Call to Action: Contact Social Services Budget Committee
Posted February 14, 2012 by Mandy Smith in Advocacy
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.
