News
Thanks to Dan Johnson for sharing this info with us!
Disability Integration Update
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V
July 2011
Hello and welcome to the first edition of the FEMA Region V Disability Integration Update. This publication will be a monthly compilation of news, events and resources that affect disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities by and for people with disabilities or access and functional needs. I hope that this publication will not only serve as a source of up-to-date information for FEMA Region V partners interested in inclusive emergency management, but will also serve as a vehicle for you to share your promising practices, events and information as well. I look forward to hearing from you regarding the value of this publication and what types of information you would like to see in future versions. My contact information is listed at the bottom of this email.
Please feel free to forward this update to anyone that may be interested.
Comments, questions and requests for alternate formats can be directed to Jessica Mitchell, Region V Disability Integration Specialist, at 312-408-5499 or Jessica.mitchell@dhs.gov.
Table of Contents
Stay Safe When its Hot Outside
Planning for the Whole Community Video
Integrating Disability Access and Functional Needs Efforts in Grant Applications
Upcoming Events
Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community
National Preparedness Month 2011
Resources
DOJ Best Practices Toolkit
DOJ Service Animal Document
World Health Organization: World Report on Disability
Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
Feeling Safe Being Safe
HHS Toolkit of Public Health Emergency Text Messages
Stay Safe When its Hot Outside
Know what to do during a heat emergency. Many parts of FEMA Region V have experienced very high temperatures this summer, and will be experiencing them again in the next few days. The combination of high temperatures and high humidity creates a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely.
To avoid heat illnesses, drink plenty of fluids, spend time in air-conditioned locations, stay out of direct sunlight, limit strenuous physical activities and check on relatives, friends and neighbors. Please visit FEMAs Are You Ready- Extreme Heat web page- http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/heat.shtm for more information and tips.
Planning for the Whole Community Video
On June 22, 2011 St. Petersburg College's National Terrorism Preparedness Institute (NTPI), a division of the Center for Public Safety Innovation, hosted a Webcast/Satellite Broadcast on the FEMA/DHS initiative, Planning for the Whole Community. This broadcast can be viewed by visiting the http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/Broadcasts/LRBroadcast0611.aspx" rel="noreferrer noopener">Live Response website. The program highlighted FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) and explained the importance of including people with access and functional needs in emergency and disaster planning. Guests included Marcie Roth, Director of the ODIC; Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation; and June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant/Associate Director at Western University in California.
Integrating Disability Access and Functional Needs Efforts in Grant Applications
This Information Bulletin (IB) emphasizes the importance and heightens the awareness of integrating those with disabilities, and others with access and functional needs into local and state government homeland security and emergency preparedness programs. Last year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As required by the ADA, Homeland security and emergency managers at all levels are to plan for the whole community by integrating and coordinating emergency preparedness, response and recovery for children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. The Grant Programs Directorate supports FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) efforts in this area. Please visit the following link in order to access the information Bulletin (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info361.pdf).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community
On September 12-14, 2011 join FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination for Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community. This 3 day training conference will focus on building partnerships and sharing promising practices. The application period to attend or present at the conference is open from July 8, 2011 to August 1, 2011. Applications submitted after this date may still be considered depending on availability. See the conference application for more details. Application (PDF 210KB, TXT 21KB)
National Preparedness Month 2011
This September marks the 8th annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and the Ad Council. The purpose of National Preparedness month is to encourage individuals, businesses and communities to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. This September will serve as an especially potent reminder of the need for preparedness because it is also the 10th anniversary of the September 11th, 2011 terrorist attacks. This years theme is This September: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.
Visit www.ready.gov and click on the National Preparedness Month banner to become a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member. Members are able to share preparedness information and find events and volunteer opportunities where they can spread the preparedness message. There is also information about how to create a preparedness event of your own.
RESOURCES
The following links are provided for reference purposes only. FEMA does not endorse any non-Federal Government websites, companies or applications.
Department of Justice Best Practices Toolkit
July 26, 2011 is the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To mark this anniversary, go online and learn more about how the ADA applies to emergency management practices. The Department of Justice publishes a toolkit for state and local governments on how to comply with the ADA. Chapter 7 of this toolkit focuses on emergency management activities. Visit this link (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm) to learn more.
Technical Assistance Document on Service Animals
A new technical assistance document on the http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">2010 revised ADA requirements for service animals has been added to ADA.gov and is now available. The document is http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">available in HTML and http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">in PDF.
