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

2. 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

3. 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”

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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.