RE: IMPORTANT! Contact Governor to Veto Rate Reduction

[Guest guest]

Are you willing to take a 2.5% pay reduction? Do you really believe that once taken away they would voluntarily give it back? What do you think is actually funding those pork belly subsidies that these cuts will end up paying for? You may not think 2.5% is much but try telling that to an underpaid pca worker or job coach. Many of us are not wealthy enough to pay for all that our children need so what help we get is a blessing.

To: sList Sent: Wed, May 19, 2010 5:37:15 PMSubject: RE: IMPORTANT! Contact Governor to Veto Rate Reduction

I find it rather interesting what some people choose for a Governor's veto. Why not let the 2.5% reduction to providers remain and the legislature could take it up next year and re-appropriate the money? I'm sure all the legislators would agree to the necessary increases in the next session. After all, its not like they are eliminating all the money to the Providers.

I guess my thinking process is still stuck on R & S......

From: sList@ yahoogroups. com [mailto:sList @yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of vsequenziaaol (DOT) comSent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 2:12 PMTo: VSequenziaaol (DOT) comSubject: IMPORTANT! Contact Governor to Veto Rate Reduction

Action Alert 11 – Rate Reduction Veto Request

By Kingsley Ross

The General Appropriation Act for FY 2011 contains a 2.5% provider rate reduction for group home, adult day training and other key services to people with developmental disabilities (DD). The Governor needs to veto this language to protect services to the state’s most fragile populations.

Background:

· The Legislature acted to protect a number of key services but the Appropriations Act still calls for a 2.5% rate reduction for key services.

· Many providers will have little choice but to lay off employees (or not fill positions). This will inevitably lead to a reduction in the quality of services provided to people with DD.

· For the Governor to veto this cut, he must veto the proviso language that enacted it in line item 242. This language is provided below for you information.

Funds in Specific Appropriation 242 reflect a reduction of $6,465,891 from the General Revenue Fund and $10,346,098 from the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund as a result of reducing provider rates by 2.5 percent, effective July 1, 2010. Personal Care Assistance, transportation, waiver support coordination, durable medical equipment, consumable medical supplies, and environmental and home accessibility services are specifically excluded from this reduction target. The agency shall amend provider contracts, cost plans and rules as necessary to achieve this recurring reduction.

Action Needed. As soon as possible call and email Gov. Charlie Crist at the contacts below. Ask him to please veto proviso language in line item 242 that cuts provider rates.

His contact information is as follows:

Tallahassee (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDST; an operator will log your request and ask if you want to leave your name);

charlie.crist@ myflorida. com (you will receive an automatic email reply). Be sure to include in the subject line the phase “Please veto proviso language in line item 242 that cuts provider ratesâ€

We only have a few days to make an impact. Please act now.

Regards, Ven Sequenzia President Autism Society of America State of Florida Chapter

[Guest guest]

No

offense taken. But I think you and Cheryl have misinterpreted what I was

saying. I wholeheartedly support the veto of the 2 1/2% Reduction. But I also

support a veto to the R & S Bill.

I'm

not sure how to answer those lead-in questions. I think I counted all no's

except one. You are correct to assume that I do not have an adult child with a developmental

disability who needs services. But do you have child who was abused in the

schools? I am the first to recognize compromise but this R & S, SB2118, is no

compromise and deserves a veto. It encourages abuse. They eliminated the

definitions and made the wording so general and subjective it reminded me of

walking into a district prepared IEP. And it will have the same effect. It's

all open to interpretation. Now try and interpret the data.

I

may be in a fantasy world by suggesting the legislature could increase the

funding next year but you may be in your own fantasy world if you suggest the

legislature will be able to improve the law next session even if they consider

it.

Let's

not forget that parent involvement is important but they are not the victims of

abuse. Their children are. Lobbyists may finance campaigns but we outnumber

them when we vote.

Where

is the support for the federal bill?

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of vsequenzia@...

Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 8:32 AM

To: sList

Subject: Re: IMPORTANT! Contact Governor to Veto Rate

Reduction

No offense, but

have you ever been to Tallahassee advocating for funds? Have you not seen the

cuts that have been passed by the legislature over the past couple of years?

Providers for the developmentally disabled have been receiving cuts to the

point of closure and there aren't new providers running to take their places.

Do you have an adult child with a developmental disability that needs services?

Probably not. If you did, you would understand how any more cuts just continue

to gut services to this population. You are sure that all the legislators

would agree to increases next session? What fantasy world are you living

in? The fact is, they continue to cut services to the most vulnerable in our

society, while funding projects, like former Speaker Sansom's airplane hanger

in NW Florida. Many times in Tallahassee, it isn't about doing what is right

for society. It is about doing what the lobbying groups that got you into

office want.

As for the R & S issue, that is a separate issue and has no bearing on the

funding cuts mentioned.

Regards,

Ven Sequenzia

President

Autism Society of America

State of Florida Chapter

IMPORTANT! Contact Governor to Veto Rate

Reduction

Action

Alert 11 – Rate Reduction Veto Request

By

Kingsley Ross

The General Appropriation Act for FY 2011 contains a 2.5% provider

rate reduction for group home, adult day training and other key services to

people with developmental disabilities (DD). The Governor needs to veto

this language to protect services to the state’s most fragile

populations.

Background:

·

The Legislature acted to protect a number of key services but the

Appropriations Act still calls for a 2.5% rate reduction for key

services.

·

Many providers will have little choice but to lay off employees

(or not fill positions). This will inevitably lead to a reduction in the

quality of services provided to people with DD.

·

For the Governor to veto this cut, he must veto the proviso

language that enacted it in line item 242. This language is provided

below for you information.

Funds in Specific Appropriation 242 reflect a reduction of

$6,465,891 from the General Revenue Fund and $10,346,098 from the Operations

and Maintenance Trust Fund as a result of reducing provider rates by 2.5

percent, effective July 1, 2010. Personal Care Assistance, transportation,

waiver support coordination, durable medical equipment, consumable medical

supplies, and environmental and home accessibility services are specifically

excluded from this reduction target. The agency shall amend provider contracts,

cost plans and rules as necessary to achieve this recurring reduction.

Action Needed. As soon as possible call and email Gov.

Charlie Crist at the contacts below. Ask him to please veto

proviso language in line item 242 that cuts provider rates.

His contact information is as

follows:

Tallahassee (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDST; an

operator will log your request and ask if you want to leave your name);

charlie.crist@...

(you will receive an automatic email reply). Be sure to include in the subject

line the phase “Please veto proviso language in line item 242 that

cuts provider ratesâ€

We only have a few days to make an impact. Please act

now.

Regards,

Ven Sequenzia

President

Autism Society of America

State of Florida Chapter