Without additional revenue, let’s review what is at stake: (The Autism Society of North Carolina supports this analysis from the Arc of NC.)
LME services cuts ($65 million ):
This includes a $50 million dollar cut to services without specifics, a $16 million cut to services to people with DD who also have a CAP slot and a $4 million cut to “non-core ” services.
The LME cuts for services will mean:
a.. Severe reduction of hours in day programs
b.. Loss of day program placements
c.. Loss of placements in group homes
d.. Severe cuts or elimination of supported employment and long-term follow along services
e.. Some group homes and day programs may close
Case management Cuts ($58 million):
Calculations by the Arc of NC show that to get this amount of savings, they would have to eliminate all of case management.
The case management cuts will mean:
a.. Case managers won’tĀ be able to write comprehensive person-centered plans
b.. There will be no one to assist families with benefits coordination
c.. Service authorizations will be delayed
d.. Case management jobs will be eliminated
e.. Some agencies will close limiting provider choice and adding thousands to the unemployment rolls
3% rate cut to Medicaid services:
This cut combined with other cuts will cause providers to close and reduce already inadequate staff salaries
The provider rate reductions will mean:
a.. Direct support staff salaries will be reduced further adding to the shortage of qualified direct support personnel
b.. Thousands of jobs will be eliminated
c.. Some agencies will close adding thousands to the unemployment rolls
In addition:
Continuation budget cuts will reduce hours forĀ people who currently have CAP-MR/DD services and limit the ability to get additional hours if a crisis arises.
Cuts to Medicaid personal care services, the Community Support program , and statewide contracts to non profits like the ASNC will further erode the supports to people with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families.
Finally, in addition to the devastating loss of service, thousands (we believe potentially 40 – 50,000) of North Carolina citizens will lose their jobs adding to our deep economic and unemployment problems.
I am a single grandmother raising two (2) grandsons who are both autistic. To have their services taken away or even reduced will put a great burden on me. I have a hard time with both together sometimes and when I get this help from their one on one people I can get things done like wash clothes make beds clean house and even go to the grocery store. I am only one in hundreds of grandparents who are raising grandchildren with some kind of disability. Just put yourself in our shoes. Spend some time with a family in need of services before you consider cutting them out of lives. See what we live with.
Thank you for taking the time to read this feel free to contact me.
Deborah Berry
I am a resident and employed in the human service field. I have been for the past 10 years. I am deeply saddened by the potential cuts that if implemented will devastate the individuals in my community and across the state. I support all actions that will secure and protect these target populations and human service field workers that have never provided services based on the bottom dollar but from the bottom of our hearts.
Please raise taxes,but do not make these cuts.It would be devastating to our most vulnerable citizens and there families, not to mention the thousands of people that would be faced with job losses.This move could devastate our state\’s economy even further.
I can not beleive you have gone on to say how you are going to help people no matter what when you are in office.
It is an awfull shame that you have cut so many jobs already, lowered police wages, taking care away from the children that need it most. These people are the most important people in this world and you are taking from them.
Instead why don\’t you take a little money from each of your employees and maybe we would be alright and our people wouldn\’t have to lose.