April
24, 2003
The
Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee
are back in Topeka reviewing the proposed 2004 budget. Governor Sebelius has
given them her Budget Adjustments (GBA's). They will review and by next
Tuesday each Chamber (House and Senate) will have a budget bill. We anticipate
that by that time the Governor and Republican Leadership will also either be
promoting their separate budget proposals or will have compromised and have one
proposal.
The Full Legislature will be back next Wednesday to vote on a 2004 budget and
any other bills they choose to finish this year.
We also understand that some legislators are looking at a proposed Tax Increase
recommendation, but that has yet to surface.
NOW IS THE TIME TO LET LEGISLATORS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT A TAX
INCREASE. Get hold of them before they go back to Topeka. EVEN IF
YOU THINK THEY ALREADY KNOW! WE ESPECIALLY THINK IT'S TIME TO REMIND
"MODERATE" DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT
THEY HAVE THE COURAGE TO SUPPORT TAX INCREASES. LET THEM KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT COURAGEOUS LEGISLATORS.
The GBA does include language that would allow the dollar to follow the
individual out of a Nursing Facility back into the community with no waiting list.
The money is there for 75 people the first year. We also believe that the House
supports this language. This is a great victory! Yeah!
She added money for caseload estimates for SRS, but no new money for waiting
lists.
The House and Senate, in their budget proposals will be reviewing (and we mean
reviewing, none of these things are done deals yet)! Such things as:
- Increasing LOC scores on PD waiver to 32 and grandfathering in those who are
currently getting services, but NOT those on the waiting list.
- Increasing LOC scores on FE waiver to 40 and grandfathering in, but not those
on waiting list.
- Look at more cost effective methods of purchasing DME.
- Review policy change to eliminate separation of spousal income for waiver
eligibility.
- Review combining all waivers into one waiver.
-Review DD Waiver eligibility.
- Review liens on Medicaid Recipients Homes.
-Review policies to address hiding of assets.
- Review difference between self directed and non self directed reimbursement
rate for FE Waiver.
- Review case management services for the FE, DD, and PD Waivers. Look at
development of a regional peer review system for quality assurance.
- Increase pool for Health Care - look at either increasing who can get a
medical card or allowing greater buy in to the public employees health care
services.
- Review shifting Adult Protective Services from SRS to KDOA.
We'll keep you updated, hope you'll also tell us what you're hearing form your
legislators as you discuss issues with them. The quote at the end of all
my e-mails has never been more true than it is today:
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the
silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr
Gina