OUR PILLARS
The work of MACDS is carried out with a commitment to integrity, transparency, and professionalism. We accomplish the goals of MACDS through the four pillars of Advocacy and Legislation, Education and Training, Communication, and Business and Financial Well-being.
Advocacy and Legislation
MACDS is a relentless advocate regarding provider and service issues. Our goal is to ensure that providers’ priority concerns are heard and addressed. In conjunction with our contracted government relations consultant, we work with the Montana State Legislature and legislative committees, government agencies, regulators, policy makers, rights groups, the public, and other key stakeholders.
We advocate on behalf of the membership to shape policies, statutes, regulations, and funding allocations. MACDS provides our members with compelling, consistent messaging to reinforce the priority issues each legislative session.
We are involved with Medicaid waiver and reimbursement issues, administrative rule-making, and relevant legislative proceedings in Montana. We pursue concerns related to non-Medicaid funded services as needed. We meet regularly with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Developmental Services Division (DSD), Disability Employment and Transition (DET), Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP), and other oversight agencies to collaboratively address the priority concerns of our members.
MACDS is recognized as the preeminent experts and trusted source of relevant information and guidance on community disability services issues.
Education and Training
MACDS supports member organizations to enhance and refresh their knowledge as the state of services, and the disabilities field itself, evolve. We offer relevant educational seminars and workshops that keep providers informed of the latest innovations, research, trends, theories and regulatory developments that affect MACDS members and their clients.
Our annual conference provides valuable educational opportunities on a variety of pertinent subjects. Regional meetings and other events equip providers with the practical information they need regarding services and business concerns. Presenters generally include Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) staff, industry leaders, state legislators, and outside experts in specific areas of interest to our members.
Communication
MACDS provides many avenues for formal and informal communications among member organizations, including mechanisms for obtaining information, discussing issues, and collaborating on solutions. Many MACDS members report that this opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another is invaluable.
We offer extensive opportunities for business networking. Our membership meetings, conferences, and seminars provide the environment to interact with other provider management and staff as well as state staff, consultants, legislators, vendors and other stakeholders. MACDS maintains open and responsive communications with DPHHS staff, and provides a powerful and effective avenue for addressing concerns.
Business and Financial Well-being
Our members seek to grow and thrive as successful businesses in their local communities. In an environment of limited resources, increasing demand, continual pressure on funding sources such as Medicaid, and economic uncertainties, MACDS facilitates the exchange of successful strategies and useful information to strengthen the financial health of provider businesses.
We offer information and tools that enable providers to enhance business functions such as organizational leadership, fiscal management, human resources management, planning and budgeting, diversification of service lines and revenue sources, and board development. The strength of provider organizations directly impacts the quality of services we provide, and ultimately the lives of the people we serve. MACDS is dedicated to ensuring quality services by furthering the long-term sustainable success of our member organizations.