Community Living for
People with Developmental Disabilities
SB 6780
By November 1, 2010, DSHS is to submit a plan that:
Establishes additional community State Operated Living Alternatives, staffed by
many of the state employees from the RHCs, providing opportunities for staffclient
relationships from the RHCs to continue in the community;
Assesses and plans for each individual’s rights, health and safety, providing
appropriate support and services in a stable community setting;
Transitions all individuals who live in an RHC into their choice of either state
operated or private community supported living alternatives by December 2014;
Prepares clients and their families for transition to the community, including
visits to community living settings;
Assures that individuals moving from an RHC will be offered appropriate waiver
services and continue to be eligible for funding that meets their assessed need;
Starts transitioning portions of two RHCs, 1 on the east side and 1 on the west
side, to regional resources for crisis beds and respite as well as maintaining a
small number of skilled nursing beds to allow current RHC clients needing 24
hour skilled nursing to age in place.
Describes by December, 2012, how to:
• Close Francis Haddon Morgan Center
• Close portions of other RHC’s
• Establish 2 community state staffed resource teams
By December, 2014:
• Close remaining RHC’s
• Maintain or establish a small number of nursing facility beds
• Report to the Legislature regularly on the progress of implementation and
satisfaction levels of individuals transferred to the community
Prepared by The Arc of Washington State
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Olympia Insider
January 22, 2010
It’s a flash flood of legislation.
Things are moving fast in this very short session. Many bills have been introduced, already had a hearing, and been passed out of their committee, waiting for a floor vote to move to the other chamber and go through the process again. Some of the bills are wonderful ideas such as changing language in state law (HB 2490) and recommending Congress do the same (HJM 4024) to eliminate the “R” word. HB 2801 expands tools, information & strategies for anti-harassment in public schools. There are other bills protecting vulnerable students and vulnerable adults as well as protecting individuals with developmental disabilities from becoming homeless when they leave a Residential Habilitation Center.
Some bills are a bad idea such as HB 2955, which would require a means test (income limit) for families receiving services through the Individual and Family Services program. This program provides respite to families caring for a loved one with developmental disabilities at home. It also helps pay for some therapies and in-home modifications. Means testing has been tried before. It saves no money and uses valuable case manager time to collect and evaluate family incomes.
It is also inequitable for families who choose to care for their child at home to be means tested for this small amount of support when families who choose the state Residential Habilitation Centers for their child (at a much higher cost to the state) are not means tested. You can help stop this bill by calling committee members now. Check out the Action Alert at http://capwiz.com/arcwa/state/main/?state=WA
The deficit is still a huge question.
We still are facing at least a $2.6 billion deficit. The Economic & Revenue Forecast Council will meet on February 12th for the next revenue review. The House and the Senate budget staff are working hard to decide which recommendations from the Governor’s budget proposals they will want to keep and what other ideas they may want to include instead. Keep posted for their budget proposals. There are still many areas in the DD budget that are proposed to be eliminated or reduced by the Governor that it is important to advocate to protect now so they don’t end up in the final budget. To see a more comprehensive chart of the Governor’s proposed budget go to http://www.arcwa.org/state_budget.htm
Advocacy Days are here again!
The Thirtieth Annual Disabilities Legislative Reception was held last Wednesday evening in Olympia. The Autism Society of Washington held their annual Autism Awareness Day earlier that day with a record attendance. Several legislators spoke about their support for individuals and families with autism, families shared personal stories and individuals on the autism spectrum rallied the crowd as well. A brief summary of current developmental disability issues was also well attended that afternoon with many new faces coming to Olympia that day. Individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and their providers wanted their concerns to be heard.
This Wednesday starts the 2010 Advocacy Days. Last year blue scarves were provided at the Independent Living Day rally to advocates for developmental disability services in the community. If you still have your scarf, you are encouraged to wear it each time you come to Olympia. If you don’t yet have one try to wear blue colors. Last year we only provided blue scarves to advocates, this Wednesday we will be providing a blue scarf with a “Develop Abilities” button on it to each legislator. Come to Advocacy Day on Wednesday and help us distribute them to legislators.