World Health Organization (WHO): World Report on Disability
The first ever World report on disability, produced jointly by WHO and the World Bank, suggests that more than a billion people in the world today experience disability. For more information and to download the report, visit the World Health Organization's website (http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/index.html).
Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
To provide planning guidance to local emergency management and shelter planners, the State of Texas FNSS Integration Committee has created a toolkit that can be incorporated into existing shelter plansto meet access and functional needs in general population shelters. This toolkit provides guidance to assist planners in understanding the requirements related to sheltering children and adults with and without disabilities who have access and functional needs in the state of Texas.FNSS and provided guidance are designed to assist in planning and resource allocation for sheltering operations whether government, Non Governmental Organization (NGO), faith- or private-based to meet the access and functional needs of children and adults. This toolkit is designed to provide first responders and emergency management professionals basic information about interacting with Texans with disabilities during a disaster and to identify disability leaders in the local communities.Questions or comments regarding the State of Texas Functional Needs Support Services Tool Kit can be sent to TDEM.FNSS@txdps.state.tx.us
Feeling Safe Being Safe
The Feeling Safe Being Safe program, developed by the State of California Department of Developmental Services Consumer Advisory Committee includes tools developed by people with disabilities for the whole community. Resources include a workbook that will help individuals to make an emergency plan, a video that demonstrates how to complete the workbook and put together a home emergency kit, and a printable magnet to post important emergency contact information on the refrigerator for first responders. More information can be found at http://www.dds.ca.gov/consumercorner/EmergencyPreparedness.cfm
HHS Toolkit of Public Health Emergency Text Messages Now Available
A new toolkit of prepared cell phone text messages advising people how to protect their health after a disaster is available now through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cell phone usage and texting is widespread in the United States and many communities have text alert systems for emergency notification. During a disaster, the state or local agency can download and distribute the new public health messages using their existing cell-phone emergency message distribution systems. Community residents should contact their local emergency management agency to learn whether text message alerts are available in their community and to register if available. These messages support state and local emergency managers in disaster response and are available online at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Jessica Mitchell
Regional Disability Integration Specialist
FEMA Region V
536 S. Clark St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 606065
312-408-5499 (office)
312-576-2624 (cell)
FEMA's mission is to suport our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Still have an opportunity to let Governor Walker Know How You Feel About Caps on Long Term Care Services
By Barbara Katz, 2011-06-21
Help participate in a state advocacy efforts that have a *direct
impact* on our loved ones! Join Wisconsin Families Forward in a
statewide action to call & email Gov Walker to VETO the Cap on
longterm community care programs for our loved ones with disabilities!
Call, email, fax Governor Scott Walker: email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
phone: (608) 266-1212
fax: 608-267-8983
It's not over until the budget is signed--so keep calling & emailing
Gov Walker. If you've called or emailed once, call/email again!
Tell Gov Walker: "VETO the cap on longterm care bc it's fiscally &
morally responsible and this is NOT how we treat Wisconsin's most
vulnerable!"
Friday's Journal Sentinel Editorial, A Cap Is Not A Fix, calls on
Governor Walker to veto the cap.
(http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/124039264.html)
It's important that the Governor hear from hundreds of people asking
him to veto the cap, especially those families and consumers who rely
on community supports or are desperately waiting for help. Your calls
& emails will make it clear that there is broad opposition to the cap
& an urgent need for community services and supports.
As County Exec and as a state legislator, Governor Walker was a strong
supporter of community services, so let's give him another chance to
do he right thing: "If I did nothing else, I wanted to make sure
Milwaukee County expanded Family Care to people under the age of 60
with developmental and physical disabilities, so that they in turn
could see that waiting list eliminated like we did for older adults in
this community." County Executive Scott Walker, August 2010
Spread the word & thank you for linking arms for WI children & adults
with disabilities!! Soooooo many lives will be impacted by this: they
are our neighbors, they are US!
Governor Scott Walker: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov (608) 266-1212
As the public comment period draws to a close on a federal proposal detailing what qualifies as community-based housing for people with disabilities, the issue is sparking controversy.
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/06/14/community-living-divisive...
What do you think?
Here's a pretty good site full of independent living skill building resources! Most are free!
Casey Life Skills Website full of Resources
I hope you find them helpful!
Cheryl
As you know, the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee voted this week to freeze community long-term care funding in Wisconsin starting June 30, 2011. We have shared compelling data about cost-effectiveness, cost comparisons and people forced into nursing homes. Nothing seems to be getting through. But we need to keep telling our stories!
