For Immediate Release
May 26, 2004
Contact: Dennis
Borel
512.478.3366
Carole
Barasch
512.480.2436
A diverse group of statewide and local organizations for people who are elderly or have disabilities have joined together in an initiative to improve funding for home and community services. The SOS Initiative will send a powerful message to the Governor and the Legislature that the community is first, and there should be NO CUTS to home and community services.
The group is calling for immediate release of about $141.1 million, which is available now through federal Medicaid relief funds. These funds are needed to prevent as much as a 35 percent cut in services to 100,000 Texans who are elderly or have disabilities, including further reductions in rates paid for attendant services.
In most cases, the services involve an attendant helping individuals with personal tasks such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation and laundry. These services cost an average of less than $500 a month per person compared to an average of $2,250 a month for nursing home care.
"These service cuts could devastate families that are already in crisis, force folks with disabilities and older Texans needlessly into nursing homes or other institutions, and decimate the providers of home and community services," stated Texas Association of Centers for Independent Living President, Judy Telge.
"Despite Texas' lowest ranking in the nation for attendant care rates, a 1.1 percent cut was instituted in September 2003. A further reduction in rates would negatively affect quality and access," says Dennis Borel, Executive Director of Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.
"Freedom, self-determination, and aging in place" all sound noble, but how we achieve these goals requires an investment in Texans with disabilities and older Texans so they can continue to live in the community with the services they need." said Mary Faithfull, the Executive Director of Advocacy, Inc. "Restoring FY '05 funds for community services is urgent and necessary to avoid unwanted and preventable placement in costly institutions."
"Home and community services prevent or delay nursing home placement, therefore saving taxpayers money and providing a more humane, preferred and desirable alternative. There are 100,000 persons on waiting lists for community care services, and the numbers of slots continue to be reduced. With increasing populations of people who are elderly and have disabilities projected, home and community services is a 'smart growth plan' for long term care. These programs should be growing, not shrinking." Gus Cardenas, President of AARP Texas.
The SOS Initiative will continue throughout the Legislative Appropriations Request process and into the fall as advocates educate and train people throughout Texas for the legislative session beginning January 2005. A press conference to highlight the creation of the SOS Initiative will be held in Speaker's Committee Room at the Capitol on Thursday, May 27th at 11:00 am.
AARP
Advocacy Inc.
The Arc of Texas
Brain Injury Association of Texas
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
Disability Policy Consortium
Epilepsy Coalition of Texas
The Institute for Disability Access/ADAPT
Mental Health Association of Texas
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Texas
National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Texas
Texas AIDS Network
Texas Advocates
Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with Disabiliti4es
Texas Association for Home Care, Inc.
Texas Association of Centers for Independent Living
Texas Association of the Deaf
Texas Center for Disability Studies/Texas Technology Access Project
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
Texas Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Texas Mental Health Consumers
United Cerebral Palsy of Texas