Topeka — Advocates for the poor and Kansans with disabilities on Thursday asked for a $40.7 million budget increase for social services, and legislation to increase mental health care and protect the rights of people with disabilities.
The Big Tent Coalition, representing 71 groups statewide, urged Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Legislature "to give serious consideration to our budget request and policy initiatives."
Nicole Corcoran, a spokeswoman for Sebelius, said the governor would consider the coalition's proposals as she prepares a budget for the 2005 legislative session that starts Jan. 10.
"She will be reviewing all the budget requests very soon," Corcoran said.
The coalition requested $17.1 million to provide home-based care for more than 1,600 physically and developmentally disabled Kansans who currently are on waiting lists for those services.
In addition, the group requested $23.6 million to restore previous shortfalls in human service programs.
The coalition also said it would push for legislation to eliminate differences in the way insurance covers physical and mental illnesses. Kansas passed a law three years ago that moved toward full health insurance parity for mental health disorders, but the law still limits coverage of mental illness to 45 days of in-patient care and 45 days of out-patient care.
In addition, coalition members said they would support moves to remove discrimination on the basis of disability in child custody actions.
Bob Mikesic, advocacy and American with Disabilities coordinator for Independence Inc. in Lawrence, said he supported the Big Tent proposals. He said providing comparable coverage for mental illness as with physical ailments would produce savings in the long run
"It really is a benefit to employers to keep their employees effective," he said.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.