2-11-03
The
legislature has been engaged in passing this years budget with supplemental and
has pretty much followed the Governor's budget recommendation. Looks like the
major difference for this year is that they included a provision that the state
will start paying back highway program beginning in 2007 and pay it off over
four years.
We continue to feel the brunt of the rate reductions at CIL's, CDDO's and other
organizations. But we are really hearing from consumers who are in really
difficult financial situations due to reduction of the Protected Income
Level.
We are also aware that Seniors are suffering from reductions and temporary
elimination of funds for the Senior Care Act.
Yesterday at the Senate Ways and Means Committee heard the report on the
Department on Aging. We're not sure, but it appears they support the
Governor's '04 recommendations which means a reduction in Senior Care Act
funding and no new dollars for FE Waiver. There are currently about 1400
people on the wait list for FE Waiver.
Senator Downey made a valiant attempt to alert the committee to the fact that
many of these Seniors will have to go to more costly NF's. Instead she
pondered, why don;t we put money into community based programs that are less
expensive and are preferred by consumers?
Senator Kerr reminded the committee that the real answer to saving dollars is
to look at level of care scores. He said that they tried it last year,
but after disabled advocates yelled "Raise our taxes, not our scores"
outside the House chamber, the House folded. He said that advocates have
been "politically punishing" those who seek to raise the scores.
He thinks this is the year to do it. He suggested leaving the score for
admission to NF at 30 and reducing the HCBS score to 26.
Senator Downey said she thought people would accept that if we were putting the
savings back into HCBS programs.
Interesting debate. But it does tell us to be watching for attempts to raise
scores again.
Senator Kerr also requested knowing where we are as of this month with regard
to revenues for this year. It appears we are $ 32, 000,000.00 behind on
revenue. So don't look for any add on's and count on more cuts somewhere
because they have to end the year with a balanced budget.
Hearings began yesterday in the Ways and Means Subcommittee on SRS. KACIL,
SILCK, AT Project, DD Council and others testified. We didn't encourage
folks to come testify, because it would not have helped and may have
hurt. We think most decisions are already made, but we'll see how the
debate goes and work things on the House side.
As always, all KACIL testimony can be found on our
web site.