[NFBMT] From the Disability Rights Montana October Newsletter

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

Proposed Cuts Appear to More Harshly Target DPHHS Services, as Providers Face
Both Proposed Medicaid Rate Cuts Via Rule and a Nearly 10% Cut Proposed by
Governor

 

Since July 2017, Medicaid providers have been facing the threat of
significant cuts to rates for their services. Beginning with proposed
administrative rules from DPHHS, Medicaid providers faced an across the board
cut of 3.47% to their rates for all services they provide. In addition, there
were substantial proposed cuts to targeted case management for adults and
children with serious disabilities. Fortunately, on September 11, 2017, the
Children, Families, Health and Human Services Legislative Interim Committee
voted to continue its objection to these rules, which has stalled their
implementation until the beginning of next year. During the Committee's
meeting, it heard from DPHHS Director Hogan, who testified that since the
administrative rule hearing in July, the Department had found funds to reduce
the proposed across the board cuts to 2.99%. After this, representatives from
many parts of the disability community as well as service providers testified
about the extreme nature of these proposed cuts and the services that would
be reduced or eliminated if they are enacted.

 

This hearing, however, was nearly overshadowed by the Governor's announcement
the Friday prior. That announcement was about the Governor's proposed
additional cuts of nearly 10% to DPHHS, which included the elimination of
programs including Part C, which funds services to children with disabilities
from birth to 3 years old; targeted case management which is critical to
children and adults with serious disabilities; Big Sky RX, which provides
support for prescriptions for seniors; MYLF, which is a leadership program
for youth with disabilities; and mobility and orientation services for
roughly 300 Montana children who are blind. Other cuts included those to
children and adult psychiatric crisis intervention programs, insurance
assistance for those living with HIV, rates for contractors with vocational
rehabilitation, and services for foster children.

 

On October 4, 2017, the Interim Finance Committee heard four hours of public
testimony in opposition to the cuts to the programs funded by DPHHS that the
Governor has proposed. The following day, the Committee voted unanimously to
send a letter to the Governor recommending that in making cuts to programs,
the cuts should have "the least possible impact" on vulnerable populations in
Montana. (
<http://disabilityrightsmontana.cmail20.com/t/j-l-ojlea-euuihdtju-s/> Click
this link to read the letter.) The Governor is now evaluating what cuts to
make to programs and we understand that a special session call may be made
soon so the legislature can address the budget situation. 

 

DRM is very concerned that these two different cuts to services in DPHHS will
be overshadowed in the larger budget conversation. We aim to ensure that this
stays front and center in the debate.

 

Joy Breslauer, President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.