February 2006 Joint Budget Committee Actions!
Figure Setting for DD Community Services took place at the Joint Budget Committee on February 23, 2006. As a result of decisions and recommendations by the Joint Budget Committee, children, families and consumers will have the opportunity to receive supports and services across the state from providers and CCBs who received a much needed base rate and Cost Of Living Adjustment relief. This is the most sucessful budget outcome we have ever experienced. The bottom line is Community Programs received a 9.88% increase in total funding for the fiscal year from July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007. The base rate in the Supplemental for the current year is 1.67% on Comprehensive Services - $3,366,982 in total funds. The COLA was approved at 3.25% based on a motion By Bernie Buesher and approved by the JBC at Common Policy setting. Part of the increase is for services to people from waiting lists.
Thanks go to Art Hogling and the Governmental Relations Committee of Alliance (The CCB Organization) for their leadership. And to Alliance members with JBC members from their counties for the relationships they have developed locally. They had critical and strategic communications with them related to Alliance Budget Priorities throughout the briefing, hearing and up to the last minute of Figure Setting. Very special thanks to Gil Romero who worked every angle in getting our needs and priorities to the JBC members in a way they could relate to and especially for never giving up on the Supplemental. And thanks to everyone who worked on the passage of Ref. C. These positive results would not have been possible without the passage of Ref. C and the hard work of the DD Coalition, this is what you all worked for and it had the intended result!!! We also had the support of the Governor and we appreciate his support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. So to each and every one of you , staff, board members and consumers and families thank you for your support for a job well done.
There are really major issues for the DD system right now with new requirements of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. But these base rate adjustments, along with new resources for emergencies, Children's Extensive Services, Family Support and Early Intervention, the system will be stronger in the coming year.
NEW August 2006:
It was great to get the new resources but new services were not passed along due to the CMS/HCPF actions to change the structure of Comprehensive Services in summer of 2006. A small amount was passed along for rate increases but the rates are all changing anyway. Increased costs due to the changes are being realized. Most benefits of the legislature's actions have not been realized by individuals in need of services.
