Budget cuts in the 2011 Biennial state budget created reductions in a number of services needed by individuals with developmental disabilities. Two programs had changes you need to be aware of. Below are the management bulletins explaining the changes.
Adult Dental Coverage
Effective July 1, 2011, comprehensive dental services were restored for three groups of Medicaid adults:
• Women who are pregnant
• Clients living in nursing homes
• Adults enrolled in 1915 (c) Home and Community Based waiver programs.
Effective October 1, 2011, the following clients will no longer be eligible for comprehensive dental services:
• Adult clients whose care is managed by the Division of Developmental Disabilities but who do not fit in the categories above.
The agency has developed a decision-making tool for providers to use to determine if a Medicaid-covered adult client meets this criteria and is eligible to receive the restored set of dental services. Medicaid also has developed policy for “How to Bill” under these criteria.
A formal provider memo communication, web access to the decision-making tool, and a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) will soon be available on the dental home page at: http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/DentalProviders/DentalIndex.html.
Clients who are eligible for these services may already have received services since July 1 or be scheduled to receive services in the future. Medicaid will reimburse providers for this care. The decision-making tool and the memo will include expedited authorization numbers for each of the eligible groups listed above. Once you have established eligibility, you can bill for these clients’ services using those numbers.
The change in dental coverage for adults with developmental disabilities was intended to become effective July 1, but that date did not allow time to rearrange Medicaid coverage and provide required notice to clients.
There is no change in covered dental services for children – clients 20 years of age or younger. There is also no change in prior authorization requirements.
Adult clients other than the specific groups listed above are not eligible for comprehensive dental services. They are restricted to the emergency oral health benefit implemented on January 1, 2011.
Adult Vision Services
Medicaid providers can now obtain low-cost eyeglass frames and lenses for Medicaid clients who otherwise might not be able to afford vision hardware because of state budget cuts.
Legislation passed this year and signed by Governor Gregoire allows Airway Heights' Correctional Industries Optical Center to continue making vision hardware for Medicaid providers and patients. Under the law, providers can furnish the eyewear to Medicaid patients at the same cost they pay the Optical Center. Prices are expected to range around $20 for a pair of glasses.
The vision benefit budget cut was one of several changes affecting coverage for clients of the Medicaid program ages 21 and older. None of the changes affected children’s benefits, which are generally protected under federal Medicaid law. The cuts also did not change coverage of eye or hearing exams for adults. Those remain covered by Medicaid.
• More information about the bill and copies of the legislation are available on the Internet at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5352&year=2011
• Additional information also will be posted on the Airway Heights web page soon: http://www.doc.wa.gov/facilities/prison/ahcc/default.asp
• Providers are reminded that dispensing codes 92340-92342 are still valid codes, and that Medicaid will reimburse providers for dispensing the glasses.
Substitute Senate Bill 5352, was originally sponsored by Senators Jim Honeyford, R-15, Debbie Regala, D-27, and Dan Swecker, R-20. It passed both chambers unanimously and was signed by Governor Gregoire on April 18.
What's Next?
Because the state must keep a balanced budget in line with the quarterly revenue forecasts, we can expect additional cuts to services and programs. The July revenue forecast was worse than expected and the September forecast will likely bring more of the same news, as recovery is happening slower than anticipated.
Your voice in the legislative process is needed now, more than ever! Be sureyou aresigned up for The Arc's Action Nework, and whether by email, phone or other communication, make sure your legislators know the effect of making additional cuts to the services you, your friends and family, as well as many others in this state need. It is approximated that there are about 80,000 people in Washington State who have a developmental disability. Be one of those making your voice heard! Sign up for Action Alerts at http://capwiz.com/arcwa/home/
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
History is made: 2SSB 5459 passes the legislature, watch on TVW links
Yesterday, May 25, 2011, marked a historic event in our state with the passage of SB 5459! The five aging Residential Habilitation Centers in our state used to house 4,400 people with developmental disabilities, today those institutions house about 860 people. In addition to this, over 13,600 people with developmental disabilities live at home with their families or in their local communities and have the same level of need as those in the RHCs, yet receive no services at all. 19% of the budget for people with developmental disabilities is used for only 2% of the people who qualify services and receive them in the RHCs, the most expensive model we have.
