APD Freeze

[Guest guest]

There are three ways people can get the crisis tool and none of them require placement in a residential facility. “First

priority” crisis category: The applicant is

currently homeless, living in a homeless shelter, or living with relatives in

an unsafe environment. “Second priority” crisis category: The applicant

exhibits behaviors that, without provision of immediate waiver services, may

create a life-threatening situation for the applicant or others, or that may

result in bodily harm to the applicant or others requiring emergency medical

care from a physician. “Third priority” crisis category: The applicant’s

current caregiver is in extreme duress and is no longer able to provide for the

applicant’s health and safety because of illness, injury, or advanced age. The

applicant needs immediate waiver services to remain living with the caregiver

or to relocate to an alternative living arrangement.

 

I sympathize with you guys  who have honestly used the waiver properly and really need it and are now seeing cuts.  I have not seen this letter.  The APD does not communicate with those on the wait list.  But sounds like you can't get new or additional services, but you can still get some service?  If that's the case you can still get something.  Something is better than nothing.

Please note,  many of the kids on the wait list are in danger of being institutionalized as well.  Just because we haven't gotten services doesn't mean we don't need them.  We've been on the list now for about ten years and things are just as tough all around.  When your kids were on the list it was based on a number system, and when they finally got around to your number (which of course took years) you got service.  The number system is gone, now the only way to get service is through death of a caretaker or loss of a home.  As a single parent, that is frightening to me to know that my child will not get anything until I die and at that point I won't be around to help her to make sure she does get service.  

This sucks all around.

 

I have a copy of the announcement if anyone wants it. Those that meet crisis criteria will still be allowed changes, but I am pretty sure those will slip through the cracks. Without the waiver my son would be institutionalized and it is still a fear I face everyday. Any cut in services would mean him being removed from the home as his behaviors are that severe. They say there is a $170 million budget deficit for the waiver alone and I have to wonder how. None of the cuts will go to people on the waitlist

 

We received a call today from our support coordinator to let us know that there will be no increase in services allowed for anyone currently on medwaiver as all costplans etc. have been frozen. This happened Friday and the support coordinators were notified today.

 

I'm sure this is of little concern to those of you on the waitlist and I do sympathize with you all believe me. Do bear in mind that some of us waited 11 years with no hope whatsoever for any services in this state before the original medwaiver enrollment. We have a very medically involved, low functioning adult child with a dx of Down Syndrome and Autism. Both her dad and I have major medical issues as well. We could never have survived without the help we've received thru medwaiver and the prospect of these upcoming bidget cuts is certainly frightening for everyone.

 

Sherry

[Guest guest]

THIS IS THE LAST POST ON THIS TOPIC. My son is on the mini-waiver (tier 4) after being wait-listed for five years, I don't abuse it, and I don't feel guilty, just profoundly grateful. I think I've got lots of company. I hope the wait list gets served soon and I feel optimistic that the just-filed lawsuit may bring that about for many folks.