What is Purchase of Service (POS)?

Regional centers purchase services and supports for their clients.  Paying for the services and supports is called purchase of service (POS).

What services are available for the regional centers to purchase or authorize?

Regional centers can pay for many types of services like adaptive equipment, childcare, speech services, self-advocacy training, social skills trainings, crisis intervention, transportation, evaluations, social recreation, job coaching, and respite.  More services are listed in our Rights Under the Lanterman Act guide.

What is POS data?

Each year, regional centers must record how much money they spend on different groups of people by:

• disability
• age group (0-2, 3-21, and 22 years and older)
• race/ethnicity
• language
• residence type

They must also collect information about how many times people wanted an individual program plan (IPP) in a less common language.  The information gathered is called “data.”

Do regional centers have POS data for me to look at?

Yes. Each regional center must post current POS data to their website by December 31 each year.  The regional center must keep data from other years on their website, too.

To find the data for all 21 regional centers, go here: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/purchase-of-service-data/

What are POS disparities?

Disparity means a difference or a gap.  So, POS disparities are large differences between the cost and use of services by members of certain groups.  Regional centers spend more on some groups than others.

Examples of disparities in 2021-2022:

Regional Center A

On average, Regional Center A authorizes (gives) $30,920 in POS for every white consumer.  On average Regional Center A authorizes $14,423 for every Latinx consumer.  Regional Center A authorizes $14,919 on average for every Asian consumer.

Regional Center B

On average Regional Center B authorizes $7,099 for people with autism, $35,160 for people with intellectual disabilities, and $28,425 for people that have both autism and intellectual disabilities.  Regional Center B authorizes on average $25,246 per person with epilepsy and $32,492 per person who has cerebral palsy.

Regional Center C

On average consumers that speak English receive $35,430 in services from Regional Center C.  Regional Center B authorizes on average $25,496 for people who speak Spanish, $76,996 for people who speak Farsi, and $46,038 for people that speak Korean.

There is often a disparity between the services the regional center gives someone (“authorizes”) and how much the person uses.  The regional center ends up paying the services used, not the services authorized.

For example, at one regional center in 2021-2022:

• White children under age 3 are authorized $10,870 on average, but only use $6,959. 
• Black children under age 3 are authorized $11,391 on average, but only use $5,649. 
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander children under age 3 are authorized $15,591 on average, but only use $7,338.
• American Indian or Alaskan Native children under age 3 are authorized $8,318 on average, but only use $5,306.

Why do the disparities exist?

Disparities can happen for many reasons.  Here are examples people have told us and regional centers:

• Regional center staff do not tell families services are available.
• Families request services but are then afraid to push back if the regional center says “no.”
• Families do not know their right to appeal.
• Regional centers do not give information to families in their language.
• Services are not available to meet cultural needs.
• Service coordinators need more training.
• Regional centers take too long to give families decisions about services.
• Regional center staff decide what is authorized.  They have biases that cause differences in how people are served.
• Families do not have reliable transportation to get to services.
• Services are not available during times that work for families.
• When families tell regional centers they have a problem using a service, the regional center does not resolve the problem.

Whatever the reasons, there are barriers to people getting the services they need.

Do regional centers have to take steps to help fix disparities?

Yes.  Each regional center must hold public “stakeholder” meetings to share the POS data and hear from people.  The meetings must take place between January and March.  Then by August 31, regional centers must send the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) a report explaining how the meetings went and how they will serve clients better. 

Is there a law that explains the regional centers’ POS duties?

Yes.  Welfare and Institutions Code section 4519.5 explains what the regional center must do.

What can I do to learn more about this issue?

• Visit a regional center’s website to review past and current POS data.
• Attend regional center public stakeholder meetings.
• Attend POS trainings.  DRC’s Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) holds trainings throughout the year.
• Contact OCRA for information or legal help on issues related to POS.
• Join or create a group to learn more and discuss your questions.

Can I take steps to improve the POS data?

Yes.  You can help yourself or others to request more needed services.  If you have a problem getting a service the regional center has already given you, ask your service coordinator to fix the problem.  Talk to a supervisor if your service coordinator does not help you.

You can also apply for the Service and Equity (SAE) grants available to address POS disparities. 

Do all clients of the regional center get POS?

Unfortunately, no. Not all clients get POS. Some people receive $0 in services from the regional center. People who have $0 in services can ask the regional center to authorize services that meet their needs. If the regional center says no to your request for service, you can appeal. More information is in our Rights Under the Lanterman Act appeal chapter.