Your advocacy helped legislators understand the need to consolidate the RHCs and begin using the savings from doing so for those who qualify for services, but receive nothing. Frances Haddon Morgan Center has been downsizing already, the remaining residents will be transitioned to a community setting (or to another RHC if they choose) and the facility will close by December 31, 2011. In addition, Yakima Valley will have no new admissions (except for respite care) and once it has only 16 residents left, it will close. Another very important piece of this legislation is that children under 21 will no longer be institutionalized!
Thank you for your advocacy efforts. Be assured that we will continue to monitor this issue to ensure that people are transitioned in a thoughtful and respectful manner and that their needs are met. We also will make sure that all savings from this consolidation will be used for people with developmental disabilities to get their needs met with services in the community.
TVW recorded the legislative testimony for and against the bill. Below are the links to the House and Senate floor action on 2SSB 5459:
House:
http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2011050127B&TYPE=V&CFID=3674951&CFTOKEN=53189366&bhcp=1 2SSB 5459 is the first bill heard in this segment of floor action so watch starting at the beginning.
Chamber: HOUSE 2011 1st Special Session
Bill No.: 2SSB 5459
Description: FINAL PASSAGE AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Date: 5-25-2011
Yeas: 63 Nays: 33 Absent: 0 Excused: 2
Voting yea: Representatives Anderson, Armstrong, Asay, Bailey, Billig, Blake, Carlyle, Chandler, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Darneille, Dickerson, Dunshee, Eddy, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hinkle, Hope, Hudgins, Hunter, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Klippert, Kristiansen, Lytton, Maxwell, Miloscia, Moeller, Morris, Nealey, Orcutt, Orwall, Pearson, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Probst, Rivers, Roberts, Rodne, Ross, Santos, Seaquist, Smith, Springer, Sullivan, Takko, Taylor, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Walsh, Warnick, Wylie, and Mr. Speaker
Voting nay: Representatives Ahern, Alexander, Angel, Appleton, Buys, Dahlquist, Dammeier, DeBolt, Fagan, Frockt, Goodman, Hasegawa, Hunt, Hurst, Kirby, Kretz, Ladenburg, Liias, McCoy, Moscoso, Ormsby, Overstreet, Parker, Reykdal, Rolfes, Ryu, Schmick, Sells, Shea, Short, Stanford, Wilcox, and Zeiger
Excused: Representatives Crouse and McCune
Senate:
http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2011050126B&TYPE=V&CFID=3674951&CFTOKEN=53189366&bhcp=1 Slide the cursor on the blue line at the bottom of the video box until it is 1 hour and 9 minutes (01:09:00 on the left side clock) into the floor action.
Chamber: SENATE 2011 1st Special Session
Bill No.: 2SSB 5459
Description: FINAL PASSAGE AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Date: 5-25-2011
Yeas: 32 Nays: 13 Absent: 0 Excused: 4
Voting yea: Senators Baumgartner, Brown, Delvin, Eide, Ericksen, Fain, Fraser, Hargrove, Harper, Hatfield, Haugen, Hewitt, Hill, Holmquist Newbry, Kastama, Keiser, King, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Litzow, McAuliffe, Murray, Parlette, Pflug, Prentice, Ranker, Regala, Stevens, Swecker, Tom, White, and Zarelli
Voting nay: Senators Baxter, Becker, Carrell, Chase, Conway, Honeyford, Kilmer, Morton, Pridemore, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler, and Sheldon
Excused: Senators Benton, Hobbs, Nelson, and Shin
Diana Stadden
Advocacy Partnership Project
The Arc of Washington State
Your advocacy helped legislators understand the need to consolidate the RHCs and begin using the savings from doing so for those who qualify for services, but receive nothing. Frances Haddon Morgan Center has been downsizing already, the remaining residents will be transitioned to a community setting (or to another RHC if they choose) and the facility will close by December 31, 2011. In addition, Yakima Valley will have no new admissions (except for respite care) and once it has only 16 residents left, it will close. Another very important piece of this legislation is that children under 21 will no longer be institutionalized!
