Legislative Update -
April 02, 2003
Directors, NCSSA, NCACBSS
Members:
I wanted to give you some
updates on what is happening this week. There are two levels of proposed cut
requirements given to DHHS depending on whether the legislature agrees to
go along with the Governor's request to freeze tax cuts that are due to go into
affect July 1. If the freeze goes into effect then DHHS has to meet a
$338 million dollar cut and if the tax cuts take place they
must meet a $453 million dollar cut. The $338 million dollar
cut is the budget that the Governor's office released.
On Tuesday,
DHHS presented what would be their reluctant recommendations to
meet the $453 cut. Some highlights from these additional
cuts:
Reduce Smart
Start Local Partnership Funds by an additional $11,608,304 which when added to
the Gov's budget cut of $7,739,536 would come out to a total cut of
$19,348,840.
Reduce State
Subsidy Funds by $2,593,586
Reduce Adult
Home Case Management by $1,000,000
Reduce Adult
Home Specialist Fund by $1,400,000
ELIMINATE COMPLETELY : 1. Adult Dental Services
2. Adult Podiatry Services 3. Adult Chiropractic Services 4. Adult Optical
Services
Reduce
Provider Rates by 5%
Increase
Patient Co-Pay for Generic Drugs
Update
on H402 -DSS Worker Right of Entry: The Bill was heard at the Ways and
Means Committee on April 2 (Wed). Susan Osborne was a trooper and headed back to
Raleigh again this week. The Bill was not brought up until about 10 minutes
before committee was scheduled to end. This meant that there was just enough
time for Susan to give a quick presentation that included the visual effect of
disturbing pictures of conditions they found in children's homes.She did an
AMAZING job of conveying our message. Unfortunately, we were out of time
and there was very little discussion amongst members before adjourning. The Bill
will be brought up again for further discussion next Wednesday.
Foster/Adoption Reimbursement Rate Increase: This
Bill is still being worked on by Research Staff to prepare it for drafting. Rep.
Barnhart is sponsoring the bill and was going to send it directly to bill
drafting but since it has fiscal implications, the deadline for submission is a
little farther away and he wanted Susan Morgan (DSS GA staffer) to work on it.
Child
Care Subsidies: This is an area that is being targeted for reduction
(in addition to Smart Start reductions). I have attached some talking
points and frequently asked questions on this issue. Thanks to the Directors who
provided me feedback as well as to Peggy Ball and Nancy Guy who reviewed and
provided revisions for us. PLEASE, PLEASE write the chairs and committee members
of the HHS Appropriations Committee to let them know how CRITICAL these funds
are to the well-being of children and the success of welfare
reform!
Committee Members
are:
Please note that we need all of our Consortium members to
be contacting their legislators about these issues. NCSSA in particular, has the
numbers to flood offices with e-mails or calls to raise awareness on our issues.
Calls, e-mails or snail mail that are sent need to be
concise and clear. Remember to always remain respectful in your
message to legislators and if you are writing YOUR legislator it is helpful to
give some anecdotal situations that have or are occurring in YOUR
county.
If you have any questions please feel free to call
me!
Karen
