URGENT - ACTION ALERT!!! APD RECOMMENDS MORE CUTS

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Please read below and contact the Senators and Representatives listed at the end of this email and tell them (in your own words) why the cuts recommended by APD will be devastating Please thank them for their continued support.

Action Alert – Appropriations

Senate and House appropriation committees are considering cuts in health and human services programs that could result in as much as a 15% reduction in Home and Community Based Waiver services. The initial decisions for cutting programs are expected by March 12, 2010.

Background: The process of looking for cuts is part of the legislature’s attempt to cope with revenue shortfalls.

The work being done by the House is somewhat encouraging because the members of the Health Care Appropriations Committee have ranked services to people with developmental disabilities as one of the five top services to be preserved. However, how this translates into cuts is not yet known and no program may end up being exempt from reductions.

The Senate is approaching the process of cutting differently. Like the House, they have asked state agencies to present their recommendations on cuts. However, the process is moving more slowly and members have not been openly polled.

The cuts that have been recommended by the Agency for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (APD) include:

APD Recommended Cut

$ Amount (in Millions)

1. Cap services in Tier 1 to $120,000

12.8

2. Eliminate behavior assistance services in standard & behaviorally focused group homes

4.0

Reduce Consumer Directed Care Plus (CDC+) by 10%

3.3

Eliminate ADT & other services & create a flexible benefit service

113.9

Consolidate durable & consumable medical equip.

0.9

Other reductions

2.6

The elimination of Adult Day Training (ADT) and the other services grouped with it (item 4) represents a 62% cut for these services. The other services include respite care, supported employment, supported living, and companion services. If enacted, this cut will affect 24,000 of the 29,000 people now being served under the waiver. Despite the creation of a flexible benefit service that individuals, parents and guardians can use to continue some of these services, the reality is that there will be only 38% of the money originally devoted to these services left to pay for them.

Putting a cap on Tier One will effectively force some individuals into residential services and the elimination of behavioral assistance will affect some group homes dramatically, threatening their existence.

Action Needed

Contact the Senators and Representatives listed below and tell them (in your own words) why the cuts recommended by APD will devastating. Please thank them for their continued support.

Senators – Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee

First Name

Last Name

District City

District Phone

Tallahassee Phone

Email Address

Don

Gaetz

Destin

gaetz.don.web@...

Mike

Haridopolos

Melbourne

haridopolos.mike.web@...

Joe

Negron

Palm City

negron.joe.web@...

Durell

Peaden, Jr.

Crestview

peaden.durell.web@...

Nan

Rich

Sunrise

rich.nan.web@...

Eleanor

Sobel

Hollywood

sobel.eleanor.web@...

House Members – Health Care Appropriations Committee

First Name

Last Name

District City

District Phone

Tallahassee Phone

Email Address

Holiday

tom.anderson@...

Chestnut

Gainesville

charles.chestnut@...

Carl J.

Domino

Juno Beach

carl.domino@...

Clay

Ford

Pensacola

clay.ford@...

Jim

Frishe

Belleair Bluffs

james.frishe@...

Grimsley

Sebring

denise.grimsley@...

Ed

Homan

Temple Terrace

ed.homan@...

Matt

Hudson

Naples

matt.hudson@...

Nehr

Tarpon Springs

peter.nehr@...

L.

Roberson (K)

Port Charlotte

ken.roberson@...

Yolly

Roberson (Y)

N. Miami Beach

yolly.roberson@...

Elaine

Schwartz

Hollywood

elaine.schwartz@...

Skidmore

Boca Raton

kelly.skidmore@...

Nick

(N)

Fort Myers

nick.thompson@...

Regards,

Ven Sequenzia

President

Autism Society of America

State of Florida Chapter