The IDA Coalition

The Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Coalition (IDA Coalition) is the new name for the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Coalition.

The IDA Coalition consists of statewide advocacy and provider organizations advocating for services for people with intellectual disability and autism in Pennsylvania.**

PAR is a founding member of the IDA Coalition and actively involved in its activities. Many of the budget materials and talking points PAR uses are materials compiled for and used by the Coalition as a whole. Our voices are stronger when they are unified.

Here are some of the msot recent communications to legislators, the state and federal government from the IDA Coalition. You are welcome to use and share these materials:

On the Rate Adjustment Factor:

January 19, 2012 response to ODP Deputy Secretary Friel regarding payment reductions

January 10, 2012 letter to CMS regarding the Inappropriate Use of the Rate Adjustment Factor

December 12, 2011 letter from ODP Deputy Secretary Friel to the IDA Coalition regarding the RAF

October 13, 2011 letter to Budget Secretary Zogby regarding the potential use of a Rate Adjustment Factor

August 16, 2011 letter to ODP Deputy Secretary Friel requesting explanation of methodoloty used to determine the RAF on FY12 rates

On the Food Stamp Asset Test:

January 13, 2012 letter to Governor Corbett urging him to reconsider the application of an assets test for food stamps

On Priorities the FY12-13 State Budget:

Janaury 17, 2012 letter to Governor Corbett urging him not to impose uniform rates for group hom homes food and mortgage

August 18, 2011 letter to DPW Secretary Gary Alexander on Olmstead Implementation and the Waiting List in the FY13 budget

On Other Fiscal Issues:

August 16, 2011 letter to DPW Secretary Gary Alexander asking that he reconsider Prudent Pay

**On April 8, 2011, the statewide provider associations and advocacy organizations that were joined in the Behavioral Health, Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Coalition (BHIDA Coalition, formerly the MH/MR Coalition) established two separate and distinct coalition groups:  the Behavioral Health Coalition and the Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Coalition (IDA Coalition). These individual coalition groups replace the former BHIDA Coalition.

Coalition members agreed to bring the two coalitions together periodically to share information, pursue common interests and advocacy, and engage in lobbying efforts that support the coalitions. Members have a strong history of accomplishment over two decades and intend to focus their efforts through these two separate coalition groups on developing strategies, solutions, and partnerships to benefit Pennsylvania.