Our Commitment to Teamwork

At Valley Mountain Regional Center one of our codes of ethics is teamwork. We are committed to working as a team with our colleagues and community and the cornerstone of teamwork is mutual respect. While our roles are often separate, we will focus on common goals, sharing equally in the benefits and daily challenges of making difficult decisions.

When We Disagree

Sometimes despite our best efforts, there may be a time when we just can’t agree with each other. This can happen in any relationship. We don’t take it personal and we hope you don’t either. Luckily the Lanterman Act was prepared for this event as well and has designed an appeal process aimed at protecting the rights of people with disabilities and their families.

If this happens, clients or families may ask us to review our decision, to make sure all information was considered. We will make every effort to resolve disagreements informally, through discussion with your Service Coordinator, or their supervisor. A VMRC Service Coordinator can also provide our clients/families with information on how to contact the Office of Client Rights Advocacy, if there are complaints about how services are provided.

If the matter continues to be unresolved, our Assistant Directors with several years of experience will work with you to try to resolve the dispute in an informal mediation. If we are unable to resolve concerns informally, clients may ask the regional center to review our decision through the appeal process. An appeal is a formal request for someone to change a decision about an individual’s eligibility for services, or about the services he or she receives.

You have the right to appeal our decisions and we will support you in exercising that right. If this issue is still not settled our Compliance Manager may meet with you in a more formal setting which could either include more mediation or state level fair hearing between you and our Compliance Manager with a California Administrative Law Judge who will make a ruling to end the dispute process.

You have the right to appeal our decisions and we will support you in exercising that right. If this issue is still not settled our Compliance Manager may meet with you in a more formal setting which could either include more mediation or state level fair hearing between you and our Compliance Manager with a California Administrative Law Judge who will make a ruling to end the dispute process.

Great Resources for You About Your Appeals Rights

The Department of Developmental Services believes the California developmental services community is best served by the open exchange of information and opinions. DDS is also committed to providing mechanisms for the resolution of problems and complaints when they arise. A number of formal processes have been established for handling appeals and complaints.  Click for the DDS Appeals Page

Types of Appeals

There are different dispute resolution and complaint processes depending on the service or if you are a consumer, family member, or service provider.  Below are some helpful links to these processes:

Consumer and Family Complaint
Consumer Denial of Personal Rights
Fair Hearing
Early Start Complaint
Early Start Mediation Conference
Early Start Due Process
Provider Vendorization Appeal
Residential Provider Facility Appeal
Provider Rate Appeal

Appeal Outcomes

Below is an ongoing tally of the types of appeals and the outcomes at Valley Mountain Regional Center. To view the required report that the Department of Developmental Services publishes to the community, click here. Also this information is shared more regularly with our Board of Directors Consumer Services Committee and their information can be found here.

 

Date RC Received Fair Hearing

Fair Hearing Issue

Date of Resolution or Withdrawal

Outcome

6/23/2023

Eligibility

6/27/2023

Agreed in informal meeting to reopen for further evaluation.

6/21/2023

Eligibility

7/6/2023

Agreed in informal meeting to reopen for further evaluation.

6/20/2023

Door lock

6/28/2023

Agreement reached prior to informal meeting.

6/19/2023

Inactivation

6/23/2023

Resolved prior to informal meeting

5/22/2023

Inactivation

5/22/2023

Resolved prior to meeting

5/19/2023

Inactivation

5/24/2023

Resolved prior to meeting

4/25/2023

Day Program Patch

5/3/2023

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

3/24/2023

Insurance Copays

4/5/2023

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

3/17/2023

Eligibility

3/29/2023

RC agreed to reopen for assessment

3/8/2023

Eligibility

4/6/2023

Withdrawn after Informal Meeting

2/21/2023

Berkeley CIP Program

3/2/2023

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

1/19/2023

Bathtub

1/31/2023

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

1/9/2023

Car Seat Harness

1/13/2023

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

1/3/2023

Tracker renewal

1/10/2023

Agreement reached prior to Informal Meeting

12/20/2022

Eligibility

1/4/2023

Agreed in Informal Meeting to redetermination and found eligible.

12/5/2022

Eligibility

12/14/2022

Determined eligible

11/28/2022

Digital lock

12/15/2022

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

10/31/2022

Fence, locks, Air Tag

4/6/2023

Withdrawn prior to hearing

10/21/2022

PA

11/23/2022

Agreement reached in informal meeting.

10/17/2022

Respite, Water Safety

10/29/2022

Agreeable solution determined prior to meeting.

10/5/2022

Staff ticket for trip

11/29/2022

State level hearing denied claimant�s appeal.

9/16/2022

Transportation

11/4/2022

State level hearing denied claimant�s appeal.

9/12/2022

Eligibility

9/27/2022

RC agreed in Informal to reopen for determination and eventually found eligible.

9/8/2022

Insurance Co-pay

9/23/2022

Agreement reached during Informal Meeting

9/7/2022

Camp, Mileage, GPS Tracker

9/28/2022

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

9/7/2022

Camp, Mileage, GPS Tracker

9/28/2022

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

8/30/2022

Social Recreation

12/16/2022

Claimant representative withdrew

8/30/2022

Social Recreation

12/16/2022

Claimant representative withdrew

8/30/2022

Development of Person-Centered Plan

9/13/2022

Agreement reached at informal meeting

8/30/2022

Social Rec Program

9/29/2022

Agreement reached in Mediation

8/30/2022

Social Rec Program

9/29/2022

Agreement reached in Mediation

8/30/2022

Mileage, camp, computer, phone

9/9/2022

Parent withdrew prior to informal meeting.