Many community advocacy groups have pins or buttons that represent their voice. You can help deliver those to all legislators with your personal message and ask them to add the button or pin to their blue scarf. This is a great way to show unity and help legislators recognize the need. To learn more about Advocacy Day go to http://www.arcwa.org/advocacy_day.htm
Make sure to come to the rally on the February 24th Advocacy Day where we will be providing more blue scarves to advocates (there is no cost to you). Last year we had more than 700 rally participants in blue scarves on the capitol steps. This year we want to reach 1,000 participants so plan ahead!
What can you do to help?
The Arc of Washington State has an Action E-list at http://capwiz.com/arcwa/state/main/?state=WA you can sign up for that makes it very easy for you to let your legislators know what is most important to you. When bills or budget items need emails or phone calls targeted to your legislator you will receive an email with basic information about the issues and a suggested email you can revise or just send that will go directly to your legislator from you with just the click of a button.
You can also participate in this process by letters, phone, email and personal visits to ask legislators to make sure that bills or budget items you are most concerned about get heard.
Don’t forget to check the Olympia Insider website (www.olympiainsider.org) every week for new podcasts, and to subscribe using iTunes or another RSS tool in order to be notified automatically when something new is posted. Remember you can download these to your video-enabled handheld devices!
Advocacy Day needs you there because change is made by those who show up!
Diana Stadden
Arc of Washington State
Policy and Advocacy Coordinator
We All Belong Newsletter
We All Belong
Reforming Services for People with Developmental Disabilities
Community - Based Residential Services
The Governor's proposed 2010 budget includes funding to grow the Expanded Community Services and Community Protection Services programs.
Keep Listening and Sharing
As the legislative session heats up and difficult descision are being made, we will continue to focus on the details proposed in the Governor's Budget that will build up community services and move people from the large state DD facilities.
You can help ensure that the voices for supports in our communities are heard loud and clear.
Share this email with people you know this matters to by clicking the link below.
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Learn More
Read the RHC Recommendation
Community Transit Public Hearing
Agency Proposes 25-Cent Fare Increase, Service Cuts and Suspensions
January 8, 2010
Ongoing recession impacts drive need to close $11 million budget gap
Service cuts and suspensions
Nearly all of Community Transit’s 64 local and commuter bus routes would be affected in an effort to eliminate service that is duplicated by other providers, streamline routes and make existing service more efficient. The agency is also proposing to suspend all service on Sundays and major holidays, including DART paratransit service and Swift bus rapid transit. By closing its base on these lower ridership days, the agency achieves 47 percent of the proposal’s savings with only 35 percent of total service hours cut and an impact to fewer customers.
Combined, these proposed service cuts and suspensions would save the agency $5 million in the second half of 2010 and $11 million in 2011.
Fare increase
The proposed fare increase would raise local bus and DART fares by 25 cents for all fare categories: youth, adult and reduced fare (senior/disabled/Medicare). Even with the proposed fare increase, Community Transit’s local bus fares would be comparable with other local transit fares in the region. The proposed fare increase would raise about $250,000 in the second half of 2010 and $500,000 in 2011.
“This is an unavoidable situation and we’ve held off as long as we could, but like most other businesses we’ve been hard hit by the economy and it’s now impacting our customers,” said CEO Joyce Eleanor.
Route-by-route details of the proposal are posted online and available on buses. A video featuring CEO Joyce Eleanor that outlines the agency’s economic situation and provides information on the proposals also is posted on the agency’s website, as well as on YouTube and Facebook.
“I realize that some people depend on Sunday and holiday transit service, but without this move we would need to propose deeper cuts to service every other day when even more people would be impacted,” said Eleanor. “This is a service suspension and we will make these cuts the highest priority to be restored as soon as the agency can financially do so.”
