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Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:34:46 -0500
From: "Ryan, Susan" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: "Ryan, Susan" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Fwd: VCDR Alert: Next Round of Program Cuts to be Announced Dec. 1
To: [log in to unmask]
Begin forwarded message:
> From: VCDR <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: November 20, 2008 5:22:24 PM EST
> Subject: VCDR Alert: Next Round of Program Cuts to be Announced Dec. 1
>
> To: VCDR Alert List
> From: Deborah Lisi-Baker, VCDR President
>
> Bleak Economic Forecast Leads to New Call for Program Cuts
>
> As we expected, the economic forecast on Nov. 18 was very grim, with
> a $42 million loss for FY 2009 and potentially twice that for 2010.
> State agencies have been told to identify 6 percent cuts in their
> budgets. However, some state administrators say that the immediate
> cuts could be closer to 12 percent to make up for lost federal match
> funds and the timing of this reduction.
>
> Agency of Human Services departments have been told to have their
> suggestions for how to meet these cuts into the Secretary's Office
> by Monday morning and that the Governor and his administrative staff
> will be reporting their revised budget on Dec. 1. I expect that
> both Joint Fiscal and the Health Access Oversight legislative
> committees will be among the legislative committees considering the
> impact of this new proposal.
>
> The legislative Joint Fiscal Committee has promised that there will
> be pubic hearings to get broader input but there is a lot of
> pressure from the Administration to move before the legislative
> session. This raises major concerns because the Joint Fiscal
> Committee is not authorized to make substantive cuts that result in
> major policy change. In addition, the many outgoing legislators want
> to make sure that the outgoing legislative committees do not make
> decisions that should be made by the newly elected Legislature which
> convenes in January.
>
> Many organizations are asking both the Administration and the
> Legislature to exercise caution in implementing this next round of
> cuts and to look for revenue solutions and other efficiencies that
> will lessen direct service cuts. Even with this approach, the impact
> of these cuts is likely to radically change Vermont's disability
> and senior programs and other services that Vermonters depend on.
>
> At its Board of Governors meeting earlier this month, VCDR agreed to
> advocate for programs that benefit individuals with disabilities:
> including Medicaid health benefits, developmental services funds,
> mental health funding, home access funds, EPSDT, the Attendant
> Services Program, other respite and personal care programs, and
> funding for peer run programs. We will also be working with the
> Administration and Legislature for approaches that minimize the
> effect on essential direct services and rights protection programs.
>
> Many VCDR member organizations and other concerned groups are asking
> that the decision on budget cuts be taken up by the full General
> Assembly and not be carried out by a committee of the Legislature.
> We are also asking for greater public deliberation and for
> leadership that considers the multiple impact of diverse budget cuts
> on vulnerable Vermonters. We will let you know as we get more
> information. Please check our Web site, call us at 223-6140, or e-
> mail us at [log in to unmask]
>
> Also, share your concerns with your local legislators. Contact
> information can be found at:
>
> http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm
>
> Federal Stimulus Package Could Help Reduce State Shortfall
>
> Many Vermonters are calling our Congressional Delegation to ask them
> NOT TO WAIT TILL JANUARY to take immediate action to change the
> current federal state match ratio for Medicaid programs. This
> morning Josh Slen, director of the Office of Vermont Health Access,
> said that a 4 percent increase in the federal payment for Medicaid
> could save the state as much as $24 million. This proposal is part
> of a proposed economic stimulus package now being considered by
> Congress. The improved match does not solve Vermont's revenue
> problem, but makes a significant improvement in what is otherwise a
> very frightening picture.
>
> Your Calls Can Help - Call Now to Ask for Quick Passage of an
> Improved Medicaid Match Rate
>
> If you want to help advocate for quick passage of the improved
> federal match rate, please call:
>
> Senators Leahy 1-800-642-3193
> Senator Sanders 1-800-339-9834
> Representative Welch 1-888-605-7270
>
> TODAY if possible or as soon as you can.
>
> Tell them to vote for increasing the federal match money for
> Medicaid. This will help reduce service reductions in Vermont's
> Medicaid programs, including many of the disability and health care
> services Vermonters depend on.
>
____________________
Susan M. Ryan, Ph.D.
Executive Director
and Professor
University of Vermont
Center on Disability and Community Inclusion
311 Mann Hall
208 Colchester Ave.
Burlington, VT 05405-1757
phone: 802-656-1143
fax: 802-656-1357
web: http://www.uvm.edu/~cdci
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