Patients fear waiver cuts
"People who've got no family need it," said
The application says the waiver is intended to help beneficiaries "live in the community and avoid institutionalization." Howell said the proposed changes will do just the opposite.
He receives 24/7 care, he said. His family offers some help, but work and other responsibilities don't allow them to be on hand around the clock. So if the changes go through, he won't be able to stay at home.
Howell was among the hundreds who attended a rally at the Capitol on Friday night to oppose the changes.
So was
Why the changes?
But the IDD Waiver is experiencing the most reductions in services "because the benefits currently provided are some of the most rich in the nation and the most generous of any surrounding state."
In 2014, the IDD Waiver covered 4,534 individuals for a total expenditure of
Since 2010, annual spending on the waiver has increased by more than
Here are some examples of proposed IDD Waiver changes:
Currently, parents of minor children can be paid
Parents of adults receiving IDD services may be paid for up to 12 hours of care per day, totaling up to
Samples adds that these amounts exceed
Respite care allows for primary care givers to get a break from their caretaking duties. Currently, a parent can receive almost five hours a day of respite care. BMS is proposing to reduce that to average two hours a day and to only allow respite care to be billed on a day when no other direct care service is billed.
Samples also noted that if a beneficiary needs additional hands-on personal care services for which no changes are proposed, the state makes benefits available for that individual, independent of the benefits noted above.
More cuts, and worries
Elkins said the Fair Shake Network also opposes these proposed changes:
Changing the eligible age from birth to age 3.
Trimming licensed practical nurse care from eight hours to two, barring extenuating circumstances.
Requiring re-evaluation by a member of the Independent Psychologist Network at ages 6, 9, 12 and 15. Elkins said state-contracted APS health care already does an intensive assessment and these additional checkups will be expensive and redundant.
Asked about the potential consequences of the cuts, Samples said, "The Bureau does not believe these reductions will impact the quality care given to our waiver members in the community. However it will allow us to bring the programs into the budgetary parameters currently available and hopefully allow more individuals who need these services to receive them.
People dependent on 24-hour services are scrambling, trying to figure out how to stay out of institutions, she said.
Echoing Elkins, she said intuitional care will cost the state far more in the long run. "So where's the cost savings?"
Elkins said her son is an adult with autism. He works and has a life because he had the services he needed along the way. If he hadn't, he wouldn't be where he is. Some people though, will never get better. They face significant challenges, and these changes will do them no good.
Comments welcomed
Samples said the
"We encourage the public to submit comments with details indicating how they feel the specific changes will impact their situation," he said. "Upon review of these comments, modifications to the proposal can be made before final submission of the waiver to the federal government."
The public comment period ends at
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