Eleanor and staff will host five community meetings throughout January at which details of the proposal will be shared, and riders and members of the public can ask questions.
On Feb. 4, the Community Transit Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its regular monthly meeting, at 3 p.m. in the Community Transit Board Room,
Community Transit Cuts
Dear Bridge
These service cuts eliminate Sunday transportation - to Church, Family, and Community social activities for many of the people we serve.
See full text from the Community Transit web site below... or go to http://www.communitytransit.org/News/New.cfm?id=1368
If you find this as unacceptable as we do please attend the public hearing. On Feb. 4, the Community Transit Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its regular monthly meeting, at 3 p.m. in the Community Transit Board Room, 7100 Hardeson Road , Everett
If you would like to coordinate, collaborate and combine our voices please call or e-mail reply to me.
“When you give a banquet or reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind.
Then you will be blessed” Luke 14: 13-14
Best Regards & Prayers for those we are blessed to Serve,
Jack Staudt
Executive Director - Bridge Disability Ministries - www.bridgemin.org
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Phone calls needed now on HB 2955!
| Phone calls needed now on HB 2955! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Protect the Individual and Family Services program | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phone calls are needed now through Wednesday, January 27th to House Human Services committee members. The committee will consider House Bill 2955 on Wednesday morning. The bill would require a means test (income limit) for families using the Individual and Family Services program. Individual and Family Services is a low cost program that provides a respite break for families caring for their child with developmental disabilities at home in the community. It also helps pay for some therapies and in-home modifications needed. There would not be a cost savings for the state as the cost of having case managers use their time to collect and evaluate family income would be more than what could be saved. It is inequitable for families who choose to care for their child at home to be means tested for this small amount of support when families who choose the state Residential Habilitation Centers for their child (at a much higher cost to the state) are not means tested. Call committee members and let them know this is not a good bill. Don't hurt families who save the state millions of dollars by caring for their child with developmental disabilities at home and just need an occasional break.
Direct calls to these legislators' offices are best but if you are unable to call long distance you can call the Legislative Hotline toll free at 1-800-562-6000 and leave a message for each one. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Friday, January 22, 2010
News release from Gov. Gregoire's office
This news release was issued from Gov. Gregoire's Office today:
CHRISTINE O. GREGOIRE
Governor
STATE OF WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
P.O. Box 40002 • Olympia, Washington 98504-0002 • (360) 902-4111
Gov. Gregoire proposes legislation to reform state health care programs Plan would transfer Medicaid program to Health Care Authority to decrease costs, improve service
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today is asking state lawmakers to approve her legislation through which state leaders will take a critical look at how the state purchases health care services, from physician care to prescription drugs.
“The need for national health care reform is urgent. Now is the time for Congress to pass effective and affordable reform. This legislation I’m introducing readies Washington state for that reform,” Gregoire said. “Even during these tough times, I know it’s possible to provide thousands more Washingtonians with the health care coverage they need and deserve. By streamlining our purchasing practices, we have the ability to decrease costs while providing services to more people who need them.”
Gregoire proposes transferring administration of the state’s Medicaid program now managed by the Department of Social and Health Services to the Health Care Authority. In this new partnership, the two would provide new leadership, focus, efficiency and consistency to drive higher quality care at lower costs.
The medical assistance programs at DSHS, the Basic Health Plan and the employee benefit programs represent the largest of the state’s health-care operations. Health-related spending by state government agencies exceeds $9 billion for the 2009–11 biennium, or nearly one-third of the entire state budget.
“We cannot gain control of health care costs with a ‘business as usual’ approach,” said Steve Hill, Health Care Authority administrator. “The Governor’s plan to consolidate health care purchasing will get us all pointed in the same direction as we work to improve service and hold down costs.”
