With the passage of the state budget in the House of Representatives last week, our community saw positive developments towards restoring services. Noteworthy additions include:
- Partial restoration of Respite/Family Support Services cut in the House 1 budget
- Partial funding of Turning 22 Day/Employment Services
- Additional funding of waiver services within the Autism Division of DDS
- Clarifying language to line item 7061-0012 carrying out the Governor’s and Legislature’s intent regarding the DESE/DDS residential placement prevention program;
- Support of the Commonwealth’s Olmstead Community Integration program.
Yet even with this additional support, many of these programs remain woefully underfunded. A comparison of the budgets from FY 2006 and FY 2011 shows that, among other programs, funding levels have either remained steady or declined for:
- Day/Employment Programs,
- Respite/Family Supports, and
- Turning 22
THE NUMBERS
We ask that the Senate restore funding to these critical DDS and MassHealth services. In light of the effective decrease in funding over the past five years, the restoration of funds will not constitute a boon to these programs. Rather it will provide sufficient funding for these programs to serve only a portion of worthy and eligible individuals and families. Requests are outlined below, followed by a chart of funding levels and a description of each program.
- Turning 22 (5920-5000) is funded at $5 million, but with 708 students, it requires $8 million total for 2012 and line item language for 2013 to annualize at $19.9 million
- Family Support (5920-3000) has been cut to $41 million. It should be funded at the FY 2011 level of $46 million.
- Employment funding (5920-2025) for 2011 Turning 22 students requires an additional $1.7 million for $126 million total.
- Community Residential Supports (5920-2000) requires an additional $7.75 million for $759.55 million total.
- Day Habilitation services funded through MassHealth (4000-0700) are slated for a cut of $5 Million. We ask that $5 million be added for this service and an additional $5 Million maintain AFC or adult foster (family) care. Both programs are reimbursable with 50% in federal funds.
|
Line Item |
Description |
FY11 |
FY12 |
FY12 |
Request for |
|
DDS |
|
|
|
|
|
| 5920-2000 | Community Residential Supports |
$728,047,384 |
$751,797,120 |
$751,797,120 |
$759,549,620 |
| 5920-2025 | Day/Employment Programs |
$123,267,971 |
$123,267,971 |
$124,267,971 |
$125,969,796 |
| 5920-3000 | Respite/Family Support |
$46,521,184 |
$32,592,372 |
$41,004,298 |
$46,521,184 |
| 5920-5000 | Turning 22 |
$5,000,000 |
$5,000,000 |
$5,000,000 |
$8,000,000 |
|
Non DDS |
|
|
|
|
|
| 4000-0700 | MassHealth Day Habilitation |
|
$2,026,206,633.00 |
$2,026,206,633 |
$2,031,206,633 |
THE PROGRAMS
The different line items for DDS and MassHealth serve different constituents based on need and family circumstances. Together they comprise a safety net. Highly valued by the federal government, Massachusetts receives 50% federal FMAP reimbursement for almost all of these services.
- Turning 22 helps students who need adult services make the cross-over from special education. The $5M is not adequate for year 1 and annualization requires $19.9M. Young people with disabilities who graduate from special education programs across the state may simply drop off the public “radar screen”, and then they AND their families face a nightmarish test of survival and uncertainty. There is no transfer of dollars from local cities or towns or Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Allocate $8M for T22 and language for $19.9M for 2013.
- Family Support/Respite services are for adults and children. In recent years most children have lost use of this program due to cuts. For those with loved ones at home it is an essential support and very cost-effective. In addition to respite or in-home assistance, staff at family support centers provide training, help with planning and give referrals for community resources that can complement public services. Thousands of people are at risk of losing family support services and day supports this year. A reduction of more than 10% on top of the $10 million cut in 2010 mean that families who have an adult son or daughter living at home or those with children who need assistance will have little if any help. Our request addresses only this year’s remaining $5.5 million cut.
- The Day/Employment account is utilized by adults who continue to live at home or transitioned through Community First. For those at home, services funded through this line are the main supports an adult receives from the state. It typically gives parents a break for the day or allows them to work. An additional $1.7 million is needed for FY’11 Turning 22 students.
- Implementing Community First: this requires the DDS residential line items along with DDS employment/day or MassHealth day habilitation for clinical services. These line items also assist adults who have lived their entire lives with their biological families. There are two community residential line items, one of which utilizes providers or “purchase of service” and one which uses state employees. DDS residential is short $7.75 million for 2012 Rolland (Nurs. Home); day habilitation requires $5M additional in the 4000-0700 account to avoid a nearly 4% cut.
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