Thank you for your advocacy efforts. Be assured that we will continue to monitor this issue to ensure that people are transitioned in a thoughtful and respectful manner and that their needs are met. We also will make sure that all savings from this consolidation will be used for people with developmental disabilities to get their needs met with services in the community.
TVW recorded the legislative testimony for and against the bill. Below are the links to the House and Senate floor action on 2SSB 5459:
House:
http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2011050127B&TYPE=V&CFID=3674951&CFTOKEN=53189366&bhcp=1 2SSB 5459 is the first bill heard in this segment of floor action so watch starting at the beginning.
Chamber: HOUSE 2011 1st Special Session
Bill No.: 2SSB 5459
Description: FINAL PASSAGE AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Date: 5-25-2011
Yeas: 63 Nays: 33 Absent: 0 Excused: 2
Voting yea: Representatives Anderson, Armstrong, Asay, Bailey, Billig, Blake, Carlyle, Chandler, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Darneille, Dickerson, Dunshee, Eddy, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hinkle, Hope, Hudgins, Hunter, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Klippert, Kristiansen, Lytton, Maxwell, Miloscia, Moeller, Morris, Nealey, Orcutt, Orwall, Pearson, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Probst, Rivers, Roberts, Rodne, Ross, Santos, Seaquist, Smith, Springer, Sullivan, Takko, Taylor, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Walsh, Warnick, Wylie, and Mr. Speaker
Voting nay: Representatives Ahern, Alexander, Angel, Appleton, Buys, Dahlquist, Dammeier, DeBolt, Fagan, Frockt, Goodman, Hasegawa, Hunt, Hurst, Kirby, Kretz, Ladenburg, Liias, McCoy, Moscoso, Ormsby, Overstreet, Parker, Reykdal, Rolfes, Ryu, Schmick, Sells, Shea, Short, Stanford, Wilcox, and Zeiger
Excused: Representatives Crouse and McCune
Senate:
http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2011050126B&TYPE=V&CFID=3674951&CFTOKEN=53189366&bhcp=1 Slide the cursor on the blue line at the bottom of the video box until it is 1 hour and 9 minutes (01:09:00 on the left side clock) into the floor action.
Chamber: SENATE 2011 1st Special Session
Bill No.: 2SSB 5459
Description: FINAL PASSAGE AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Date: 5-25-2011
Yeas: 32 Nays: 13 Absent: 0 Excused: 4
Voting yea: Senators Baumgartner, Brown, Delvin, Eide, Ericksen, Fain, Fraser, Hargrove, Harper, Hatfield, Haugen, Hewitt, Hill, Holmquist Newbry, Kastama, Keiser, King, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Litzow, McAuliffe, Murray, Parlette, Pflug, Prentice, Ranker, Regala, Stevens, Swecker, Tom, White, and Zarelli
Voting nay: Senators Baxter, Becker, Carrell, Chase, Conway, Honeyford, Kilmer, Morton, Pridemore, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler, and Sheldon
Excused: Senators Benton, Hobbs, Nelson, and Shin
Diana Stadden
Advocacy Partnership Project
The Arc of Washington State
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Virtual “Museum of disABILITY History”
Recently I ran across a web site for The Museum of disABILITY History. This online wing of the Museum of disABILITY History complements their freestanding "bricks and mortar" Museum. They also have traveling exhibits.
The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. The Museum's exhibits, collections, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery. It opened in October 2010 and is located in Buffalo, New York.
This virtual museum is packed with historical information, photographs and old documents that provide an in-depth look at how people with disabilities were perceived and treated throughout history. It addresses some of the harsh realities that society has grown through such as eugenics, sterilization, trepanning (letting the evil spirits out of the head was to cut a hole in the skull) and much more.
The bright side of the museum focuses on the advocacy movement and on reformers such as Dorothea Dix, Josephine Shaw Lowell, William Pryor Letchworth, the Kennedys and many more. I encourage you to take some time to browse this site and glean a glimpse of where we have been, where we are and where we still need to go.
http://www.museumofdisability.org/home.asp
The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. The Museum's exhibits, collections, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery. It opened in October 2010 and is located in Buffalo, New York.
This virtual museum is packed with historical information, photographs and old documents that provide an in-depth look at how people with disabilities were perceived and treated throughout history. It addresses some of the harsh realities that society has grown through such as eugenics, sterilization, trepanning (letting the evil spirits out of the head was to cut a hole in the skull) and much more.
The bright side of the museum focuses on the advocacy movement and on reformers such as Dorothea Dix, Josephine Shaw Lowell, William Pryor Letchworth, the Kennedys and many more. I encourage you to take some time to browse this site and glean a glimpse of where we have been, where we are and where we still need to go.
http://www.museumofdisability.org/home.asp
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Community First Choice Option - the NEW Medicaid Personal Care
Medicaid Personal Care (MPC): A Medicaid program that is allowed under Washington State’s Medicaid State Plan, this program provides assistance with activities of daily living to individuals who receive Social Security Income (SSI) or are approved for other Categorically Needy (CN) medical programs. Services are available in the client’s own home, adult family homes, and boarding homes with an Adult Residential Care (ARC) contract. The program is administered by Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) administrations.
An assessment is done by a case manager, nurse or social worker from DDD, HCS or Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Clients must meet the functional criteria based on the social service assessment AND the financial eligibility based on eligibility for a non institutional CN Medicaid program.
MPC is a state plan entitlement program. If clients are eligible for CN without using the higher income and resource standards for institutional eligibility and meeting the functional eligibility criteria for the program, they are “entitled” to MPC. This makes MPC the priority Medicaid program for personal care services and is usually the first program considered. This is because waiver programs that provide personal care such as HCBS Waivers or DDD Waivers are restricted to a certain number of clients. MPC services include personal care services and CN medical program. MPC services are authorized by HCBS and DDD.
The Community First Choice Option (CFCO) would provide individuals with disabilities who are eligible for nursing homes and other institutional settings with options to receive community-based services. CFCO would support the Olmstead decision by giving people the choice to leave facilities and institutions for their own homes and communities with appropriate, cost effective services and supports. It would also help address state waiting lists for services by providing access to a community-based benefit within Medicaid. The option would not allow caps on the number of individuals served, nor allow waiting lists for these services.
There are two significant fiscal reasons that combine with increased independence and self sufficiency for individuals with developmental disabilities.
~ A significant enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) of 6% will be provided to encourage states to select this option. This amounts to an additional $51 million for Washington State EVERY YEAR!
~ A key component of the CFCO is that personal care providers would be teaching skills to clients instead of just providing the service. For example, many individuals with developmental disabilities could cook nutritious meals but just don’t know how, so the care provider fixes the meal. For many, having a care provider teach them how to do it leads to more independence and less reliance on a provider.
The CFCO Waiver won’t be available until October 2011 but now is the time to start preparing. The new federal rules for the CFCO can be found at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-03946_PI.pdf and the Governor and Legislators in Washington State need to take the lead and direct the Division of Developmental Disabilities to apply for the CFCO.
Watch for more information to come as we learn specifics of how and when this state plan service could be adopted.
