how the budget bills affect people with disabilities
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How the Budget Bills Affect People with Disabilities
April 2011
Distributed by
2011-2013 State Budget
• 1 in 5 Wisconsinites use Medicaid in some form; Medicaid accounts for 10% of state spending.
• $594M new funding for Medicaid Budget• Currently no across the board rate cuts• No plans for reductions in optional services (yet)
– Such as Personal Care and Prescription Drugs• No plans to change coverage (yet)• The same number of children’s waiver slots will
continue
Mixed News for Medicaid
2011-2013 State Budget
• $500 million in unspecified savings needs to be found from Medicaid (and about $750 to $800 million federal match), relative to a cost-to-continue budget
• $96 million from centralizing, automating, and privatizing the “income maintenance” – these services will no longer be at the county level
Concerns about Medicaid
2011-2013 State Budget
• Potentially limits public input about proposed Medicaid changes
• If Wisconsin’s proposed changes aren’t federally approved, possibly up to 70,000 people may lose coverage on BadgerCare (133% over Federal Poverty Level, FPL)
Concerns about the Medicaid Decision-Making Process
2011-2013 State Budget
• Increased premiums and co-pays in BadgerCare• Changing standards for state residence• Revising retroactive eligibility & eliminating grace
periods• Allowing providers to deny care or services if an
enrollee is unable to share costs• Establishing different benefits or packages for
different recipients• Requiring enrollees to participate in managed care• Restricting or eliminating presumptive eligibility• Restricting eligibility of non-citizens • More frequent review of eligibility
Changes DHS is Considering
2011-2013 State Budget
A freeze on long term care programs like Family Care and IRIS means creating new waiting lists for services in counties that ended waiting lists years ago.
Effects on Family Care
2011-2013 State Budget
• Family Care, Partnership, PACE and IRIS are all frozen at the number of participants in the program in June 2011– Enrolled participants can still switch between
programs• ADRCs planned to be statewide June 30, 2013• Results of the Family Care audit may determine the
future of Family Care• Family Care/IRIS independent Advocacy/Ombudsman
Program continued with no cuts• Proposed increase in participants enrolled in Self-
Directed Support options, including IRIS
Effects on Family Care (continued)
2011-2013 State Budget
• $15 million reduction for SeniorCare
• People enrolled in Senior Care will also be required to enroll in Medicare Part D
• The effects could vary based on individual situations
• DHS states that Senior Care only (without Medicare Part D) could result in twice the cost for co-pays and cost sharing
Effects on Senior Care
2011-2013 State Budget
• Most community-based services and supports for the public mental health system are county funded.
• Decrease in funding to counties by $36.5M could puts local mental health programming at significant risk– Community Support Program, Comprehensive
Community Services, and Community Recovery Services
Effects on Mental Health
2011-2013 State Budget
• $800 million cut in general school aids; K-12 funding makes up 40% of state spending
• Children with disabilities are general education students first; large cuts to education will result in big changes for all students regardless of disability
• Cuts to general school aids will make it very difficult for schools to pay for special education services
• Students with disabilities are more likely to spend time in segregated settings as general education classes become larger
• Estimated average cut: $750/child
Effects on Education
2011-2013 State Budget
• No increase for special education funding– Resulting in reduction in reimbursement rates for
Special Education services (rate will change from 27.9%-24.5%)
• Reduces revenue cap by 5.5%• $40 Million increase in choice, charter and open
enrollment options. No income requirements– Students with disabilities don’t typically benefit
from these options.• State funding that supplements federal Head Start in
Wisconsin would continue, but with a 10% cut.
Effects on Education (continued)
2011-2013 State Budget
• Moves public transportation to the shrinking general fund in the budget – making public transit compete with other programs for funding
• Reduces transportation aids by 10% - will result in big cuts in accessible transportation for those who rely on it
• Loss of $44 million in federal transport aid• Specialized Transportation (85.21) is level-funded• Implementation of a statewide transportation broker• $350 Million increase for highways/roads
Effects on Transportation
2011-2013 State Budget
• $20/person/month cut in maximum Wisconsin Works payment to low income families
• $74 million in cuts to the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income working families
• Eliminates all state family planning funding– This is the main access to health care for
many low-income women with disabilities• Eliminates the Wisconsin Quality Homecare
Authority
Other Budget Effects
2011-2013 State Budget
• Wisconsin taxes are average in the U.S.• The Governor proposed a NO TAX Budget.
Some receive tax cuts Corporations $115 million Health Savings Accts. $49 million Investors $36 million TOTAL $200 million less revenue
Places where the budget puts additional moneyRoad builders $350+ millionPrivate schools $40 million
Considering Taxes
• A Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Poll shows 72% favor income taxes on those above $150,00/year
• 67% believe revenue should be part of a balanced budget solution
Examples of revenue generators:• Collect tax on investment profits - $140 million• Surtax on incomes over $250,000 - $168 million• Sales tax on business and professional services - $322
million• No cuts to business and investor taxes - $176 million• Collect uncollected taxes - $1.2 billion per year
2011-2013 State Budget
Taking a Balanced Approach
2011-2013 State Budget
• Reduce Administrative costs in Family Care/IRIS/Partnership
• Reduce unnecessary institutionalization• Streamline program eligibility for children's services• Increase investment in recovery oriented consumer run
services and peer support• Better coordination between DHS, DPI, DVR for
transition age youth• Increase use of self-directed services and supports• Target education investments• Consider revenue generators – a balanced approach.• Increase investment in recovery-oriented consumer-run
mental health services and the certified Peer Specialist Program
Possible Recommendations
2011-2013 State Budget
1. Develop a relationship with your legislator/ policymakers. Share your story and your concerns.
2. Write letters to the editor.
3. Talk to your friends, family and co-workers; testify at hearings.
4. Join public actions or coalitions.
5. Remember to Vote!
What You Can Do to Make Your Voice Heard
2011-2013 State Budget
To continue to have your voices heard, stay up-to-date and get informed about issues that affect you and your family, visit:
• http://www.dawninfo.org/co/sc/survival_coalition.cfm
• http://www.il-wisconsin.net/advocacy/
• The WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities’ Facebook page (www.facebook.com)
• www.disabilityrightswi.org
Take Action!
2011-2013 State Budget
• Lynn Breedlove, Disability Rights Wisconsin: lynnb@drwi.org
• Maureen Ryan, Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers: moryan@charter.net
• Beth Swedeen, Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities: beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov
Survival Co-Chairs
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