We really did tweet the SRS budget hearing in social services budget comm. this afternoon, yet somehow the tweets disappeared. Sorry!
Call to Action: Contact Social Services Budget Committee
Posted On: February 14, 2012
Categorized: Advocacy
Tagged: Budget, Disability, EVV, FMS, HCBS, house, Independent Living, medicaid, waiting list
From now through Thursday February 16th, we need the disability community to contact each member of the House Social Services Budget Committee. A complete list of names and contact information is available here.
As they are working on budget issues we need to make sure they know the importance of funding the Home and Community Based services Physically Disabled waiting list and to restore the Financial Management Services(FMS) rate back to $140.
For a great write up on these issues please check out KHI’s story about the hardships facing Centers for Independent Living and the disability community in Kansas.
Shannon Jones assembled the following handouts to use in making your contacts with the Legislators.
Some of the talking points for funding the waiting list are:
- As of February 1, 2012 there are 3,433 persons waiting for HCBS/PD services.
- 30 persons died while waiting during the month of Jan. 2012
- 10 persons entered a nursing facility during the month of Jan. 2012.
- The last person offered PD Services had been waiting for 3 years!
- Since 2010, 1,200 persons have come off of the PD Waiver, yet no one is coming off the waiting list.
- Approximately $33 million (State funds) would fund HCBS waiver services for those waiting.
Some of the talking points for increasing the FMS rate are:
- Last fall, Providers were notified of the $115 reduced rate with no justification and no opportunity for discussion.
- Providers are asking for a fair rate for services delivered.
- CILs anticipate additional layoffs associated with the FMS, which will amount to roughly a 25% reduction in agency staffing, the majority of which are people with disabilities.
Once you have made contact with each Legislator on the House Social Services Budget Committee, please email me any responses that you receive so we can track and amend our message as needed.
Kansans Count: We Demand Democracy
Posted On:
Categorized: Advocacy
Tagged: aclu, brownback, democracy, Disability, Kansans United, kobach, voter suppression
Dear Friends & Fellow Kansans:
In two days, on Wednesday, Feb 15th, we are going to the Kansas Statehouse to deliver the message that KANSANS COUNT: We Demand Democracy.
Among the many issues of concern is Voter Suppression. Many of you, along with advocacy groups, and the ACLU have expressed concern about the adverse effects of the new Kansas voter ID law. This law has the serious potential to disenfranchise a significant number of otherwise eligible voters, with a disproportionate impact on the poor, individuals with lower education levels, immigrants, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Voting is not a privilege, it is a right. To vote, to have YOUR VOICE, is fundamental to a democracy, and it must be protected if we are intent on maintaining our democracy.
Please review the this information provided by the ACLU which highlights the types of photo ID problems that concern them at this time.
Crystal McComas & Tamara Werth
Kansans United in Voice & Spirit
*This post is from Kansans United in Voice and Spirit
Voter Disenfranchisement
Posted On: February 9, 2012
Categorized: Advocacy
Tagged: aclu, voter rights, voting
This request for information is from the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri. They are working to protect our right to vote freely. Data shows that people with disabilities, people living in poverty, and minorities are kept from voting when laws such as the ones Kansas has passed are applied. Please review this information and contact the ACLU if the criteria applies to you.
DON’T BE FOOLED – YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY A DIME TO VOTE!
Starting this year, Kansas voters need to have photo ID in order to vote. The list of accepted IDs includes: driver’s licenses, state ID cards, concealed carry handgun licenses, U.S. passports, employee IDs, military IDs, Kansas postsecondary student IDs, and welfare ID cards. If you or someone you know is struggling to get an accepted form of photo ID, please call us at 816-994-3315, especially if:
- You were born in a state other than Kansas, lack all of the above IDs, and do not have a certified copy of your birth certificate. If so, you’ll have to spend money to vote and that’s unfair and unconstitutional.
- You lack all of the above IDs and are being forced to spend money on a marriage certificate or other document in order to obtain a Kansas ID card.
- You lack all of the above IDs, but have a tribal ID.
Update: What About the Waiting List?
Posted On: February 8, 2012
Categorized: Advocacy
Tagged: advocacy, brownback, CIL, consumer opportunity, Deinstitutionalization, Disability, empowerment, equality, HCBS, Independent Living, medicaid, SRS
On February 1, 2012 disability advocates across the state began a concerted effort to contact the Governor’s office and SRS regarding the Waiting Lists for Home and Community Based Services. The Governor’s office and the SRS administration responded less than satisfactorily advising (after several off the wall suggestions) that the Waiting Lists for Home and Community Based Services would be funded through savings “over time” that Medicaid would realize once Managed Care was in effect.
It is important that Governor Brownback hears from the disability community and our supporters and understands that their lack of a concrete plan to address the waiting lists is not acceptable. According to SRS, as of January 1, 2012 there are 3,369 persons waiting for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Physically Disabled (PD) services. 15 persons died while waiting during the month of Dec, 2011. The last person offered PD Services had been waiting for 2 years and 9 months!
