.Cantake
whatevermoneyforBIandre-allocateit.Lynn-RepNelsonwillbecalling
meinpersontodiscusstheramificationsthatthiscouldhavelatertoday.
CouncilasksifLynncouldfollowupwithPamandseehowsheperceives
itandtoseeifRebeccaQuinnhasthecorrectinformation.
v. Trina-RepAndersonreachedoutlastAprilandaskedherhowthecuts
wouldaffecttheReturntoWorkprogram.Trinaexplained,wehad50
slotsavailablebutnowtheyarecutto25.MaggieAndersonreachedout
lastApriltoTrinatooandaskedhowtodo1915iforBrainInjuryand
requestedshedomoreresearchonit.Trinasharedthisinformationwith
Maggie.RepNelsonsharedwithTrinahehadsubmittedanamendment,
todealwiththeReturntoWorkcuts,ifit’saffectingallprogramming,it
wasn’thisdirectintention.
vi. Mayneedanemergencyprovidermeetingonwherewewanttogo,do
weneedtoreachouttothesenate?It’stoolatetotestify.Butdoesn’t
meanwecan’treachouttosenateappropriationsandofferup
suggestionsforchanges.ItseemsliketheBrainInjuryCommitteecould
beutilizedinhelpingtowritethis.Unsureofwhentheyarevotingonit.
Senatesubcommitteeisdoingamendmentsnextweek,voteon
appropriationssecondweekinApril.Onsubcommittee:Dever,Mathern,
Bowman,andKilzer.
c. Otherlegislation
i. RebeccaQuinn-JusticeRe-design,createcasemanagementand
outpatientservicesforsupportedemploymentforthoseonparoleand
probationforthosethathavebehavioralhealthconditions.Braininjury
serviceswouldbeincludedwithinthis.Preventindividualsfromreoffending.
ii. Linda–asastateemployee,watchingthebudgetcuts,alotofemployees
wonderingiftheywillhaveajobwiththeDHSbudgetandtheproposed
cuts.
iii. ProtectionandAdvocacy–greatresourcetogetonemaillisttoget
legislativeupdates.
2. BrainInjuryMedicaidServicesCollaborationMeeting–
i. MedicaidisalittleconfusedonwantingtodoaMedicaidplanning
meeting.Themeetingwillfocusonexistingservices.Medicaidwouldlike
ittobeasmallgroup.
ii. MedicaidwouldlikecountysocialservicesCaseMangerstobeinvolved.
Aboutfourcountiesinthestatearedoingareallygoodjob,wanting
thosecasemanagerstoreallybeinvolved.Hopefullydevelopsome
trainingorguidebookforothercasemanagerstoseepossibilitiesand
billingoptions.
iii. MeetingtentativelyonMay9thgettingclarificationfromMedicaid.
Rebeccawillsendinvitesandstartworkingonanagendaonceitis
confirmedbyMedicaid.Ifyouwanttobeinvolved,pleaseletRebecca
knowandshewilladdyoutothelist.
3. MemberUpdates
i. HIT–fullandhaveawaitlist.Alphahasoneopening,usuallygetfilledup
rightaway.Alsoprovidetransitionalservicestoonepersoninthe
community–havebeendoingthatfortenyears.
ii. HarmonyStables–wantedtocomeandfindoutmoreaboutthegroup,
ShannonBinstockdidacommercialforKnowyourNogginatHarmony
Stables.OnAugust4th-6th,trainersfromTexasarecomingforatraumafocusedequineassistedpsychotherapy(NaturalLifemanship).Rebecca
willputherinfouponNDBINwebsite.HarmonyStablesisn’tsetupfor
physicaldisabilities.Also,theyonlyacceptprivatepaybutdohavea
programcalledheartoftheprairiethatprovidesequineservicesforat
riskyouth.
iii. VocationalRehab–Jamestownisfullystaffedwithfourcounselors,two
regionaladminsretireatendofDecember.InDevilsLake–admin
decisionmadethatNancyLund’spositionwon’tbefilled.DavidfromGF
willbecoveringDevilsLakeoffice.DevilsLakeandDickinsonhaveopen
positions.
iv. Progressivetherapy–addinganotherstaffforTBI,seeingsomepeople
throughtelemedicineforwhatinsurancewillallow.Continuetohave
supportgroupattheofficeinWestFargo,firstThursdayofeverymonth
from6:00pm–7:30pm
v. OnwardTherapy–outpatientservicesforTBIinofficeandhomesetting,
relocatedintonewofficespace.Sponsorsupportgroup4:30pm–
6:00pm.Also,theysponsorpartofthefundingforthesocialactivitiesfor
membersinthecommunitywhoaresurvivorsofTBI.
vi. Assistive–inJuly,isgoingtobeaMedicaidprovider,assistivetechnology
assessmentwillbebillableunderMedicaid.TheyhaveanofficeinFargo
andnewofficeinMandanandprovideoutreachstatewide.
vii. Lynn-gettingnewclientsandmeetingnewemployees
**Willgetanotherinviteoutonthenextprovidercoalitionmeetingsoon,doingeveryother
monthduringlegislationsonextmeetingwillbeMayunlessthereisanemergencymeetingto
discussthatAmendment.