LJWorld.com weblogs Statehouse Briefing
Posted
by Scott Rothschild
January 12, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.
Freeze in services for disabled criticized
TOPEKA — As lawmakers returned Monday for the 2009 legislative session, about two dozen people demonstrated outside the Capitol against a freeze in a program to help low-income Kansans with disabilities. “In terms of people’s lives, it’s devastating,” Mike Oxford of Lawrence, an organizer with Kansas ADAPT, said of the decision by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. On Dec. 1, SRS imposed a freeze and started a waiting list for the Medicaid program that provides home- and community-based services for Kansans with physical disabilities. SRS officials said the move was needed because growth in the program had “increased significantly, far outpacing the appropriated funding levels.” SRS said it needed to rein in spending because of the state’s current budget crisis and to continue providing home- and community-based services to approximately 7,000 Kansans. Lawmakers face a $186 million revenue shortfall in the current fiscal year, which could skyrocket to nearly $1 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1. But Oxford said the SRS budget decision was shortsighted because it would force some Kansans with disabilities to receive more expensive nursing home care. He said as officials work on the budget “we want to make sure that we have a voice at the table, and that all other alternatives are considered as opposed to just cutting things back and freezing them.”
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Comments
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Hoots (anonymous) says…
People may be upset but this economy is effecting almost everyone. I'm sure many on this board have had to cut back as well. If the money's not there it's just not there. Why can't people realize this. It sucks but many people would like things to be different right now. Everyone simply can't have more in lean times like these. Expecting already strapped people to pay more for your special interest seems greedy to me.
KS (anonymous) says…
That is the same answer that Mike Oxofrd has given for years. Someone needs to write him a new speech. Bottom line? There are people on this program that should not be and when the chips are down (in this case low on money), the people that are deserving can't get the services they need. For me, it is hard to have compassion, as much as I would like to have it.
George_Braziller (anonymous) says…
XD40 - So I guess that means as a community member you're going to volunteer to help out. How many mornings, afternoons, and nights do you want to sign up for? Lots of people just need help getting out of bed, off the toilet, or are unable to to cook for themselves. Guess you think they should just "deal with it" because "life is not fair." Hope your community, church, friends and families are available to help you out if you ever need it -- but don't count on it. They might be there for a few weeks but eventually they're going to wear out and say they can't do it any more.
paladin (anonymous) says…
Hard times. Hard hearts.Moral bankruptcy abounds.No compassion to spare,dollars to spare, strength to share.No, cloak yourselves with self-pityand be safe in your mind.But, shudder still, for the wolf might beat your door soon. A pox on you all.
autie (anonymous) says…
The HCBS waiver system has been told to do "more with less" for quite awhile now. The operating budgets of most of these service providers is cut to the quick. And they still have trouble hiring and retaining workers because they are force to pay such low wages. A freeze to services is one thing but cuts to existing resources is devastating. KS, there is no doubt that there is a small minority of recipients that could be doing more for themselves. But even eliminating the abusers won't fix this problem. I see more and more being done for these folks that will be the bare bones minimum of supports. No easy answers.