June 30, 2011 is now Looming for Families
A statewide group of concerned families - Wisconsin Families Forward - has formed to specifically share the stories of young people with disabilities and their families who now face uncertainty and terrifying choices after June 30.
The Timing is URGENT. Survey Responses needed by Friday, June 3.
SURVEY TO SHARE
Please share this survey with your networks, groups of families and parent associations particularly parents of young children and parents of young adults in transition or waiting for a life in the community.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wilongtermcarecap
STORIES NEEDED
Also, encourage families to send their personal stories with photo and complete address to this address Lisa.Pugh@drwi.org . Stories will be shared with legislators. When writing their story, here questions families should answer:
Knowing your son/daughter as you do now, and thinking of the type of supports he/she may need to live life as a successful adult as YOU envision what will it mean if there is NOTHING by way of help? While our kids are young they have some place to go during the day for a majority of their time a meaningful place with learning and friends called SCHOOL. What happens when there is no school to go to anymore? If your young adult is waiting for support now and no longer goes to school what concerns do you have that keep you up at night? Will your son/daughter likely need some care/supervision when they leave school? Would she likely need supports on a job? Would he need transportation help (other than you) to get around in the community? What are some of her interests that in your dreams as a parent you think with help could lead toward a job and contribution in the community? What type of public support might you need to make that happen? What would it mean for you and the rest of your family if that helping hand to reach these dreams does not exist in any way? How would affect your health, your finances, your ability to live?
We need to make this personal. Legislators need to understand our lives.
Please send in your story.
Sent on behalf of:
Wisconsin Families Forward
For the Future of People with Disabilities
SEND STORIES WITH PHOTO AND COMPLETE ADDRESS TO: Lisa.Pugh@drwi.org
If you have not seen this, here's a link to the handbook "Opening Doors to Self-Determination Skills - Planning for Life After High School".
http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/tranopndrs-self-determination.pdf
There is part of the "Opening Doors" series that also includes employment and post-secondary education and training. You can access these through the WSTI.org site, Transition Topics A-Z, http://www.wsti.org/transition_topics.php
Resources, they're everywhere!
Have a wonderful day!
Cheryl
Here's a link to "The Riot" where you will find the "Jabbers" Games! Have fun!
Jabbers games are a fun way to get people talking about what they want in their lives and how to get it. Each Jabbers game comes with a game card and instructions. And they are FREE! Get all three! (Click on the links to download the PDF.)
Who can play? Jabbers games are meant for self-advocates, but anyone can play. Parents, family, friends, staff can join in, too. Its easy! As few as twopeople can play, but this game works best in a group of three or more.
The Center for Self-Determination and Tom Nerney comment on the CMS proposed rules for the Home and Community Based Waiver and encourage folks to review the proposed changes from CMS, as well as Tom Nerneys comments, and submit their input directly to CMS.
Posted at the request of the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.
The proposed caps to Family Care/IRIS in the governor's budget would affect every youth in transition in the state who needs long-term care services as an adult, resulting in re-establishment of county waiting lists for supports. Here is what families, school staff, youth and providers can do.
Beth Swedeen
------------
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FAR AND WIDE!
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MUST HEAR
HOW THE FREEZE ON LONG TERM CARE WILL IMPACT PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICTS
THIS MESSAGE INCLUDES NEW INFORMATION<http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/public-policy> YOU CAN USE TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF THE FREEZE ON LONG TERM CARE!
The Governors budget includes a proposal to cap all community-based long term care programs for the first time since Family Care was introduced in the budget in 1999. This cap includes Family Care, IRIS, Partnership, and the Childrens Medicaid Waiver programs. There will also be no new slots for legacy waivers like COP and CIP. This giant step backward in our states long term care system means we will see an increase in nursing home and other institutional admissions and growing waiting lists notably in some counties that have not had waiting lists in years. Some people on current wait lists are receiving no services at all and Medicaid card services do not provide enough support to keep people out of costly and unnecessary institutions. Some will likely go without services for the next two years. Institutional care can cost more than twice what community living costs. A long term care cap is not a wise investment for anyone, especially taxpayers. The Joint Finance Committee will be voting on the long term care cap very soon!
We need the Joint Finance Committee to take action NOW to lift the proposed cap
and re-establish the right to long term care for people with disabilities and older adults in Wisconsin.