Diana Stadden
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
The Arc of Washington State
An assessment is done by a case manager, nurse or social worker from DDD, HCS or Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Clients must meet the functional criteria based on the social service assessment AND the financial eligibility based on eligibility for a non institutional CN Medicaid program.
MPC is a state plan entitlement program. If clients are eligible for CN without using the higher income and resource standards for institutional eligibility and meeting the functional eligibility criteria for the program, they are “entitled” to MPC. This makes MPC the priority Medicaid program for personal care services and is usually the first program considered. This is because waiver programs that provide personal care such as HCBS Waivers or DDD Waivers are restricted to a certain number of clients. MPC services include personal care services and CN medical program. MPC services are authorized by HCBS and DDD.
The Community First Choice Option (CFCO) would provide individuals with disabilities who are eligible for nursing homes and other institutional settings with options to receive community-based services. CFCO would support the Olmstead decision by giving people the choice to leave facilities and institutions for their own homes and communities with appropriate, cost effective services and supports. It would also help address state waiting lists for services by providing access to a community-based benefit within Medicaid. The option would not allow caps on the number of individuals served, nor allow waiting lists for these services.
There are two significant fiscal reasons that combine with increased independence and self sufficiency for individuals with developmental disabilities.
~ A significant enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) of 6% will be provided to encourage states to select this option. This amounts to an additional $51 million for Washington State EVERY YEAR!
~ A key component of the CFCO is that personal care providers would be teaching skills to clients instead of just providing the service. For example, many individuals with developmental disabilities could cook nutritious meals but just don’t know how, so the care provider fixes the meal. For many, having a care provider teach them how to do it leads to more independence and less reliance on a provider.
The CFCO Waiver won’t be available until October 2011 but now is the time to start preparing. The new federal rules for the CFCO can be found at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-03946_PI.pdf and the Governor and Legislators in Washington State need to take the lead and direct the Division of Developmental Disabilities to apply for the CFCO.
Watch for more information to come as we learn specifics of how and when this state plan service could be adopted.
Diana Stadden
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
The Arc of Washington State
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Does Federal health care reform make you feel sick?
People around here seem to be pretty anxious about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Legislators are worried too. This week the House Health Care and Wellness Committee met to receive an update on implementation. The Health Care Exchange seems to be the biggest concern of policy makers right now. The purpose of the exchange is to provide affordable coverage for individuals and small employers. The due date to have established an exchange is January 1, 2014. Legislator’s questions are about the minimum benefits that must be covered by providers in the exchange. This will likely not be resolved until the Feds issue regulations sometime in 2012.
If you too are feeling a bit queasy about this health business, there is no need to go the doctor for advice. Let me share some home remedy resources you can use to check on our State’s progress. I keep up on the “Next Steps in Washington” by looking at the Governor’s Website at http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/healthcare/reform.asp
Additionally, the Office of Insurance Commissioner website has information about current plans and activities and how they impact consumers including a list of his employees that answer questions (if they are still employed to answer the phone) at http://www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/reform/national_health_care_reform.shtml
And, I follow the Joint Legislative Select Committee on Health Care Implementation which is considering the insurance plans to low income people, the health exchanges, and workforce issues at http://www.leg.wa.gov/JointCommittees/HRI/Pages/default.aspx
Regarding implementing “Federal Health Reform” at the Federal Level, I find Families USA as my best resource. This organization is specifically focused on the things that concern families including families having children with disabilities. They not only have an informative website but they provide free national call-in conferences to learn about and discuss current issues. I have attended a few of them. Anyone who is interested in receiving updates and action notices can subscribe to an email subscription. I subscribe to follow things for the DDC. The website is: http://www.familiesusa.org/
David Maltman – Policy Analyst for the Washingtn State Developmental Disabilities Council