“This is a smart move that will allow maximum leverage of Washington state’s health care buying power,” said DSHS Secretary Susan Dreyfus. “It will position us well to impact the quality and value of the health care we purchase.”
By gaining firmer control of health-care purchasing, Gregoire expects the state will have a stronger ability to preserve Basic Health Plan coverage, the General Assistance-Unemployable program and other state-only coverage threatened by spending reductions made necessary by the national recession.
“For national health-care reform to be successful, we will need to implement significant strategies for cost containment,” said Assistant DSHS Secretary and State Medicaid Director Doug Porter. “Washington state has made a strong start in this area in recent years, and the new alignment proposed by the Governor offers an historic opportunity to bend the medical cost inflation curve.”
For more information, please visit
CHRISTINE O. GREGOIRE
Governor
STATE OF WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
P.O. Box 40002 • Olympia, Washington 98504-0002 • (360) 902-4111
Gov. Gregoire proposes legislation to reform state health care programs Plan would transfer Medicaid program to Health Care Authority to decrease costs, improve service
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today is asking state lawmakers to approve her legislation through which state leaders will take a critical look at how the state purchases health care services, from physician care to prescription drugs.
“The need for national health care reform is urgent. Now is the time for Congress to pass effective and affordable reform. This legislation I’m introducing readies Washington state for that reform,” Gregoire said. “Even during these tough times, I know it’s possible to provide thousands more Washingtonians with the health care coverage they need and deserve. By streamlining our purchasing practices, we have the ability to decrease costs while providing services to more people who need them.”
Gregoire proposes transferring administration of the state’s Medicaid program now managed by the Department of Social and Health Services to the Health Care Authority. In this new partnership, the two would provide new leadership, focus, efficiency and consistency to drive higher quality care at lower costs.
The medical assistance programs at DSHS, the Basic Health Plan and the employee benefit programs represent the largest of the state’s health-care operations. Health-related spending by state government agencies exceeds $9 billion for the 2009–11 biennium, or nearly one-third of the entire state budget.
“We cannot gain control of health care costs with a ‘business as usual’ approach,” said Steve Hill, Health Care Authority administrator. “The Governor’s plan to consolidate health care purchasing will get us all pointed in the same direction as we work to improve service and hold down costs.”
“This is a smart move that will allow maximum leverage of Washington state’s health care buying power,” said DSHS Secretary Susan Dreyfus. “It will position us well to impact the quality and value of the health care we purchase.”
By gaining firmer control of health-care purchasing, Gregoire expects the state will have a stronger ability to preserve Basic Health Plan coverage, the General Assistance-Unemployable program and other state-only coverage threatened by spending reductions made necessary by the national recession.
“For national health-care reform to be successful, we will need to implement significant strategies for cost containment,” said Assistant DSHS Secretary and State Medicaid Director Doug Porter. “Washington state has made a strong start in this area in recent years, and the new alignment proposed by the Governor offers an historic opportunity to bend the medical cost inflation curve.”
For more information, please visit
Capitol Insider
Action Alerts
Major Events Last Week
Health Care Reform
President Obama increased his involvement in negotiations with the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate to resolve differences between their bills. On Wednesday, he reportedly spent over six hours in these negotiations. The leadership had hoped to resolve all differences and send a revised bill to the Congressional Budget Office for a cost estimate by the end of the week, but did not meet that deadline.
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, recently released a compendium of disability statistics for 2009. The Annual Disability Compendium brings together in one place disability statistics published by various federal agencies. It may be useful when individuals or organizations needs disability statistics for press or public information activities, advocacy materials, grant writing or other matters relating to persons with disabilities. See: www.DisabilityCompendium.org
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ADA/Technology
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reached agreements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Pace University in New York City, Arizona State University and Reed College in Portland, OR, regarding the use of electronic book readers, which read text aloud. The schools were using the Kindle DX. A student using the Kindle DX could have the text read aloud but could not use the menu and navigational controls. Without access to the menus, students had no way to know which book they had selected or how to use the Kindle DX. Under the agreements the universities will not purchase, recommend or promote use of the Kindle DX, or any other electronic book reader, unless the devices are fully accessible to students who need assistance in order to read textbooks.