USE THESE NEW LEGISLATOR PROFILES<http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/public-policy> ON LONG TERM CARE WAIT LISTS: http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/public-policy
Go to this link to find a profile for each Joint Finance Committee member which details how many people, including adults and children with disabilities and older adults in their district are currently receiving and waiting for long term care services.
ASK JOINT FINANCE MEMBERS IF THEY KNOW HOW MANY WILL NOW WAIT IN THEIR DISTRICT:
http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/public-policy
In some counties, waiting lists for adults are in the thousands, but those individuals had a hope before the proposed cap that they would soon receive supports that would allow them to maintain their independence and remain in their homes. In some counties there are hundreds of children with significant disabilities who continue to wait some of them for several years. The cap means there is no end in sight for waiting. See the attached document Impact of Proposed Cap on Long Term Care Enrollment to see how this cap breaks a promise and not only threatens to result in individuals being forced into nursing homes and other institutions, but creates a hardship for families and new graduates with disabilities who will leave high school and now face a wait list with no services to secure and retain gainful employment or receive community-based supports. We continue to gather petition signatures to lift the cap. Sign here:http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepthecommunitypromise/
YOUR MESSAGE TO JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IS CRITICAL AND SIMPLE:
Lift the proposed cap and re-establish the right to long term care for people with disabilities and older adults in Wisconsin. Our long-term care system, which includes Family Care, has improved access to supports in the community and offers people with disabilities and older adults choices that meet their needs. Long-term care in the community is FAR less expensive than institutional care.
CONTACT ANY AND ALL JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOW AND TELL THEM WHY YOU THINK THE CAP SHOULD BE LIFTED.
Please also copy your message to Lisa Pugh atLisa.Pugh@drwi.org<mailto:Lisa.Pugh@drwi.org>
The members of the Joint Finance Committee are listed below:
Co-Chair, Senator Alberta Darling, Phone:(608) 266-5830; District:
(262) 250-9440; E-mail:Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Luther Olsen, Phone:(608) 266-0751; E-mail:
Sen.Olsen@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Olsen@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Sheila Harsdorf, Phone:(608) 266-7745; E-mail:
Sen.Harsdorf@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Harsdorf@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Joe Leibham, Phone:(608) 266-2056or(888) 295-8750; District:
(920) 457-7367; E-mail:Sen.Leibham@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Leibham@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Glenn Grothman, Phone:(608) 266-7513or(800) 662-1227;
District:(262) 338-8061; E-mail:Sen.Grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Randy Hopper, Phone:(608) 266-5300, E-mail:
Sen.Hopper@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Hopper@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Lena Taylor, Phone:(608) 266-5810; District:(414) 342-7176;
E-mail:Sen.Taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Senator Robert Jauch, Phone:(608) 266-3510or(800) 469-6562; District:
(715) 364-2438; E-mail:Sen.Jauch@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Sen.Jauch@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Co-Chair, Representative Robin Vos, Phone:(608) 266-9171or(888) 534-0063; E-mail:Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative Dan Meyer, Phone:(608) 266-7141or(888) 534-0034;
E-mail:Rep.Meyer@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Meyer@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative Daniel LeMahieu, Phone:(608) 266-9175or(888) 534-0059;
District:(920) 528-8679; E-mail:Rep.LeMahieu@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.LeMahieu@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative John Nygren, Phone:(608) 266-2343, E-mail:
Rep.Nygren@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Nygren@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative Patricia Strachota, Phone:(608) 264-8486; District:
(262) 338-3790; E-mail:Rep.Strachota@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Strachota@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative Joel Kleefisch, Phone:(608) 266-8551, E-mail:
Rep.Kleefisch@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Kleefisch@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative Tamara Grigsby, Phone:(608) 266-0645or(888) 534-0018;
District:(414) 873-5557; E-mail:Rep.Grigsby@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Grigsby@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Representative Jennifer Shilling, Phone:(608) 266-5780or(888) 534-0095; District:(608) 788-9854; E-mail:
Rep.Shilling@legis.wisconsin.gov<mailto:Rep.Shilling@legis.wisconsin.gov>
Survival Coalition Family Care Audit Statement
Family Care serves state's elderly, disabled
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/120327199.html
BySteve Schultzeof the Journal Sentinel
April 20, 2011|(44) Comments
When Jeanne Fehr got word after a 10-year wait that her 31-year-old daughter, Nealy Rothe, would likely get state funding to live on her own, Fehr was thrilled.
