Commissioner McCarty Appoints Additional Members to Developmental Disabilities Workgroup
Sep 9, 2008
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today, September 9, 2008, announced the appointment of six additional members to the new Developmental Disabilities Compact Consumer Advisory Workgroup.
The primary Developmental Disabilities Compact Consumer Advisory Workgroup members are:
- Jeanne Boggs, Parent
- Robin Bokilo, Parent and Supportive Living Coach
- Angel Bostick, Parent
- Mark Epstein, Miami Children’s Hospital — Dan Marino Center
- The Honorable Steven Geller, The Florida Senate
- Lauri Goldman, Office of Insurance Consumer Advocate
- Robert Hopp, Parent
- Jennifer Morgan-Byrd, National Autism Association of Florida
- Alisa Snow, Alliance for Pediatric Therapies
- Patricia Young, Grandparent
The first meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Compact Workgroup and Consumer Advisory Workgroup is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 18 from 8:45 a.m. through 12:45 p.m. in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida. To view the meeting Notice, click here.
Relevant forms, documents and updates will be posted to http://www.floir.com/Autism.aspx
Pursuant to the provisions of Senate Bill 2654, also known as the “Window of Opportunity Act,” the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) was charged with convening a workgroup to develop and execute a compact relating to insurance coverage and access to services for persons with developmental disabilities.
The OIR’s press release detailing the appointments is reprinted below.
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Colodny Fass.
Fla. Insurance Commissioner Appoints Additional Members to Developmental Disabilities Compact Consumer Advisory Workgroup
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today announced the appointment of six additional members to the new Developmental Disabilities Compact Consumer Advisory Workgroup. The additional members were appointed as a result of an outpouring of interest following the announcement of the group’s initial members.
The Developmental Disabilities Compact was established by Senate Bill 2654 and signed into law in May by Gov. Charlie Crist.
“After we announced the first consumer advisory workgroup members, I received numerous cards and messages from the broader developmental disability community expressing an interest in being part of the workgroup,” said Commissioner McCarty. “There was great interest, beyond just the autism community, so I felt it was important to make the additional appointments. I have continued to be very pleased at the extensive amount of interest that has been shown in being part of the consumer workgroup.”
Called the “Window of Opportunity Act,” Section 624.916, F.S. charges the Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) with convening a workgroup to develop and execute a compact relating to insurance coverage and access to services for persons with developmental disabilities. The Office also was charged with convening a consumer advisory workgroup to provide a forum for comment on the negotiated compact.
Deputy Insurance Commissioner Mary Beth Senkewicz is the chairperson of this effort on behalf of Commissioner McCarty.
The workgroups will hold their first meeting, together, Sept. 18 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in room 110 of the Senate Office Building at the Capitol in Tallahassee. A tentative agenda is available for your review. A meeting originally scheduled for Aug. 22 was postponed due to Tropical Storm Fay.
Additional Developmental Disabilities Compact Consumer Advisory Workgroup members are as follows:
- Steve Coleman, Ph.D., Senior Behavior Analyst, Agency for Persons with Disabilities
- Susan Corse-Adams, Board Member, Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville
- Christine Ebeltoft-Bancalari, Board Member, Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida
- Jeffrey Leach, President, Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville
- J. David Moore, Medical Director, ValueOptions PrePaid Mental Health Plans
- Michael Smith, Ph.D., President, Child, Adolescent and Family Division of the Florida Psychological Association
For more information about the Developmental Disabilities Compact, please visit www.floir.com/ddcompact.aspx.
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