[Vision2020] From the Legislature, Part III

[Art Deco]

Idaho:  The state with the largest population of the heartless.

w.

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 9:40 AM, Shirley Ringo <ringoshirl at moscow.com> wrote:

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> Visionaries:
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> From the Legislature, Part III
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> February 6, 2012
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> Last Friday, members of JFAC heard compelling testimony from service
> providers and individuals who rely on Medicaid.  There has been much
> discussion about these cuts.  Among them:  adults on Medicaid can access
> only emergency dental care; Medicaid will not cover routine vision care nor
> corrective lenses for adults; one-on-one therapy for individuals with
> mental health issues or physical disabilities is much harder to access; for
> audiology benefits, Medicaid will no longer cover screening, preventive, or
> corrective services for adults 21 years of age or older.
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> In an effort to avoid duplicative services, the Department of Health and
> Welfare has been directed to restrict duplicative skill training from being
> provided by a mental health provider when the individual has chosen to
> receive skill training from a developmental disability provider.  Many
> clients suffer from both mental health and developmental disability issues.
> They tell us that this provision, requiring one service but not both, is
> analogous to stipulating that someone who suffers from both diabetes and
> cancer is only allowed to treat one of those diseases.  The training
> required for an individual with developmental disabilities is different
> from that required for an individual with mental health issues.
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> Some individuals with severe disabilities manage their services through a
> “self-determination” program.  Through this program, these individuals
> receive a yearly budget and then contract for the services they need.  This
> year, I have seen the department slash these budgets so that it is nearly
> impossible for some people to obtain services needed to stay in their homes.
> A group of individuals has sued the Department of Health and Welfare over
> this issue.  The court has issued a temporary restraining order to
> prevent the Department from reducing these budgets without first providing
> adequate and court-approved notice and fair hearing.  The statement was
> made in the decision rendered that “irreparable harm to the plaintiffs is
> likely.”
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> It is distressing that when sound decisions are not made, and sound
> practices are not followed, taxpayers foot the bill to defend these
> unfortunate practices in court.
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> Most of these restrictions result from House Bill 260, which was passed
> during the 2011 legislative session.  To me, the cost savings for some of
> these restrictions do not measure up to the harm inflicted upon those in
> need.
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> Representative Shirley Ringo
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> PS   Many important programs have had funding drastically reduced since
> 2009.  In my opinion, we should take a balanced approach to solving this
> problem – a blend of responsible cuts and increase in revenue.  I have
> proposed a variety of plans to enhance revenue without much success in the
> legislature.  If you are interested in a citizens’ initiative to
> eliminate certain tax exemptions, please visit www.SUTinIdaho.org<http://www.sutinidaho.org/>
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-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com
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