Day Hab Rate Victory May Be Short Lived

Governor withdraws rate cut for FY 11, but HWM FY 12 Budget fails to fund Less than two weeks ago disability advocates were expressing gratitude to the Governor and legislators for canceling proposed FY 11 Mass Health rate cuts for Day Habilitation and Adult Foster Care programs, it appears that the battle is far from over since the House Ways & Means Budget did not include this restoration in its budget report. Thus the relief of early April may not be carried forth into the next fiscal year starting July 1, 2011, unless the House votes to increase Mass Health funding to prevent the $5 million cut to Day Hab programs and the $5 million cut to AFC programs. Disability advocates had hoped for a better outcome in the FY 12 HWM budget, noting that State House News press reports in late March reported that HWM Chairman Brian Dempsey had been in talks with Administration officials to cancel the planned FY 11 rate cuts. (The State House News story also noted that Sen. Pat Jehlen had urged SWM Chair Steve Brewer to also support revoking the Mass Health cuts.) Some hoped that those talks were a hint of how the HWM budget would treat the issue in the FY 12 budget. Hundreds of consumers, family members, direct support professionals and advocates had protested the cuts at February public hearings expressing concern that: Day Hab programs serve many people with complex health and behavioral challenges. funding cuts will reduce essential staff that assist participants with toileting, feeding and repositioning funding cuts will endanger the health and safety of day hab program participants. Rep. Jim Dwyer (D-Woburn) is sponsoring Amendment 365 to forestall the proposed Day Hab cut for the FY 12 budget. Disability advocates are hoping that the compelling testimony that convinced state decision makers to cancel the FY 11 rate cuts will convince either the House or Senate to fully restore the Day Hab and AFC accounts.

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