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(07/27/2022) Regional Center Payment of FMS for SDP Participants

July 27, 2022

DVU Brief:

Regional centers paying for FMS fees

 

Directive

DATE: JULY 27, 2022

TO: REGIONAL CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM (SDP): REGIONAL CENTER PAYMENT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR SDP PARTICIPANTS

Developmental Services Trailer Bill SB 188 (Chapter 49, Statutes of 2022) amended Welfare and Institutions Code section 4685.8(c)(1), removing the requirement that the cost of financial management services (FMS) be paid by the participant out of the participant’s individual budget. This statutory change, effective July 1, 2022, supersedes the Department’s COVID-19 Directive 01-111920, which waived the requirement that SDP participants pay for the cost of their FMS provider during the State of Emergency. Effective July 1, 2022, the cost of the FMS provider will be paid by the regional center outside of the participant’s individual budget.

In implementing this change, regional centers should do the following:

  • Authorize the cost of the FMS provider separate from the individual budget and spending plan.
  • Work with SDP participants to timely explore needed adjustments to their spending plan to reflect where the repurposed FMS fees may be used.

Consumers, family members, or providers should contact their local regional center with questions regarding this program directive.

 

Sincerely,

Original signed by:

MARICRIS ACON

Deputy Director

Federal Programs Division

 

cc: Regional Center Administrators

Regional Center Directors of Consumer Services

Regional Center Community Services Directors

Association of Regional Center Agencies

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

Nancy Bargmann, DDS

Brian Winfield, DDS

Carla Castañeda, DDS

Jim Knight, DDS

Ernie Cruz, DDS

Aaron Christian, DDS

Tim Travis, DDS

 

Link to Directive 

Self-Determination Program: Regional Center Payment of Financial Management Services for SDP Participants (English)

Self-Determination Program: Regional Center Payment of Financial Management Services for SDP Participants (Spanish)

Self-Determination Program: Regional Center Payment of Financial Management Services for SDP Participants (Korean)