8/30/2022

Mileage, camp, computer, social recreation

9/9/2022

Parent withdrew prior to informal meeting.

8/25/2022

Dental

9/7/2022

Withdrew following informal meeting with an agreement to continue to work on options for receiving the service.

8/24/2022

Eligibility

9/6/2022

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting to reopen for further assessment.

8/10/2022

Eligibility

8/25/2022

Family withdrew following informal meeting

8/8/2022

Insurance Co-pays

11/21/2022

State level hearing denied claimant�s appeal.

8/5/2022

PA Hours

8/29/2022

Agreement reached in informal meeting

7/7/2022

Adaptive Equipment

8/12/2022

Agreement reached in Mediation

6/21/2022

Home modifications, television, outdoor kitchen

8/18/2022

State level hearing denied claimant�s appeal.

6/14/2022

Vehicle Modification

9/20/2022

State level hearing denied claimant�s appeal.

5/31/2022

Eligibility

6/10/2022

Reopened for further assessment.

5/25/2022

Insurance Co-pays

6/3/2022

Determined in Informal Meeting that family was eligible for co-pay assistance.

5/9/2022

DME

6/29/2022

Alternate service agreed upon after informal meeting.

5/4/2022

Eligibility

6/9/2022

Reopened and found eligible.

4/15/2022

Insurance Co-Pays

4/22/2022

VMRC assisted in getting co-pay removed from insurance.

4/11/2022

Eligibility

4/28/2022

Reopened for assessment

4/7/2022

Social Recreation

5/19/2022

Agreement reached in mediation.

3/28/2022

Eligibility

4/7/2022

Individual withdrew prior to informal meeting.

3/21/2022

Insurance Co-Pays

6/2/2022

State level hearing ruled in favor of regional center.

3/2/2022

Insurance Co-pays

3/25/2022

Family withdrew

1/4/2022

Eligibility

3/4/2022

RC agreed to reopen for eligibility determination.

12/28/2021

Intensive ABA

2/6/2022

Agreement reached in the informal meeting.

12/22/2021

Eligibility

2/10/2022

Consumer found eligible following the informal meeting.

12/6/2021

Eligibility

1/12/2022

Withdrawn to pursue further testing

11/3/2021

Personal Assistance Hours

11/18/2021

RC agreed to fund prior to informal meeting

11/3/2021

Personal Assistance Hours

11/18/2021

RC agreed to fund prior to informal meeting

10/30/2021

Sleep Safe Bed

1/10/2022

Funded through consumer�s insurance

10/7/2021

ABA Co-Pays

12/16/2021

Claimant withdrew at end of State Level Hearing

9/20/2021

Respite Hours

9/30/2021

Claimant withdrew after Informal Meeting.

9/9/2021

Eligibility

9/13/2021

Reopened for eligibility review prior to Informal Meeting

9/1/2021

Eligibility

9/10/2021

Reopened for eligibility review prior to Informal Hearing

8/13/2021

Personal Assistance Hours

11/22/2021

Claimant withdrew prior to state level hearing.

7/20/2021

SSP Restoration

7/22/2021

RC agreed to fund prior to Informal Meeting due to change in circumstances.

7/16/2021

Eligibility

8/5/2021

Claimant submitted new information and was reopened for eligibility determination.

7/12/2021

Speech Therapy Co-Pays

9/10/2021

RC provided service following Informal Meeting and submission of further documentation.

6/10/2021

Respite Hours

8/18/2021

Agreement reached in Informal Meeting

5/14/2021

ABA co-pays

8/27/2021

OAH dismissed at State Level Hearing

5/14/2021

SDP-pool

6/18/2021

Resolution at Mediation

4/22/2021

Eligibility

11/4/2021

Determined eligible after receiving additional reports

4/16/2021

Van Conversion

5/5/2021

Claimant withdrew prior to Informal meeting

4/9/2021

ABA services

7/20/2021

Agreement reached after further information was received by RC.

4/7/2021

ABA co-pays

4/22/2021

RC provided service at Informal meeting

3/16/2021

Second Opinion Evaluation

5/3/2021

OAH dismissed issue at State Level Hearing

3/3/2021

Eligibility

4/1/2021

RC made eligible at Informal meeting

1/29/2021

EIBT Services

2/4/2021

RC provided service at Mediation

1/25/2021

Respite Reimbursement

3/26/2021

RC provided service after Informal meeting

1/25/2021

Respite reimbursement

3/26/2021

RC provided service after Informal meeting

1/19/2021

Out of home placement

2/1/2021

RC provided service at Informal meeting

1/15/2021

Eligibility

2/9/2021

Claimant withdrew without prejudice after Informal meeting

12/3/2020

Home Modification

12/23/2020

RC provided service at Informal meeting

10/20/2020

Autism Assessment

11/5/2020

Claimant withdrew without prejudice prior to Informal meeting

9/10/2020

Eligibility

12/18/2020

Claimant withdrew without prejudice at Informal meeting

9/1/2020

Intake application

1/13/2021

RC provided service at Informal meeting

8/19/2020

Co Pays

9/11/2020

RC provided service at Informal meeting

8/3/2020

Eligibility

8/21/2020

Claimant withdrew without prejudice after Informal meeting

7/30/2020

Eligibility

8/31/2020

RC made eligible at Informal meeting

7/7/2020

Eligibility

7/16/2020

Claimant withdrew without prejudice at Informal meeting

6/8/2020

Behavioral Services

6/22/2020

RC provided service at Informal meeting

6/4/2020

Behavioral Services

6/19/2020

RC provided service at Informal meeting

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