Major Events Ahead
Obama Administration
The White House has announced that the President will deliver his State of the Union Address on Wednesday, January 27. President Obama will then release his Fiscal Year 2011 budget request to Congress on Monday, February 1.
U.S. Congress
The Senate returns to work on Wednesday after a fairly brief holiday recess.
Health Care Reform
The fate of the health reform bill may rest on the outcome of today's special election in Massachusetts to fill the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy's seat. The Republican candidate has vowed to oppose any health reform bill. If he wins, Senate Democrats will lose their 60 vote filibuster-proof supermajority that allowed for passage of the Senate health reform bill. White House and Democratic Congressional staff are meeting to discuss fast track strategies for a final vote on health reform (such as the House voting on the Senate bill) if the Republican candidate wins.
Much is at stake for the disability community in the health care reform bills. To learn about specific provisions that affect people with disabilities, read the recent letter from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), which includes The Arc and UCP, at:
http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/health/CCD-House-SenateConferenceLetter810.pdf
http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/health/CCD-House-SenateConferenceLetter810.pdf
Debt Limit/ Entitlement Commission
The Senate is set to begin debate tomorrow on legislation to increase the debt limit so that the federal government can meet its debt obligations. The debate on increasing the debt limit may be prolonged by numerous amendments and filibusters. Key issues to be debated include the pay as you go system (PAYGO) and the creation of an entitlement commission. An entitlement commission, likely to be appointed by the Congress and the President, would be of great concern to the disability community as its primary purpose is to recommend savings (i.e. cuts) in major entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Those recommendations would have to be voted up or down by the Congress, without amendments.
Announcements
ODEP Listening Session & Talking Points
The DPC has prepared talking points for advocates to participate in the Office of Disability Employment (ODEP) series of listening sessions on improving employment for people with disabilities. Beginning on January 21 in Dallas, Texas and continuing through March 3 in Boston, Massachusetts, ODEP and its federal partners will hold a series of six disability employment Listening Sessions. Sessions are also scheduled for Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta. To learn more about the Listening Sessions and how to register and comment, see:
The DPC has prepared talking points for advocates to participate in the Office of Disability Employment (ODEP) series of listening sessions on improving employment for people with disabilities. Beginning on January 21 in Dallas, Texas and continuing through March 3 in Boston, Massachusetts, ODEP and its federal partners will hold a series of six disability employment Listening Sessions. Sessions are also scheduled for Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta. To learn more about the Listening Sessions and how to register and comment, see:
To read the DPC's talking points and supporting data, see:
Disability Data
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, recently released a compendium of disability statistics for 2009. The Annual Disability Compendium brings together in one place disability statistics published by various federal agencies. It may be useful when individuals or organizations needs disability statistics for press or public information activities, advocacy materials, grant writing or other matters relating to persons with disabilities. See: www.DisabilityCompendium.org
Employment Training Event
A federal government-wide hiring event for people with disabilities is scheduled for April 26, 2010. In preparation for this event, several federal agencies have developed a "Call to Action: Hiring People with Disabilities" event on February 9, 2010 to train human resource officials, hiring managers and other federal personnel to develop an improved pipeline and process for hiring and retaining people with disabilities. Interested federal personnel must register by February 3 by emailing their full name, title, agency and email address to Michael.Aguenza.Ctr@tma.osd.mil
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Please note that you can view previous issues of the Capitol Insider, at thearc.org anytime by choosing "Capitol Insider" under "Public Policy."
