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Directors,
Wanted to give you a quick overview of the budget that was ratified yesterday.
Human Services did amazingly well considering some of the recommended cuts
that were looming. Big thanks to everyone who came to the rally last week-
it did make a difference - and to our Advocacy committee members who worked
very hard all session!!!! Thanks to each of you who answered our many calls
for action and contacted your legislators. Thanks to Division Directors for
providing compelling information to the GA, to Secretary Hooker-Odom for providing
amazing testimony even under the most hostile of circumstances, and to Rob
and Starla (DHHS Lobbyist), Paula Wolf (Covenant Lobbyist), Sorien Schmidt
and Adam Searing (Tax and Budget Center), Roz Savitt (Child Care Lobbyist)
and many, many others! It was only through a combination of all our efforts
that we see a budget void of the significant cuts first introduced in the
House!
If you want to see the entire budget online go to http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html2003/bills/AllVersions/House/H397vc.html
Consortium Priority Budget Issues
MAINTAINED funding for Adult Home Care Specialist and Case Management
MAINTAINED Medicaid funding for 19 and 20 year olds
MAINTAINED Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and children
MAINTAINED current Medicaid rate of co-payments for prescription drugs
INCREASED Funding to NC Health Choice - FY 03-04 $12,166,372 FY 04-05 $18,114,915
INCREASED reimbursement for foster/adoptive families by $50 for each age group
ELIMINATED funding for State Transitional Medicaid
Other budget issues highlights
DSS
State/County Special Assist. Rate Adjustment - Increase FY 03-04 $3,000,000
FY 04-05 $3,000,000
Personal Needs Allowance for SA Program Increase FY 03-04 $1,123,740 FY 04-05
$1,522,140
Food Banks Increase FY 03-04 $1,000,000 NR
DCD
The 3 Million cut to child care subsidies was ELIMINATED in final budget
Expansion of Abuse and Neglect Teams by 15 staff Increase FY 03-04 $613,529
FY 04-05 $807,055
Div of Public Health
Eliminated funding for the Farmer's Market Program FY 03-04 $156,630 FY 04-05
$156,630
Eliminated funding for the Intensive Home Visitation Program FY 03-04 $500,000
FY 04-05 $500,000
New funding for Healthy Start Foundation FY 03-04 $250,000 FY 04-05 $250,000
New funding for Folic Acid Campaign FY 03-04 $300,000 FY 04-05 $300,000
DMA
Revised Medicaid Forecast (reduces state appropriations for the Medicaid Program
based on the revised forecast)
FY 03-04 $219,006,684 FY 04-05 $321,567,979
Medicaid Reserve Funds - transfer funds reserve to support current services
and to reduce appropriations
FY 03-04 $62,500,000 FY 04-05 $62,500,000
Federal Fiscal Relief - Reduces state appropriations for the Medicaid Program
based on the receipt of increased federal reimbursement FY 03-04 $191,6000,000
NR
Home Care Personal Care Services- Provides funds to maximize federal Medicaid
matching funds for Home Care Personal Care Services FY 03-04 $3,001,253 FY
03-04 $3,001,253
Expansion of Carolina ACCESS II and III to additional counties FY 03-04 $1,000,000
FY 04-05 $1,000,000
Please feel free to call me if you have any additional questions.
Karen
