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Directors, NCSSA, NCACBSS,
The Advocacy Committee decided at their June meeting to hold a legislative
rally to raise awareness about the impact of cuts recommended in the House
budget. Time was of the essence because of the fiscal year ending and the
House claims that it would (will) have a budget Word had been spreading that
the Senate was backing away from restoring some of the cuts and in particular
those for the Adult Home Specialist and Adult Care Home Management. We only
had a week to put the rally together but we still had over 80 people turn
out from all over the state. Thanks to all of you who responded to our call
and for supporting your staff who attended!! We had print, TV, and radio coverage
and were on channel 5, 17, and 22 (major Raleigh stations) that played clips
about the rally at 5:00. 6:00, 7:00 and 11:00. Participants went out and met
with their legislators taking along information sheets that we had prepared
that are attached to this e-mail. The last document called "Legislative
Rally 5-2003" is the press release that we used - I have included it
in case you want some language if you decide to do some local press work around
the budget issues.
We are still in jeopardy of losing the Adult Home Specialist and Case Management
funding. I have attached below an e-mail sent out by Friends of Residents
in Long Term Care. Legislators need to be hearing from you on this as soon
as possible. We really need to let the Senate know we want them to stand firm
on restoring the House cuts and let the House know about the critical work
provided by these positions.
Thanks again to everyone for making our Rally a success!!
Karen
Attachment
1: Legislative Rally Budget Issues
Attachment 2: Adult Homes Care Management & Specialist
Attachment 3: Foster Care Talking Points
Attachment 4: Health Choice Talking Points
Attachment
5: Legislative Rally May 2003
ACTION ALERT!
FRIENDS OF RESIDENTS IN LONG TERM CARE
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2003
Funding for Adult Home Case Managers and Adult Home Specialists is in jeopardy!
Legislators continue to work out the differences between the House and Senate's
versions of the budget. However, the budget has not been resolved, and without
your intervention, funding for the Adult Home Case Managers and Adult Home
Specialists could be eliminated in a final budget agreement!
Originally, the Senate's budget did not cut the state funding for Adult Home
Case Managers and Adult Home Specialists. Now it appears as if the Senate's
lead negotiators for resolving the budget differences, Senators Linda Garrou
(D-Forsyth County), Walter Dalton (D-Cleveland and Rutherford Counties), and
Kay Hagan (D-Guilford County) -- are inclined to go along with the House's
position and allow the cut in state funding for adult home case managers and
adult home specialists. Please ask the Senate to maintain its position and
not agree to these cuts.
Originally, only the House of Representatives' budget cut funding for Adult
Home Case Managers and Adult Home Specialists, and these funds were cut to
free up funds that could be used to give a rate increase to adult care homes.
Friends of Residents in Long Term Care is not opposed to a rate increase for
adult care homes. However, that rate increase certainly should not be given
at the expense of funding that is used to support local positions that help
to safeguard the health and well-being of vulnerable elderly persons.
As previously reported, the House's version of the budget cuts Adult Home
Case Management by $1,000,000 in FY 2003 and $1,000,000 in FY 2004. If approved,
this cut will result in the number of case managers being reduced from 70
to 24. In addition, the state would lose federal dollars as a result of this
cut.
Adult Care Home Case Managers work with residents in the adult care homes
who need extensive or total assistance with ambulation, toileting and/or eating.
The adult care home facilities receive additional payment for providing the
extensive or total assistance but only after the adult care home case manager
has verified that the resident does in fact need the assistance.
Also as previously reported, the House's version of the budget cuts Adult
Home Specialists by $1,400,000 in FY 2003 and $1,400,000 in FY 2004. If approved,
this cut will result in the number of specialist being reduced from 161 to
91 and would mean each specialist case load would increase from 14 homes to
25 homes per specialist. In addition, the state would lose federal dollars
as a result of this cut.
Adult Home Specialists work specifically with North Carolina's adult care
homes (commonly referred to as rest homes or assisted living facilities).
In local departments of Social Services, Adult Home Specialists are responsible
for monitoring compliance with state rules and regulations in adult care homes.
BACKGROUND AND OTHER INFORMATION: If the House of Representatives' position
prevails, all state funding for Adult Home Case Managers and Adults Home Specialists
will be eliminated. If the General Assembly eliminates the funding that helps
to monitor facilities, helps to assure quality care and helps to assure that
residents are receiving assistance as necessary from facility staff, then
the State will be further eroding the commitment made to the residents of
long-term care facilities in 1999 when the General Assembly enacted the Long-Term
Care Safety Initiatives in what was then SB 10.
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Please contact the legislative leaders and members of the Conference Committee
whose names are recorded below. Urge them to retain the funding for Adult
Home Case Managers and Adult Home Specialists. Also contact legislators who
represent you.
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SENATE & HOUSE LEADERS
President Pro Tempore of Senate
Sen. Marc Basnight (D)
Room 2007, Legislative Building
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
(Dare, Beaufort, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans)
919-733-6854 – Raleigh
E-mail: Marcb@ncleg.net
Speakers of the House of Representatives
Speaker Jim Black
Room 2304, Legislative Building
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
O: (919) 733-3451
O: (704) 847-9938 (Mecklenburg)
E-mail: Jimb@ncleg.net
Speaker Richard Morgan
Room 301, Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
O: (919) 715-3010
O: (910) 295-4575 (Moore)
E-mail: Richardm@ncleg.net
SENATE BUDGET CONFEREES:
Senator Linda Garrou (D) (Co-Chairperson)
Room 627, Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
O: (919) 733-5620
O: (336) 922-4192 (Forsyth)
E-mail: Lindag@ncleg.net
Sen. Walter Dalton (D) (Co-Chairperson)
Room 523, Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
O: (919) 715-3038
H: (828) 287-2908 (Cleveland, Rutherford)
E-mail: Walterd@ncleg.net
Senator Kay Hagan (D) (Co-Chairperson)
Room 411, Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
O: (919) 733-5856
O: (336) 379-8721 (Guilford)
E-mail: Kayh@ncleg.net
HOUSE BUDGET CONFEREES:
Rep. Jim Crawford (D) (Co-chairperson)
Room 1301, Legislative Building
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
O: (919) 733-5824
O: (252) 492-0185 (Granville, Durham, Vance)
E-mail: Jimcr@ncleg.net
Rep. Wilma Sherrill (R) (Co-chairperson)
Room 302-D, Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
O: (919) 715-3026
O: (828) 254-5770 (Buncombe)
E-mail: Wilmas@ncleg.net
Rep. Julia Howard (R)
Room 1106, Legislative Building
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
O: (919) 733-5904
O: (336) 751-3538 (Davie, Davidson, Iredell)
E-mail: Juliah@ncleg.net
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Carol Teal, Executive Director
Friends of Residents in Long Term Care
883-C Washington Street
Raleigh, N.C. 27605
(919) 782-1530
E-mail: forltc@mindspring.com
http://forltc.home.mindspring.com
The mission of Friends of Residents in Long Term Care is to promote the highest
quality of life for those who cannot live independently, and for those who
care for them.
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