Revised Budget Reductions Devastating

Revised Oregon DHS: Seniors & People with Disabilities
Budget Cut Summary [PDF]

Revised Oregon DHS: Seniors & People with Disabilities
Budget Cut Detail [PDF]

REVISED BUDGET REDUCTIONS DEVASTATING

Last week Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD), Department of Human Services released a revised 9% Budget Reduction proposal. The Governor has moved forward with the reductions.  SPD was not allowed to propose reductions that would require legislative action to implement like the Fairview Trust, or rate reductions that are controlled by a collective bargaining agreement, or services that are part of a lawsuit like the Staley Settlement. Those restrictions limited what programs could be cut to meet the reduction dollar target.  It is also important to note that many of the reductions being proposed will require the approval of the federal Medicaid agency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). This approval may take up to 90 days. The longer the delay in implementing the reduction the deeper the cut will end up being in order to reach the reduction target.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HIT HARD BY BUDGET REDUCTIONS

Children with developmental disabilities and families are particularly hard hit by the budget reductions in education to children with disabilities and in supports to children and families.

Education:  A $5 million dollar reduction is proposed for the birth to five programs, Early Intervention / Early Childhood Special Education.  This program has already seen a significant reduction in services since 2004. Meeting the federally required Maintenance of Effort (MOE) may be a problem for the Oregon Department of Education.  Additionally, there are reports of reductions in local district Special Education programs and organizational changes that will return students to self contained classrooms / schools.

Department of Human Services:  Office of Developmental Disability Services reductions include:

•    Elimination of Family Support Program
•    Elimination of Personal Care 20 Program(PC 20)
•    Elimination of In-Home Long Term Supports for children
•    Reduce case management ratios to 1-300 from 1-45

Other Department of Human Services Reductions include:

•    Eliminate local Lifespan Respite services
•    Reductions in Employment Related Daycare
•    Reductions in community mental health services
•    Co-pays for the Oregon Health Plan

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS?

•    Contact your legislator NOW!  Tell them how these reductions impact you!! They need to hear.

•    Also share your story with us!  We are collecting stories to illustrate what these services do and what will happen if they are no longer available. We will be sharing them with the media, the public and policymakers. 

       •    Personal Story Form – English [DOC]
       •    Personal Story Form – Spanish [DOC]

•    Attend Town Hall meetings sponsored by your legislator and share your story and the impact of the budget reductions. Set up a personal meeting or send an email to your state representative and state senator to share your story.

•    Write or meet with other policymakers including county commissioners and school board members to help them understand the impacts of these reductions on you and the programs or services you care about.

•    Check the DD Coalition website for tips on working with legislators, county commissioners, school Boards or other policymakers. Download and share the fact sheets that are available.

•    Watch and respond to ALERTS from the GO! Project.  Work with local groups or coalitions in your community organizing to increase awareness of the proposed budget reductions.

REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WE MUST RETAIN OUR VALUES, MAINTAIN OUR VISION, AND NEVER LOSE OUR VOICE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!!