The Washington State 2010 Supplemental Budget has been released after a long, extended session. It now remains for our governor to sign it or send it back.
Readers from other states are invited to submit lists for their own states similar to the one, below, for Washington. It could give us all a sense of being part of something bigger and some orientation related to how our states compare.
Washington State:
State run-residential habilitation centers (RHCs)
Bad news:
~ 1% across-the- board cut over and above deep cuts sustained last year.
Good news:
~ only a 1% across-the-board cut and not the closure of 2 facilities as had been proposed at the onset of the session.
Neutral news:
~Funding is provided to the Office of Financial Management to conduct assessment of individual resident needs at each residential habilitation center. The reason this is neutral news is that RHC resident-centered, minutely detailed, needs assessments are done routinely as required by Federal law.
In home services:
Bad news: net 300,000 hour cut additional home care service cuts:
Good news: this represented a partial restoration; (It is too complicated for this list)
Bad news: $.13/hour decrease in agency in-home provider pay (about $52/year).
Good news: ~Authorization to add some people to the home and community based waiver services program
Bad news: elimination of the Home Care Quality Authority
Out-of-home "community" placement
Good News:
~ Funding for Expanded "community" residential services with faster phase-in for those listed in this biennium's budget.
Staffing, equipment and service
Bad news:
~continued freeze on state hiring, salaries, equipment and personal services contracts.
~requires layoffs and compensation of exempt and Washington Management Services employees (plan has not been developed.) ("Washington Management Services" is on the order of a union for management.)
Work & day programs
Bad news:
~Elimination of County funding for Jobs 21 partnership
Good News
~Additional funds for employment and day programs for students with dd leaving high school
~See next blog entry for unrelated new funding for employment & day programs for these youth.
Dental and healthcare services:
Bad News:
~ The Federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) budget reduces payment for dental services.
Good News:
~Other services were not cut.
How do you anticipate these changes affecting you or your loved ones, students, patients or clients?
Thanks in advance for sharing!
Saskia
Saturday, April 17, 2010
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