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at:
mailto:acosta@thedpc.org
mailto:acosta@thedpc.org
Sincerely,
Annie Acosta
Director of Communications and Grassroots Advocacy
Disability Policy Collaboration
Director of Communications and Grassroots Advocacy
Disability Policy Collaboration
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bills of Interest Week One
Here are the bills of interest from the first week of session. For questions or more information contact Kelly Church at the Arc of Snohomish County (425)258-2459 ext 105 or Kelly@arcsno.org
Governor's buy back budget
January 12, 2010
Honorable Members of the Washington State Legislature:
Last session we worked together to produce a balanced budget that addressed the revenue shortfalls created by the national and international economic downturn. By the time I signed the budget into law in May, we had solved a shortfall that had grown to $9 billion.
We ordered state agencies to curtail hiring, travel, personal service contracts and other services where immediate savings were possible. The freeze on salary increases remains in effect. We then crafted a three-part solution that included cuts to services, use of one-time federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, and fund transfers (including the Rainy Day Fund) to fill the gap.
Unfortunately, our revenue continued to decline while the demand for state services rose. A combination of these and other factors have created another $2.6 billion shortfall.
In December, I submitted a state financial plan for the remainder of our two-year budget period that addressed this shortfall. I was legally required to submit a budget that is balanced to current revenues, and that is what I did. But I did so with the greatest reluctance. That budget is not true to the values I believe in and which have guided me through my public service. It is not a budget I can live with nor is it one I believe Washingtonians can live with.
In the face of a $2.6 billion shortfall, this financial plan reduces many vital services, some to the bone. In other cases, programs are suspended that are crucial to many of our citizens and our quality of life.
The decisions that produced this budget were very troubling to me. They do not represent sound public policy for our state, nor do they serve our citizens well. We cannot ride out this recession and come out ready to rebuild our economy on top of this budget.
Therefore, today I am submitting a new budget that I believe better reflects Washington values and principles. This budget more adequately funds our public schools, pays for the basic safety net for our most needy, helps more of our students achieve the higher education they need, and sets the stage for a more prosperous future.
I have enclosed a document (*see below) that outlines the restorations in my budget. I am proposing funding for essential programs such as:
• The state’s Basic Health and Apple Health plans.
• Our general assistance program for the most needy.
• Levy equalization funds for our public schools.
• State financial aid to allow more students to attend higher education.
• Early childhood education and kindergarten.
• Adult medical, dental, vision and hospice programs.
• Developmental disability and long-term care services.
To be clear, my new budget does not avoid many harmful reductions to (and even elimination of) some vital services. It contains more cuts than revenue to address our $2.6 billion problem.
As the legislative session progresses, I pledge to work with you to secure the additional revenues needed to restore the programs that a no-new-revenue budget could not accommodate. I will be submitting proposals to introduce greater tax fairness by closing loopholes that have either outlived their usefulness or are no longer equitable in today’s tough economy. I expect that Washington state will receive additional resources through the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), Fiscal Stabilization Funds and possibly waivers for Basic Health Plan provisions. However, we do not yet know what these amounts will be.
Any revenue enhancements that I will propose will not hamstring our families and businesses as they recover from the recession. I look forward to continuing a dialogue with you as we work together on behalf of the people of our state to identify fair and strategic solutions to our budget shortfall.
The task that awaits us is significant. It can be conquered only by putting aside partisan politics and working together to craft a solution that protects some vital services needed by our state’s citizens while helping us emerge stronger from the economic downturn.
I look forward to working with you to accomplish these important priorities.