These are Kansans age 16-64 who could, at any time, receive care in a nursing home at a much higher cost to the state. Meanwhile, the state’s ending balance continues to rise. Please contact Governor Brownback today and ask him what his plan is to ensure that the lives of Kansans are given the respect and dignity they deserve. Click here for a sample letter.
Despite having a large balance in the State budget and projecting an over $400 million balance next fiscal year, the Governor has not addressed those Kansans with disabilities waiting on the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Physically Disabled (PD) waiting list. There is no mention in either the proposed budget or in the RFP for the Managed Care contracts about addressing the waiting list.
While the administration and SRS officials remain inactive on this matter, our brothers and sisters continue to suffer and die without services. From today until Feb. 10th we are part of a statewide effort to contact the Governor’s office and the SRS office and ask them a simple question; ‘What’s the Governor’s office going to do about the ever expanding waiting list for home and community based services for the physically disabled?’ or “What is SRS’ plan to reduce the HCBS/PD waiting lists?’
Please join us in calling or emailing EVERY SINGLE DAY and asking this vital question. The contact information is as follows:
Contact for Governor: governor@ks.gov or toll free: 877-579-6757 or 785-296-3232
Contact for SRS: Jeff.Kahrs@srs.ks.gov or 785-296-3271
If you get feedback please post it in our comments section.
2012 State of the State
Posted On: January 12, 2012
Categorized: Advocacy, Legislative Updates
Tagged: 2012, earned income credit, education reform, Gov. Brownback, income tax, KPERS, medicaid, Sam Brownback, State of the State, tax reform
The Governor’s proposed budget has been released. We will write more about it as we have time to review it. Click here to download the full text as a PDF.
Last night Governor Sam Brownback delivered his 2012 State of the State address. It was a rather brief speech but stuffed with huge plans to move our state further down his Road Map for Kansas.
As expected, a great deal of emphasis was placed on drastic changes to the Kansas tax code. He would see the individual income tax brackets reduced to 2 from 3 and the top tax rate would be 4.9% instead of the current 6.45% while the bottom rate would drop to 3% from the current 3.5% bottom tier rate.
Along with the income tax cuts he added in some very tough cuts to tax breaks including itemized deductions and the very contentious elimination of the earned income credit and child and dependent care breaks that are hugely beneficial to the State’s lowest earners.
In fact, in the last Legislative session advocates for Kansas families were fighting a bill that would phase out the earned income credit. At that time it was estimated that 6,500 Kansas families would be pushed below the poverty guideline if the earned income credit was ended.
Like a cherry on the top of his tax overhaul, the Governor would like to see the Legislature limit further growth in government expenditures to no more than 2% a year with any additional revenue used to lower the State income tax.
The danger in a system like this is that most programs and services in Kansas are currently running at greatly decreased budgets, if this is adopted, funding levels for these would essentially be frozen at levels that are not sustainable. In addition, limiting all government expenditures to no more than 2% would further hobble systems like education, Medicaid, social services, and KPERS all three of which require more funding each year than 2% would allow.
There was not much said regarding the Medicaid makeover; much of the details of that plan are awaiting the responses to the RFP as the state has left the determination of many elements of the plan to the Managed Care organizations they are going to be contracting with. Governor Brownback did stress that Kansans with disabilities would be given a better chance at finding meaningful employment and a bridge away from Medicaid. We have heard that an announcement regarding several employment initiative is coming in a few weeks.
All in all, the State of the State was pretty much what was expected, the Governor’s budget is slated to be released this morning and once we have more information on that we will make it available to you. You can read or download a copy of the 2012 State of the State address on the Governor’s website.
Legislative Session Begins
Posted On: January 9, 2012
Categorized: Advocacy, Legislative Updates
Tagged: advocacy, brownback, Budget, CIL, congress, Disability, Employment, equality, Independent Living, medicaid
Today at 2:00pm the Kansas House and Senate will convene to start the 2012 Legislative Session. This promises to be one of the busiest, and maybe toughest sessions in recent years.
All eyes are on the Senate as it is an election year for them and the coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats that stood together the last 2 years to stave off very damaging legislation will certainly be under fire.The House is most decidedly in Governor Brownback’s pocket and have the will and power to push through his ultra-conservative agenda.
The items that will be of particular note to the disability community are big ones this year:
- Medicad Reform ushering in Managed Care
- The Executive Reorganization Order that will combine aging and disability services and all of Medicaid under the new Department of Aging and Disability Services
- An expected push to significantly lower or even end the income tax
- Employment initiatives aimed towards Kansans with disabilities that have yet to be revealed
- Funding Centers for Independent Living and Consumer Run Organizations as well as the usual budgetary items
We are very busy working to introduce an advocacy plan for this session that will utilize the strengths and voices of the consumers we serve to their fullest potential. Check back for regular updates from the Statehouse and contact your local RCIL office to find out how to become involved.