If you too are feeling a bit queasy about this health business, there is no need to go the doctor for advice. Let me share some home remedy resources you can use to check on our State’s progress. I keep up on the “Next Steps in Washington” by looking at the Governor’s Website at http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/healthcare/reform.asp
Additionally, the Office of Insurance Commissioner website has information about current plans and activities and how they impact consumers including a list of his employees that answer questions (if they are still employed to answer the phone) at http://www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/reform/national_health_care_reform.shtml
And, I follow the Joint Legislative Select Committee on Health Care Implementation which is considering the insurance plans to low income people, the health exchanges, and workforce issues at http://www.leg.wa.gov/JointCommittees/HRI/Pages/default.aspx
Regarding implementing “Federal Health Reform” at the Federal Level, I find Families USA as my best resource. This organization is specifically focused on the things that concern families including families having children with disabilities. They not only have an informative website but they provide free national call-in conferences to learn about and discuss current issues. I have attended a few of them. Anyone who is interested in receiving updates and action notices can subscribe to an email subscription. I subscribe to follow things for the DDC. The website is: http://www.familiesusa.org/
David Maltman – Policy Analyst for the Washingtn State Developmental Disabilities Council
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A Sister's Love and Concern
My name is Tiffany Resendiz and I am a care provider for my little Sister Victoria Trueblood. My sister Victoria is 18 years old and was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome when she was about 5 years old. Her Syndrome keeps her from walking and talking, the things you and I might take for granted. She is mentally about the age of a 6 year old and acts like a little baby would.
I have been caring for my sister for about 4 years now and I couldn't picture myself doing anything else. My sister is such a joy to send time with. My sister is currently on a number of medications. She takes 2 medications for her seizures, 1 for her back pain due to a Harrington rod, 1 for her indigestion problems and the list continues on and on. As of currently, she has 420 hours for care providing for her, without which I don't know what my mom would do.
Taking care of Victoria is a 24 hour job, she even needs to be listened to through the course of the night due to many Rett Syndrome girls passing away in their sleep. The job which entails taking care of Victoria is not a easy job at all but I wouldn't see myself doing anything else. The thought of not having the hours available for taking care of Victoria is a idea that my mind would never want to grasp. I am not in one bit afraid of losing the hours for self pity but the thought of Victoria not having hours to receive proper care for bath time and nightly activities scares me to death.
On the topic of health care such as dentist appointments, eye doctor appointments and prescriptions being cut could be severe and even deadly to a person with special needs like my sister. Without her medications my sister couldn't survive even a day and the thought of living without my sister is the worst thing imaginable. Without eye glasses adults and even children have no way of seeing and for some disabled people seeing is everything to them when they cant walk or talk. Seeing is all they have. Not being able to go the dentist is just as horrible because these are the only teeth they are going to have and if this privilege is taken away how will their teeth be properly cared for?? Could you imagine haveing no money or means to pay for the basic things like a simple teeth cleaning or fluoride treatment.
I'm sure many non-disabled people couldn't imagine what this would be like because they have proper medical care, but for me with hands on experience it could be vital for the survival of someone like my little sister. I love my sister very much and the thought of her turning 18 didn't scare me so much until I saw the cuts that were being made and the decisions that were underway.
I am asking you to think about the many disabled adults who are affected and ask yourself, If I was disabled, would I want for myself what I am cutting from so many other disabled people?? Put yourself In my shoes for a day, taking care of a helpless person that has no means but to be in the graces of others and I bet you will find your answer changes. Please, for the sake of a little girl that is disabled and many others who cant speak for themselves, reconsider your decision. If my little sister cant speak then I alone will be her voice.
Tiffany Resendiz
I have been caring for my sister for about 4 years now and I couldn't picture myself doing anything else. My sister is such a joy to send time with. My sister is currently on a number of medications. She takes 2 medications for her seizures, 1 for her back pain due to a Harrington rod, 1 for her indigestion problems and the list continues on and on. As of currently, she has 420 hours for care providing for her, without which I don't know what my mom would do.
