Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium

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Board Members: Linda Schaeffer, Jo-Ann Otlin, Sandy Levine, Linda Edwards, Jean Graney, Dawn LaPointe, Candace Chang, Dan Couet, Lorraine Sanik, Jimmilee Prouty, Tom Miller, Zulmira Allcock, Amy Miner-Fletcher, Rhonda Meisel, Anne Halstead, Alex Chatfield, Joanne Sweeney, Robin Weber

Present: Linda Schaeffer, Jo-Ann Otlin, Sandy Levine, Linda Edwards, Jean Graney, Dawn LaPointe, Lorraine Sanik, Jimmilee Prouty, Tom Miller, Zulmira Allcock, Amy Miner-Fletcher, Rhonda Meisel, Anne Halstead, Alex Chatfield, Joanne Sweeney, Robin Weber

The ITA Meeting opened at 9:48 am

Treasurer's Report:

· Reviewed current account balances.

· Recommendation by treasurer to continue with current accounting firm

Legislative Report:

· Discussed most recent development with state budget. EI budget override was voted in yesterday to restore funding to EI Budget.

· Thanks for all advocating efforts by the membership. The Consortium is encouraging programs and communities to thank and acknowledge your senator and representative.

Old Business:

New Business:

MSV to close the meeting at 9:50am
Minutes: MSV Approved minutes

Next regular meeting will be September 19, 2003 in room S7-105

Respectfully Submitted,
Anne Halstead,
Board Secretary

MASSACHUSETTS EARLY INTERVENTION CONSORTIUM
Infant/Toddler Advocates
Linda Schaeffer-President Jo-Ann Otlin-President Elect
Consortium Minutes
July 18, 2003

Board Members: Linda Schaeffer, Jo-Ann Otlin, Sandy Levine, Linda Edwards, Jean Graney, Dawn LaPointe, Candace Chang, Dan Couet, Lorraine Sanik, Jimmilee Prouty, Tom Miller, Zulmira Allcock, Amy Miner-Fletcher, Rhonda Meisel, Anne Halstead, Alex Chatfield, Joanne Sweeney, Robin Weber

Present: Linda Schaeffer, Jo-Ann Otlin, Sandy Levine, Linda Edwards, Jean Graney, Dawn LaPointe, Lorraine Sanik, Jimmilee Prouty, Tom Miller, Zulmira Allcock, Amy Miner-Fletcher, Rhonda Meisel, Anne Halstead, Alex Chatfield, Joanne Sweeney, Robin Weber

The Consortium Meeting was opened at 9:50 am.

Treasurer's Report:

· Reviewed current account balances.

· Recommendation by treasurer to continue with current accounting firm

· Dues have been received from two programs

Regional Reports:
Region I:

· Region I concluded our meetings for the year with a luncheon at Paul & Elizabeth's in Northampton.

· Discussion focused on fee collection strategies and staff hiring issues.

· Thank you for the conference money being made available to the Regions to spend on a local conference for staff. We will begin planning in September.

· No meetings over the summer. Next meeting will be September 2, 2003.

Region II:

· Discussed Jimmilee Prouty's meeting with the UMASS Developmental Clinic. Region agreed to meet with the clinic at a regional meeting.

· Met new program director for THOM Marlboro-Nancy Phillips.

· Reviewed past Consortium minutes including discussion of confidentiality

· Discussed certification process and concerns with the process

· Discussed fee collection. Concerns that information is being disseminated inconsistently throughout the community.

· Discussed the Consortium's 25th Anniversary conference.

Region III:

· No Report

Region IV:

· Jean Nigro will be offering a training on infant/toddler development and competencies will be offered.

Regions VI:

· Jean Nigro will be offering a training on infant/toddler development and competencies will be offered.

Region V:

· Discussed budget situation in the state.

· Katee Duffy discussed newly developed EI Workshop about infant/toddler and family development by Jean Nigro.

· Discussed upcoming Southeast Region Conference. Celeste Warner will be the keynote speaker. The conference is scheduled for October 30th. The fee has been raised to $25.00 for the conference (this includes lunch).

· Reviewed last Consortium Board meeting minutes. Announcement that the Consortium Conference Committee will begin meeting for this year's conference if anyone is interested in participating.

Membership Committee:

· Membership packets have been sent out via email. If people did not receive it please contact Anne Halstead at (978) 774-7570 or ahalstead@nsarc.org

Newsletter:

· Tom Miller distributed most recent issue of newsletter.

· Discussion of website development. The address is: www.MAEIC.org and the site is "under construction".

