October 16th, 2009 by John Dickerson
The Arc of Indiana appreciates the difficulty of quantifying how many jobs have been saved or created by federal stimulus dollars. Governor Daniels and Representative Pat Bauer are correct in being cautious to not overstate the impact. However, while it may be difficult to statistically measure the impact, the positive results of federal stimulus dollars that have gone to stabilize Indiana’s Medicaid program can been seen each and every day.
Medicaid provides health care to people with disabilities, supports to families caring for loved ones at home and supports to adults with disabilities that allow them to live in their own home. Medicaid also funds care to people who are elderly or disabled in nursing homes.
Statistics do not tell the story of the little girl who continues to receive the home nursing care she needs to live at home with Mom and Dad, the young man with Down syndrome and his roommate with cerebral palsy who continue to have support staff that allows them to live in an apartment, or the caregiver who got a paycheck on Friday and will make this month’s mortgage payment. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: home and community-based services, John Dickerson, Medicaid, pubic policy, state budget, The Arc of Indiana Blog
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August 3rd, 2009 by John Dickerson
The Indianapolis Star recently reported that Indiana has spent received and spent $1.1 billion of federal stimulus funds. Of these dollars, $900 million of that funding has gone to stabilize Medicaid.
The real world impact of that is that the stimulus funds which last through 2010, have helped the state avoid massive cuts in services to Medicaid recipients. Without these funds, one can only speculate what would have happen. Many are wondering, what will happen if when these funds are exhausted.
The state ended the fiscal year with $55 million in the checking account that pays the state bills. If revenue does not increase – sales tax, personal income taxes, corporate taxes and gambling revenue – there will be further pressures on the on the system of education and human services.
Recently one of the highest regarded new initiatives of FSSA, INTRAIN, the training of Direct Support Professionals through Ivy Tech and IU, was summarily canceled on July 31. This project had made real impact in the lives of people and was just getting off the ground.
We understand these are extremely difficult times. We also understand we have to make tough choices. Yet we must make very careful decisions about how we get through this together. We; advocates, families, providers and the state have to work through this together – not unilaterally and not without considering the alternatives.
We are working hard to address these issues and hope you will use these pages to stay involved and add your voice to the call for responsible actions.
Tags: Add new tag, Developmental Disabilities Funding, fiscal crisis, state budget
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