Sincerely,
Christine O. Gregoire
Governor
GFS Dollars in Millions
K-12 Levy Equalization Increases
165.012
Basic Health Plan
160.575
Higher Education State Need Grant
146.435
Redesigned General Assistance - Unemployable Program
84.472
K-12 All-day Kindergarten, Gifted Program and Reading Corps
42.011
*
Working Connections Child Care Option
39.500
Maternity Support Services
28.050
Optional Medicaid Services
21.091
Developmental Disabilities/Long Term Care − Housekeeping and Offsite Laundry Services
18.339
Long Term Care/Developmental Disabilities − Homecare Agency Provider Services
14.095
Early Childhood Education Program (ECEAP) for 3-Year-Olds
10.500
Senior Citizens Services Act
6.967
Adult Hospice Care
6.161
Outpatient Drug Treatment and Detox Services
5.393
HIV/AIDS Client Services and AIDSNET Grants
4.859
Foster Care Rates
4.144
Outpatient Community Mental Health Services
4.137
Children's Apple Health Insurance
4.112
Mental Health - Inpatient Hospital
2.889
Developmental Disabilities Individual and Family Services
2.000
Middle School Career and Technical Education program
1.943
Volunteer Chore Services
1.877
Crime Victims Compensation Program
1.545
Jail Services Funding for Mentally Ill Offenders
1.145
Children's Public Health Nurses
0.712
Aging Family Caregiver Support and Respite Care
0.628
Regional Law Enforcement Training
0.280
Grand Total
778.9
* Includes $33.567 million in Education Legacy Funds, reflected in fund transfers
Governor Chris Gregoire January 2010
RESTORATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR’S 2010 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET: $779 MILLION TOTAL
K-12 Levy Equalization – $165,012,000
Restores the levy equalization program, which provides state financial support to districts with a lower than average property tax base. In addition, for the school districts requiring the highest rate of state match, the program is enhanced to provide additional state support during the three-year period when the maximum levy rate for all districts is increased.
Basic Health Plan – $160,575,000
Restores funding for the Basic Health Program, which will continue to offer health insurance for more than 60,000 Washingtonians.
Higher Education State Need Grant − $146,435,000
Restores the State Need Grant program. Eligibility is once again capped at 70 percent of the state’s median family income, which will serve an additional 12,300 students. Grant awards are also restored to the levels in the enacted 2009–11 budget.
Redesigned General Assistance-Unemployable Program − $84,472,000
Redesigns the General Assistance-Unemployable program. Effective September 1, 2010, individuals will be able to access benefits for up to a maximum of six months per lifetime. Cash grants provided to individuals will be reduced to $250 per month.
K-12 All-day Kindergarten, Gifted Program and Reading Corps − $42,011,000
■ Restores funding for students from the 20 percent of school districts with the highest poverty levels who are served through all-day kindergarten programs.
■ Restores funding for nearly 23,000 students who participate in gifted programs across the state.
■ Restores funding for the Reading Corps program, which provides tutors and other specialists to students struggling to read. The benefits of this state investment are multiplied because the program uses volunteers in the classroom and leverages federal funds.
Working Connections Child Care Option − $39,500,000
Partially restores the Working Connections Child Care program, which provides payments for child care services to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients and low-income, non-TANF parents who are working or participating in certain employment and training activities. Child care for families with seasonal employment, as well as homeless and teen parent populations, is also partially subsidized.
Maternity Support Services – $28,050,000
Restores the Maternity Support program, which provides services to more than 50,000 pregnant women at high risk of experiencing poor birth outcomes.
Optional Medicaid Services – $21,091,000
Restores services in the state Medicaid program that are considered optional by the federal government: dental, vision and podiatry services, as well as physical, speech and occupational therapies for adults.
Governor Chris Gregoire January 2010
RESTORATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR’S 2010 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (PAGE 2)
Developmental Disabilities/Long-Term Care Housekeeping and Offsite Laundry Services – $18,339,000
Restores housekeeping and off-site laundry services for 42,000 elderly clients and persons with developmentally disabilities. Services average six hours per month to help people remain in their homes rather than in a setting with more assistance, such as a nursing home or Residential Habilitation Center.
Long-Term Care/Developmental Disabilities Homecare Agency Provider Services – $14,095,000
Restores homecare agency parity in wages and benefits with individual providers. Health benefits for agency providers will also be maintained at current levels.
Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) for 3-Year-Olds – $10,500,000
Restores funding for more than 1,500 low-income, 3-year-old children in ECEAP programs across the state. This continues the historic expansion in ECEAP begun by the Governor in the 2007–09 budget.
Senior Citizens Services Act – $6,967,000
Restores funding for the Senior Citizens Services Act, which helps local Area Agencies on Aging provide meal assistance, transportation, in-home services and counseling.
Adult Hospice Care – $6,161,000
Restores this state Medicaid program, which provides end-of-life services for more than 2,600 adult clients.
Outpatient Drug Treatment and Detoxification Services – $5,393,000
Restores funding for chemical dependency and detoxification services for 12,800 clients.
HIV/AIDS Client Services and AIDSNET Grants – $4,859,000
Partially restores client services, which will receive a 20 percent reduction in funding (from the 44 percent reduction), while AIDSNET grants will receive a 25 percent reduction.
Foster Care Rates – $4,144,000
Restores funding for foster parents, who are paid for the basic care of a foster child, including room, board, clothing and personal incidental expenses.
Outpatient Community Mental Health Services – $4,137,000
Restores funding for outpatient services provided to Regional Support Networks for services and individuals not eligible for the federal Medicaid program. These networks provide outpatient services such as individual and family counseling, case management, day treatment, medication management, employment services, consultation and education, and other behavioral health care.
Children’s Apple Health Insurance – $4,112,000
Restores the Apple Health program for Washington children, which will maintain eligibility levels at 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Because of the state’s exceptional leadership in providing health care to children, Washington recently was awarded a bonus of $7,641,000 from the federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program. This additional federal revenue, combined with $4,112,000 in state funding, will allow 16,000 children to continue receiving health insurance through Apple Health.
Governor Chris Gregoire January 2010
RESTORATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR’S 2010 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (PAGE 3)
Mental Health - Inpatient Hospital – $2,889,000
Restores services for approximately 531 low-income and General Assistance-Unemployable individuals who are eligible for inpatient services through the Mental Health Division of the Department of Social and Health Services. These services include voluntary inpatient care in non-institutional hospitals.
Developmental Disabilities Individual and Family Services – $2,000,000
Partially restores the Individual and Family Support program for families of a person with a developmental disability, which will be restructured to include means testing. However, the funding will allow more families to continue to receive services. The program will still be frozen to new entries, but the annual benefit level will remain at $3,000 rather than be reduced to $2,250. The limit for annual family income will be $42,000 rather than $30,000.
Middle School Career and Technical Education Program – $1,943,000
Restores funding for the middle school career and technical education program, which will ensure students receive hands-on science and math-related learning opportunities that encourage interest in technical fields and help prepare students for more advanced study.
Volunteer Chore Services – $1,877,000
Restores the Volunteer Chore Services program, which coordinates 288,000 hours of volunteer services to allow elderly people to continue living at home.
Crime Victims Compensation − $1,545,000
Partially restores this program, including fee reimbursements in full to doctors and clinics that perform sexual assault forensic exams. Permanent partial disability awards are capped at $7,000; travel reimbursements are partially restored for clients who travel over 10 miles to a provider; and home and vehicle modifications are fully restored, which will benefit approximately 3,700 individuals.
Jail Services for Mentally Ill Offenders − $1,145,000
Restores funding for jail services for mentally ill offenders who are confined in a county or city jail. This also facilitates access to programs that offer mental health services to offenders upon release from confinement.
Children’s Public Health Nurses – $712,000
Restores contracts with local public health departments to provide nurses for early intervention support services to address developmental and health care needs of 875 children.
Aging Family Caregiver Support and Respite Care – $628,000
Restores the Family Caregiver Support program, which provides mainly respite assistance to family members who care for a relative at home. This program has been shown to delay placement in a nursing home.
Regional Law Enforcement Training − $280,000
Restores funding for the Criminal Justice Training Commission, which will maintain training capacity for local law enforcement.
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