Taking care of Victoria is a 24 hour job, she even needs to be listened to through the course of the night due to many Rett Syndrome girls passing away in their sleep. The job which entails taking care of Victoria is not a easy job at all but I wouldn't see myself doing anything else. The thought of not having the hours available for taking care of Victoria is a idea that my mind would never want to grasp. I am not in one bit afraid of losing the hours for self pity but the thought of Victoria not having hours to receive proper care for bath time and nightly activities scares me to death.
On the topic of health care such as dentist appointments, eye doctor appointments and prescriptions being cut could be severe and even deadly to a person with special needs like my sister. Without her medications my sister couldn't survive even a day and the thought of living without my sister is the worst thing imaginable. Without eye glasses adults and even children have no way of seeing and for some disabled people seeing is everything to them when they cant walk or talk. Seeing is all they have. Not being able to go the dentist is just as horrible because these are the only teeth they are going to have and if this privilege is taken away how will their teeth be properly cared for?? Could you imagine haveing no money or means to pay for the basic things like a simple teeth cleaning or fluoride treatment.
I'm sure many non-disabled people couldn't imagine what this would be like because they have proper medical care, but for me with hands on experience it could be vital for the survival of someone like my little sister. I love my sister very much and the thought of her turning 18 didn't scare me so much until I saw the cuts that were being made and the decisions that were underway.
I am asking you to think about the many disabled adults who are affected and ask yourself, If I was disabled, would I want for myself what I am cutting from so many other disabled people?? Put yourself In my shoes for a day, taking care of a helpless person that has no means but to be in the graces of others and I bet you will find your answer changes. Please, for the sake of a little girl that is disabled and many others who cant speak for themselves, reconsider your decision. If my little sister cant speak then I alone will be her voice.
Tiffany Resendiz
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Not One Step Back!
I want to talk about the danger to community services for those with a developmental disability during this Legislative session. The current political landscape does not look promising for community services as the Legislature struggles to close a projected shortfall for the coming two years.
During the legislative session three budget proposals are created, the Governor's, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Although these proposals will differ slightly from one another, we can be sure that there will be significant cuts offered in the discretionary spending areas of the budget. Services for developmental disabilities are in this area of the budget. I have seen the proposal for the Governors supplemental budget and though some of them may change for the better, we cannot count on it.
Currently the Governor proposes the elimination of all medication coverage for persons on Medicaid, with the exception of those provided within a medical facility. If this is allowed to stand, persons with developmental disabilites who do not have the resources to pay for the everyday medication that allows them to function and reside in the community, would no longer have medication available to them.
All dental care, with the exception of emergency pain control, would be eliminated. This could mean that unless a tooth is pulled, there is essentially no treatment and if the patient needs pain medication after leaving the dental office it will not be available, because it would be an outpatient medication.
Eyeglasses would be eliminated.
These are just three of the programs currently scheduled for elimination. Others are proposed for reductions in funding from 2% to 50% depending on the program.
Although this is not an accurate figure, if say you had 120 hours of family support service available to you, it could be reduced to 80 hours.
Providers of Residential Services would receive enough of a cut that their ability to hire and retain employees will be seriously impaired. Case managers working with the unserved will be eliminated. Job placement services for those leaving school will no longer exist.
For all of us, and the ones who need service, this may well be our Alamo.
Now is the time for all good persons to heed the call to arms to prevent the loss of services that those who came before us fought so hard to attain and to keep them from slipping into the abyss of the closet.
Now is the time to heed the call Stalin gave to his Commanders when the Germans were twenty miles from Moscow. The message was simple, "not one step back".
I am asking that each of you join me in the upcoming battle to preserve meaningful services in the community for those with a developmental disability and I ask you for one simple thing, ten minutes of your time to contact your representatives in Olympia on this issue. I further ask that you coordinate your effort through The Arc so that the message will remain in front of our Legislators throughout the session.
Some of you will be thinking that there will be enough others to carry the load or let the good intention of calling fade like a distant memory. At this point in the history of Community Services I cannot over stress the importance of your involvement.