“Nothing about us without us!”
2012 Legislative Session
Posted On: December 28, 2011
Categorized: Advocacy, Consumer Opportunities, Legislative Updates
Tagged: advocacy, brownback, CIL, Disability, Independent Living, Individual Advocacy, Legislature, Systems Advocacy
With the new year comes a new Legislative session in Kansas. The 2012 Session starts on Monday January 9th at 2:00pm and promises to be a busy one.
The disability community will be closely watching as the Administration and the Legislature take on huge items including an expected Executive Order re-organizing SRS, the Medicaid overhaul into a managed care system, an anticipated move to do away with income tax, Education finance reform, and KPERS reform.
The Resource Center for Independent Living will be working to make sure our consumers and community partners stay updated on the goings on within the Statehouse. We’ll utilize this blog, our Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as our existing NetPals email service.
Something new that we plan on introducing this session are video updates from the Statehouse from our advocates on the front lines, our consumers giving testimony, and others. These will be posted to our YouTube stream as well as on our blog and other social media outlets.
2012 will be a year of big changes for the disability community in Kansas and for the State as a whole. Join us in getting our updates and information out to our friends, families, Legislators, and community partners.
Let us know if you would like to share your story with your Legislators or the media. We are looking for individuals who utilize services or who are on waiting lists for services, people who are working or who are struggling to find employment. Contact us today and share your voice.
The Olmstead Decision
Posted On: November 25, 2011
Categorized: Advocacy
Tagged: advocacy, CIL, consumer opportunity, Deinstitutionalization, Disability, empowerment, equality, HCBS, Independent Living, justice, Olmstead, Systems Advocacy
Twelve years ago, the United States Supreme Court rejected the state of Georgia’s appeal to enforce institutionalization of individuals with disabilities and affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their community in its 6-3 ruling against the state of Georgia in the case Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W.
The Olmstead Decision gave people with disabilities the tools necessary to demand what is rightfully theirs—the right to live independently in their community. The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the lower courts that Georgia had violated the integration mandate under Title II of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which states that states must develop comprehensive plans to end unnecessary institutionalization at a “reasonable place” with the goal of integrating individuals with disabilities into mainstream society to the fullest extent possible.
While it is frustratingly sad that this action took place only 12 years ago, what’s even worse is that our State continues in ongoing violations of the ADA and the Olmstead decision. Over 5,000 Kansans with disabilities are on years long waiting lists of in home services; however, the state will provide immediate institutional care, a clear civil rights violation.
In fact, Kansas has a program that will provide in home services to individuals but only AFTER a 90 day nursing home stay. We will allow someone to lose all of their possessions and frequently their home and become institutionalized for 90 days, and then assist them financially to transition to in home services, another clear civil rights violation.
While disability may not directly affect you, it almost certainly affects someone you care about. It is up to the disability community; those with disabilities and the loved ones and advocates of those with disabilities, to stand up for the civil rights of all Kansans. Across the state, Centers for Independent Living have assisted Kansans in filing over 600 Olmstead complaints.
If you have been denied services that would allow you to remain in your home, please consider filing a Civil Rights Complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. Your local Center for Independent Living can help you find the information.
I Am a Case Manager
Posted On: November 21, 2011
Categorized: Advocacy
Tagged: advocacy, brownback, Budget, CIL, consumer opportunity, Deinstitutionalization, Disability, empowerment, equality, HCBS, Independent Living, medicaid, SRS, Systems Advocacy
I am a Case Manager, yet I do not manage cases, I work with people. My job is to visit people in their homes who have physical disabilities and complete an assessment to determine if they are eligible for a Medicaid program that provides long term care services to them in their own homes.
People used to be relieved when I would complete my assessment and tell them, “Yes, we can help you.” The Home and Community Based Services that they had qualified for would allow them to have assistance as they needed it allowing them to remain independent in their homes and communities and keep the dreaded nursing facility entrance at bay.
Things have certainly changed. Now when I complete an assessment I am forced to say, “Yes we can help you, but there’s a 2 and ½ year waiting list (at least). I look into the eyes of the loved one that is no longer able to stay with them and provide care and see the fear, frustration, and tiredness. I hear the cries of the woman who is terrified that without services she will be committed to an institution, when she is perfectly capable of staying in her own home with some supports.
There is no good explanation for this, Home and Community Based Services are much less expensive than Nursing Facility care, a fact that we as advocates have been stressing for years and years. This year, the savings opportunity was even greater, if Kansas had opted in to the Community First Choice Option that was effective in October, we would have received greater Federal assistance to pay for the services as well as ensure that individuals would not have to wait.
The long term effect of providing Home and Community Based Services to all who qualify instead of institutional care is not only a greater integration of individuals with disabilities into their communities, but also a huge financial savings to the state.
It is time for us to start asking our Legislators and our Governor, why; in a time of budget surplus, we are not talking about restoring the funds to HCBS to eliminate the waiting list and give Kansans the dignity and care that they deserve.