FDDC: Legislative Bulletin

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From: Florida

Developmental Disabilities Council

Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 4:01 PM

To: denisekarp@...

Subject: Legislative Bulletin

Announcement

from the

Florida

Developmental Disabilities Council

A Legislative Bulletin from the

Florida

Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.

This week the

Governor must act on the Budget that the Florida Legislature passed this

session. The General Appropriations Act for FY 2011 includes reductions

to the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services

(DD/HCBS) waiver funding by about $44 million. The legislature

relied on a " blended " FMAP (Federal Medicaid Assistance

Program) of about 61% for the federal portion, assuming Florida's current

stimulus-driven FMAP of about 67% would not continue after December 30,

2010.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. has taken the

position of no more cuts for DD/HCBS services for individuals with

developmental disabilities. Click here for Council position.The two areas of

biggest concern are a 2.5% provider rate reduction for group home, adult

day training and other key services to people with developmental

disabilities and a 2.5% cap reduction of Tiers 2, 3, and 4. The Council

will ask the Governor to veto these cuts to protect services to one of

the state's most fragile populations. Specifically the

cuts we are focusing on are:

*$4,196,362 cut as a result of reducing the caps

for Tiers 2, 3, and 4 by 2.5%.

Many consumers have already had reductions to their cost plans over the

last few

years and each reduction puts individuals at risk for having to access

institutional

care.

* $16,811,989 reduction of provider rates

for most waiver services. Support

coordination, transportation, personal care assistance, durable medical

equipment, consumable medicals supplies, and environmental and home

accessibility services are specifically excluded from this reduction

target. 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.

If you would like to share your opinion with Governor Charlie

Crist, please see the contact info below:

* 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 your main point in the subject line.

We only have a few

days to make an impact.

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