State Budget Impasse Taking Toll on the Developmentally Disabled

Health care providers, families and disabled clients rally at Senator Perata's
Oakland Office

WHO: Caregivers for people with severe developmental disabilities,
family members and the clients they care for will implore the
Senate President Pro Tempore to return to the Capitol and
bring the nearly six week stalemate to an end.

WHAT: A rally to bring the public's attention to the fact that
without immediate action to enact a state budget, homes that
provide care for the developmentally disabled will stop
receiving payments. The clients served need 24-hour
life-sustaining medical treatments. Their care and treatments
cannot be put on hold, while the state fails to act. These
facilities are 100% funded by Medi-Cal, the state's health
insurance program for the poor and disabled.

These providers of care are being forced to take out costly
personal loans, at often outrageous interest rates just so
they can keep their doors open and their caregivers paid.

For a typical home serving 6 people, this delay translates
into an average loss of income of $32,000.00 per month.

WHEN: THURSDAY July 24 - 10:00 AM

*WHERE: Senator Don Perata's District Office:
1515 Clay Street, Suite 202 , Oakland, CA

Senator Perata has been quoted in the media saying that there will be a
budget in place by August 1st. We are urging him to call upon his colleagues
to return to Sacramento and pass a budget now. There is pending urgency
legislation that would allow the state to pay these and other healthcare
providers even though there is not state budget, but the bill has not been set
for a hearing. At a minimum, these providers are calling upon the Senate
Leader to set the bill for a hearing to provide them with immediate economic
relief.
To add insult to injury, in February, the Legislature approved, and the
Governor signed, emergency "budget-balancing reductions" to address the
state's unprecedented state deficit.
The emergency reductions will defer Medi-Cal payments for the month of
August this year for all Medi-Cal reimbursed facility providers serving people
with developmental disabilities. This payment delay will occur regardless of
when a budget is enacted.
There are approximately 1,200 health facilities serving people with
developmental disabilities. They are small community-based homes which serve
six or fewer people.
* Similar rallies are being held simultaneously in Fresno, Los Angeles,
Rancho Cucamonga and San Diego.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Betsy Hite (916) 233-6031
California Assoc. of Health Facilities
Or Denise Keeley (DuMolin)
(707) 217-9105 (on-site)

SOURCE California Assoc. of Health Facilities