· Tom Miller will send an electronic copy of current newsletter to Robin Weber for addition to website. Robin will report back to board about how the newsletter looks in web page format in September.

Conference Committee:

· Discussed percentage of conference profits that go to UMASS. Percentage will increase 1.5%. Percentage to Dean's Fund,and overhead are not negotiable.

· Best Western will adjust room fees in ratio to attendance but increases in other hotel charges cannot be changed.

· Discussion of need for members on the planning committee. Brainstorming ideas to attract new staff to the conference committee. Suggestion to approach people at October Director's Forum by letting people know specifically what is needed on the committee as well as approach people individually that may be interested.

· Discussion of options of title for conference. "Resiliency: Children, Families and EI" as the title was unanimously approved by board with a note of 25th Anniversary of conference on the header of the brochure.

· Discussion of second topic/keynote speaker at conference. This is difficult to fit into the schedule with the current format. Other options include recruiting for a full day presentation by the topic speaker or invite topic speaker to speak next year. Alex Chatfield explained that Serena Weider would probably be interested in participating in the conference.

. MSV: Conference will not include a second topic/keynote speaker at this year's conference. Approved.

· Discussion of plans for 25th Anniversary Party at conference:

· Planning for how to explain individual session's level (beginner or advanced level information) to participants at the conference. Discussion that it can be difficult for a speaker when trying to cover advanced knowledge but some in the audience are looking for more basic information.

. MSV: Motion that a $50.00 discount will be offered for early registration for exhibit tables. Approved.

Nominating Committee:

· Dan Couet developed a schedule for board term elections.

· Elections will take place at annual meeting. Nine seats will be up for elections (6 board seats and 3 regional representatives).

. MSV: Motion to present slate of candidates at annual meeting for vote by present membership. Approved.

ICC Report:

Strategic Planning/FISG:

Fiscal Meeting:

Insurance Meeting:

· Each insurance representative gave updates on CMS codes to go into effect September 1st.

· Insurance workshop is scheduled for September 24th. Several insurance companies will present information about billing including: Cigna, Aetna and United. DMA and DPH will present information in the afternoon.

· Discussion about why diagnosis codes are needed as they are not needed by DMA. Insurance representatives explained that it is required by their systems and information can be used for auditing.

· Letters were sent to all insurance companies regarding new CMS codes.

· Discussion regarding insurance cap. Ron Benham explained that we will be planning to advocate for an increase in the cap to $4100.00 in FY05.

Committee Reports:

Supervision:

Best Practice:

Legislative:

· Tom Miller will be contact about federal changes in IDEA

· Discussion of suggestions for reception for legislators at the state house:

. Recognize leaders with a certificate

. Include photographer for award presentation

Old Business:

· Certification:

. Request for moratorium on certification process was sent to Ron Benham. He responded that a moratorium was not an option at this time. He is drafting a formal response.

. Discussion of dissatisfaction with the process of certification as well as the Early Intervention Training Center's performance.

. Jo-Ann Otlin will draft a letter to be sent to the Executive Director of the Federation for Children with Special Needs with a CC: to Christine Fergeson, Commissioner of Health Care regarding the Early Intervention Training Center.

. Request from the board that the supervision committee draw up a framework for a supervision model of certification for September board meeting.

. Letter written to Ron Benham by the Consortium to request that the DPH increase the percentage of Category D Developmental Specialists in each program. Formal response has not been received.

New Business:

· Board Member Responsibilities: Updated board member responsibilities were reviewed and will be distributed to all board members when they join the board.

· Discussion that by-laws state that there can be no more than 2 voting members from each agency at any time.

· October Director Forum: This will serve as the Consortiums Annual Meeting as well as the Director Forum. The Consortium is inviting two participants per program.

· Fiscal Issue Study Group Presentation: FISG presentation of information they have gathered and analyzed from UFRs. Meeting will be scheduled for November 21st tentatively. The Consortium is encouraging attendance by both program directors and agency executive directors. This meeting will be held at UMASS Medical Center in the morning and be followed by the Consortium Board Meeting.

· Patti Fougere and Catherine Thomas will be attending September Consortium Board meeting.

· Discussion of new Annual Participation Fee. · Discussion regarding meeting between the DPH and Dr. Margaret Bauman regarding "boiler plate" or prescriptive service recommendations by her organization.

. MSV: Motion that August meeting be cancelled. Approved

. MSV to adjourn at 2:32 pm.

Minutes: MSV approved

Next regular meeting will be September 19, 2003 in room S7-105.

Respectfully Submitted,

Anne Halstead,
Board Secretary

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