For those of you who do not think you have the skill to articulate the message, I would say you only have to look at a stammering child asking you for something to realize that although the words are not perfect and the child is stammering, the message comes through loud and clear.
I ask this Chapter to take on the task of coordination and to ensure you have the information needed to make the call.
If you are a person with a developmental disability, a parent, a friend or perhaps a service provider, tell how these draconian cuts will affect you or the ones you care about.
Ten minutes of your time is not a great deal to request and that ten minutes you spend may well be the factor that saves a service or for that matter many services.
Even if it looks like we are not going to be totally successful, we might just be able to accomplish what those at the Alamo did and give those who follow a greater chance to prevail.
I want to thank each and every one of you for listening. I hope that each of you has a joyous holiday season and until we meet again may God forever hold you in the palm of his hand.
By Lew Isham
Lew Isham has been a member of The Arc of Kitsap County for over thirty years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Washington State.
During the legislative session three budget proposals are created, the Governor's, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Although these proposals will differ slightly from one another, we can be sure that there will be significant cuts offered in the discretionary spending areas of the budget. Services for developmental disabilities are in this area of the budget. I have seen the proposal for the Governors supplemental budget and though some of them may change for the better, we cannot count on it.
Currently the Governor proposes the elimination of all medication coverage for persons on Medicaid, with the exception of those provided within a medical facility. If this is allowed to stand, persons with developmental disabilites who do not have the resources to pay for the everyday medication that allows them to function and reside in the community, would no longer have medication available to them.
All dental care, with the exception of emergency pain control, would be eliminated. This could mean that unless a tooth is pulled, there is essentially no treatment and if the patient needs pain medication after leaving the dental office it will not be available, because it would be an outpatient medication.
Eyeglasses would be eliminated.
These are just three of the programs currently scheduled for elimination. Others are proposed for reductions in funding from 2% to 50% depending on the program.
Although this is not an accurate figure, if say you had 120 hours of family support service available to you, it could be reduced to 80 hours.
Providers of Residential Services would receive enough of a cut that their ability to hire and retain employees will be seriously impaired. Case managers working with the unserved will be eliminated. Job placement services for those leaving school will no longer exist.
For all of us, and the ones who need service, this may well be our Alamo.
Now is the time for all good persons to heed the call to arms to prevent the loss of services that those who came before us fought so hard to attain and to keep them from slipping into the abyss of the closet.
Now is the time to heed the call Stalin gave to his Commanders when the Germans were twenty miles from Moscow. The message was simple, "not one step back".
I am asking that each of you join me in the upcoming battle to preserve meaningful services in the community for those with a developmental disability and I ask you for one simple thing, ten minutes of your time to contact your representatives in Olympia on this issue. I further ask that you coordinate your effort through The Arc so that the message will remain in front of our Legislators throughout the session.
Some of you will be thinking that there will be enough others to carry the load or let the good intention of calling fade like a distant memory. At this point in the history of Community Services I cannot over stress the importance of your involvement.
For those of you who do not think you have the skill to articulate the message, I would say you only have to look at a stammering child asking you for something to realize that although the words are not perfect and the child is stammering, the message comes through loud and clear.
I ask this Chapter to take on the task of coordination and to ensure you have the information needed to make the call.
If you are a person with a developmental disability, a parent, a friend or perhaps a service provider, tell how these draconian cuts will affect you or the ones you care about.
Ten minutes of your time is not a great deal to request and that ten minutes you spend may well be the factor that saves a service or for that matter many services.
Even if it looks like we are not going to be totally successful, we might just be able to accomplish what those at the Alamo did and give those who follow a greater chance to prevail.
I want to thank each and every one of you for listening. I hope that each of you has a joyous holiday season and until we meet again may God forever hold you in the palm of his hand.
By Lew Isham
Lew Isham has been a member of The Arc of Kitsap County for over thirty years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Washington State.
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