Rothe, who has Down syndrome, works a part-time job but would need help managing money, taking the bus and with some chores if she were to move from the Milwaukee home she shares with her mother. Rothe said she is looking forward to having her own apartment.
But that excitement was tempered with Gov. Scott Walker's proposed freeze on enrollments in the state's Family Care program, which helps pay for community care of elderly and disabled people.
Unless Rothe's name comes off the waiting list soon or state lawmakers rewrite Walker's Family Care freeze, Rothe and Fehr might have to wait longer.
"I'm not going to live forever," said Fehr, 63, expressing a common fear parents of disabled children face as they get older. Who will care for Rothe when Fehr is no longer able?
Fehr said she was told by Milwaukee County officials there was a chance her daughter's name could come up for a spot in Family Care before July, when the Legislature is slated to approve a 2011-'13 budget.
Even so, that leaves many other families - including those with elderly members who were counting on Family Care once most of their money was gone - facing similar predicaments. New candidates could be enrolled only when someone else leaves the program, under the governor's proposal.
Program beneficiaries
Family Care provides community services to some 35,000 frail elderly and those with physical or developmental disabilities in the state, including almost 8,000 in Milwaukee County. It runs on a yearly budget of some $1.4 billion statewide and $260 million in Milwaukee County, with about 60% of the money from the federal government and the rest from the state. The program started in 1998 with five counties and has since expanded to 48.
The average cost for Family Care services is about $2,800 a month per client in Milwaukee County.
It is one of a cluster of social programs threatened in Walker's budget and part of his solution to a $3.5 billion state budget shortfall.
In Milwaukee County, the impact could be serious, though the governor has not identified how $500 million in proposed cuts in Medical Assistance would be parceled out, said Geri Lyday, interim director of the county's Department of Health and Human Services. Services potentially affected include outpatient mental health, community health, delinquency services and alcohol and drug treatment, she said.
While those trims are unknown for now, the Family Care freeze poses serious problems, county officials said.
"I just can't say how much we are disappointed about the cap on Family Care," Lyday said.
Walker's budget cuts funding for the program by more than $284 million over the next two years.
The governor wanted the freeze pending results of a state audit on the Family Care program, Kitty Rhoades, deputy secretary for the state Department of Health Services, said Wednesday. The department wants data on cost effectiveness, quality of care and the "fiscal sustainability" of the program, Rhoades said.
"Until we have those questions answered it doesn't seem logical to continue bringing people into the program," she said.
Rhoades described the freeze as temporary, but said it wouldn't be lifted until any problems raised in a forthcoming state audit are addressed. A report on the program will be issued by the end of the month, said State Auditor Janice Mueller.
"We put the freeze in (the budget) for two years because that's the worst-case scenario," Rhoades said. "Once the audit comes out and everything's coming up roses, then the caps don't need to be there," she said.
Rhoades said questions had been raised about program costs and effectiveness.
'No safety net'
County officials had been counseling frail elderly clients to spend down to their last $2,000 - the level for eligibility for Family Care services - in the expectation that the state would then cover a significant portion of costs for assisted living or adult group home care. That advice could prove harmful, said Stephanie Sue Stein, who heads the county Department on Aging.
Some seniors in assisted living or adult family day care could find themselves out of luck due to the proposed freeze, Stein said. People with disabilities, like Rothe, would have to wait longer to enter the program.
"There are going to be dire consequences," Stein told county supervisors. "There is no safety net left." Her department has been working to place as many seniors as possible in Family Care before the freeze is imposed, she said.
"It's a really bad thing to do to people," Stein said of the proposed freeze. Hundreds of seniors planning on Family Care "really have no recourse" besides nursing home care, at a cost of $5,000 a month or more, she said - nearly double what the state pays a month for seniors in Family Care.
Stein said the county also should expect lawsuits over denial of Family Care.
With a freeze, the county would re-establish a waiting list for seniors, who now apply for the program at the rate of about 150 a month. About 90 leave the program monthly, due mostly to death, which suggests a Family Care waiting list would grow by about 60 people a month.
In Milwaukee County, more than 2,000 people with disabilities are on waiting lists for Family Care, about one quarter of the statewide total. The state has had no waiting list for seniors in the program since 2002.
Among other changes in the governor's budget, the state SeniorCare program for prescription drug coverage gets downgraded, which would likely shift people into more expensive Medicare Part D coverage. It would mean $35 higher monthly costs and larger co-pays.
(Thanks to our friends at BPDD for sharing this article with us)