Fwd: FCC: APD News Clip -- No easy choices for disabled after big budget cuts...

[Guest guest]

New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News more. Try it out!

Family Care Council Communication:

For your information.

Bob Wessels

Employment Coordinator, Community Outreach, FCC Liaison

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

201 West Broward Blvd., Suite 305

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tel: - Fax:

Email: _Wessels@...

www.apdcares.org

You have received this message because at one time you requested

information from the Family Care Council, Area 10. If you received this

message in error or wish to be removed from our distribution list simply

list click here or reply to this email with the word “REMOVE†in the

subject line

The Agency supports Persons with Developmental Disabilities in Living,

Learning and Working in their Community.

----- Forwarded by Wessels/APD/DCF on 10/20/2008 06:18 AM -----

APD News/D20/DCF

Sent by: Jeff

Saulich

10/17/2008 09:31

AM Subject

APD News Clip -- No easy choices

for disabled after big budget cuts

-- Sebring News Sun

Sebring News Sun - October 17, 2008

http://www.newssun.com/news/1017-ct-ARC-Pt--1

No easy choices for disabled after big budget cuts

First of two parts

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@...

AVON PARK -- When State Representative Grimsley was recently asked

what the biggest issue facing the Legislature was, she replied, " Florida

will again be faced with preparing a balanced budget with an unprecedented

reduction in revenue. "

This story illustrates that problem by following an abstract choice made in

Tallahassee to the very real effects that choice is having on individuals

all over the state.

Caught in the middle is the state agency charged with the responsibility of

carrying out the Legislature's wishes.

In October 2004, the Agency for Persons With Disabilities separated from

the Department of Children and Families to stand on its own. Before then it

was known as the Developmental Disabilities Program.

According to its Web site, " The agency supports persons with developmental

disabilities in living, learning, and working in their community. "

The goal is to maximize self sufficiency and increase independence, while

insuring individual well being and safety.

The agency serves people with a range of conditions that interfere with

ability to function in everyday activities.

Chapter 393 of the Florida statutes define developmental disabilities as

spina bifida, autism, cerebral palsy and mental retardation.

According to Etters, the agency's communications director, the

agency has run a deficit every year of its existence. " As long as a service

was deemed necessary (for a client), " she said, " the client got it

regardless of whether or not the agency had the money. "

There were no spending caps and the state was spending approximately $1

billion a year and reaching 31,000 clients. Another 17,000 were on waiting

lists.

But the running deficits meant the agency was breaking the law.

In the spring of 2007, when the state began to feel the effect of falling

tax revenue, the legislature mandated a new policy, beginning with a

cutback in funding to about $880 million.

With the cutback came the concepts of spending caps and apportionment.

The Legislature had the agency create four new Medicaid developmental

disability waivers -- actually tiers in an ascending system. The

Legislature then established the criteria for each tier based on an

individual's needed level of service, current living situation and other

characteristics.

Three of the tiers are capped, meaning there are financial limits. Put

simply, the fourth tier, or bottom tier, is for individuals who live at

home with families and have moderate disabilities. Spending tops out at

$14,792.

The third tier, for individuals with moderate disabilities and who live by

themselves or in group homes, spending tops out at $35,000.

The second tier, for individuals with more complicated issues living in

group homes, tops out at $55,000, and the first tier, for individuals with

intense disabilities, has no spending cap.

This new system went into effect Wednesday.

The practical result has been a cutback in services to many of the

developmentally disabled. In an effort to be fair and give the clients a

voice, Etters said, the clients themselves were given the responsibility of

choosing what services they were willing to cut out of those they received.

Clients were also given the right to appeal the choice of tier the agency

had made for them.

Out of the roughly 7,500 disabled people who are facing cutbacks in

service, 4,550 of them have filed appeals. It is an extraordinary number,

Etters said.

Part two will focus on the tiered funding pays for and talks to three

individuals whose lives have been impacted by the new policy.

NOTICE: Florida has a broad public records law. Most written

communications to or from state officials are public records that will be

disclosed to the public and the media upon request. E-mail communications

may be subject to public disclosure.