2-14-03
The
Senate Ways and Means sub committee finished it's deliberations on the '04 SRS
budget. They will present to the full Ways and Means committee on Wednesday at
10:30. Our thanks to Senator Jean Shodorf and to the full subcommittee
for their understanding of the issues. Expect to see language addressing
the lack of funds, but no new money other than what the Governor proposed which
would put things back to where they were before the allotments.
The Senate "President's Task Force on Medicaid reform chaired by Sen. Stan
Clark is meeting next week. They will hear presentations on Long Term Care on
Monday at 3:30.
Next Monday they want to hear from Providers about their issues. If you
are interested in presenting please e-mail Emalene Correll. She is the staffer
for the committee. Her e-mail is emalenec@klrd.state.ks.us.
The House Social Services Budget Sub committee will have public hearings on the
Aging budget. KACIL will ask for support of full funding for the FE Waiver
waiting list and Senior Care Act. That means supporting the Governor's budget
and additional funding required.
Thanks to Ken Gifford we are also made aware of the fact that there will be a
Public Hearing at 10:00 on March 21st, 2003 in Room 481 W. in the Docking State
Office Building. This hearing will be to consider the adoption of amended
changes to existing rules and regulations on a permanent basis effective May 1,
2003. You may also submit written comments before March 21st to:
Hope Burns, Office of Secretary for SRS
Docking State Office Building - Room 615N
915 SW Harrison
Topeka, KS. 66612.
This hearing concerns changing Protected Income Levels, Kan Be Healthy,
Children's Insurance, reduction of reimbursement for providers, client
eligibility basically all the allotment activities.
Since the '03 budget is already passed with no new monies, these changes will
go into effect, but we need to let them know how we feel about them.
The deficit is not improving and if we don't make noise about them, it would be
very easy to use them as a bases for cutting the Governor's proposed 04 budget.
We've already heard from many Legislators that the level of care score may be
an issue again. We know from legislative research that we're already $32
million behind projections for income this year alone.
We will continue to pass along information on Big Tent Activities. They are
holding a press conference today. We ask that you continue to let legislators
and the media know how you and your constituents are being affected by the
allotments and by any future reductions in programs!
If there are no additional funds for programs for '04, we'll continue to see
long waiting lists and reductions in services.
The taxation committee has been looking at ways to eliminate tax exemptions in
order to raise new revenues. They have had major opposition to any
suggestions, but they included things like reinstating taxes on durable medical
equipment.
We understand the next proposal is to create a bill to eliminate all tax
exemptions and require amendments to add them back. That means whoever
has the most lobbyists, wins!
Since I'm sure this is sounding very cynical, let me end with...Happy
Valentine's Day!
Gina
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the
silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr