How the budget and Budget Repair Bill Supports for People w/ Disabilities SC Date

Mixed news for Medicaid $594M new funding for Medicaid Budget Currently no across the board rate cuts No plans for reductions in optional services (yet) Such as Personal Care and Prescription Drugs No plans to change eligibility requirements (yet) The same number of children’s waiver slots will continue

Concerns about Medicaid $500 million in unspecified cuts/savings from Medicaid (and about $750 to $800 million federal match), relative to a cost-to-continue budget $15 million cut from SeniorCare $96 million from centralizing, automating, and privatizing the “income maintenance”

Concerns about the Medicaid Decision Making Process Potentially limits public input about proposed Medicaid changes If Wisconsin’s proposed changes aren’t federally approved, possibly up to 70,000 people may lose coverage on BadgerCare (133% over FPL)

Changes DHS is Considering Changing standards for state residence Revising retroactive eligibility & eliminating grace periods Allowing providers to deny care or services if an enrollee is unable to share costs Establishing different benefits or packages for different recipients Requiring enrollees to participate in managed care Restricting or eliminating presumptive eligibility Restricting eligibility of non-citizens More frequent review of eligibility

Family Care A freeze on long term care programs like Family Care and IRIS means creating new waiting lists for services in counties that ended waiting lists years ago.

Budget Bill’s Effects on Family Care Family Care, Partnership, PACE and IRIS are all frozen at the number of participants in the program in June 2011 Enrolled participants can still switch between programs ADRCs planned to be statewide June 30, 2013 The future of Family Care after results of Family Care audit are available Family Care/IRIS independent Advocacy/Ombudsman Program continued with no cuts

Senior Care People enrolled in Senior Care will also be required to enroll in Medicare Part D The effects could vary based on individual situations

Education Children with disabilities are general education students first; large cuts to education will result in big changes for all students regardless of disability

Wisconsin 2011-2013 Budget Summary Bad for public schools: Average cut of $750 per child could mean 5,000 teachers lose their jobs – crowded classes and closed schools. K-12 Schools $834 M Childcare $104M

Education No increase for special education funding Resulting in reduction in reimbursement rates for Special Education services (rate will change from 27.9%-24.5%) $40 Million increase in choice, charter and open enrollment options. No income requirements Students with disabilities don’t typically benefit from these options. State funding that supplements federal Head Start in Wisconsin would continue, but with a 10% cut, resulting in $6.26M per year.

Mental Health Most Mental Health Services and Supports are county funded Decrease in funding to counties by $36.5M could puts local mental health programming at significant risk CSP, CCS, and CRS

Public Transportation $350 Million increase for highways/roads Reducing transportation aids by 10% will result in big cuts in accessible transportation for those who rely on it Loss of $44 million in federal transport aid Concerns about centralizing resources for MA transportation

Wisconsin 2011-2013 Budget Summary Who receives tax cuts? Corporations $115 million Health Savings Accts. $ 49 million Investors $ 36 million TOTAL $200 million Who else benefits? Road builders $410 million Private schools

Other impacts $20/person/month cut in maximum Wisconsin Works payment to low income families Income maintenance programs (any income-based public funding) will no longer be at the county level BadgerCare participants will likely have higher co-pays and higher premiums 133% of FPL Eliminates all state family planning funding This is the main access to health care for many low-income women with disabilities Eliminates Wisconsin Quality Homecare Authority

Our Recommendations Reduce Administrative costs in Family Care/IRIS/Partnership Reduce unnecessary institutionalization Streamline program eligibility for children's services Increase investment in recovery oriented consumer run services and peer support Better coordination between DHS, DPI, DVR for transition age youth Increase use of self-directed services and supports Consider revenue generators – a balanced approach.

What you can do to make your voice heard Tell your State Legislators that what you think Write letters to the editor about your concerns 2. Talk to your friends, family and co-workers. 3. Join public actions you support.