The End is in Sight: Keep the Pressure On

/in , /by Cathy

The legislative session is quickly winding down. Bills must be out of the opposite house of origin by Wednesday and out of fiscal committees by March 2. Session adjourns on March 12.

Most of our priority bills are still alive — and that is good news. You can view the status of bills here.

Last Monday’s revenue forecast came in better than expected, giving budget writers some breathing room as they worked to close the gap.

Over the weekend, both the House and Senate released their proposed budgets. We are relieved to report that some of the worst-case scenarios were NOT included:

  • Proposed eligibility changes to waiver and personal care services that would have eliminated services for 2,500 people — nearly 10% of waiver recipients
  • Severe cuts to Early Supports for Infants & Toddlers that would have rolled provider rates back to 2008 levels

This is a direct result of YOUR advocacy.

Legislators told us they heard loud and clear from the disability community that these cuts were unacceptable. Emails, calls, testimony, and meetings made a difference.

Thank you for speaking up.

The Budgets Are Not Pretty

That said, the budgets are still difficult. There is significant red ink and reductions across many areas. Thankfully, most direct services for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) remain intact — but the system itself is taking hits that will affect stability and long-term capacity.

You can compare the House and Senate budgets side by side here.

A Serious Concern: Elimination of Adult Therapies

There is one major provision in the House budget that we did not see coming.

The House proposal eliminates Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), and Speech Therapy for ALL adult Medicaid recipients.

The numbers are troubling:

  • Projected savings: ~$8 million in State General Fund dollars
  • Federal match lost: more than $33 million

In other words, the state would lose far more federal funding than it would save.

But the real cost is human.

Therapies Are Not “Extras.” They Are Medically Necessary.

Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapies:

  • Maintain strength, mobility, and independence
  • Help individuals communicate their needs and reduce crisis behaviors
  • Support safe swallowing and prevent aspiration pneumonia
  • Build everyday life skills so people can live, work, and participate in the community

Cutting therapies does not eliminate need.

It simply shifts costs — to emergency rooms, hospitals, institutional settings, and long-term care — at far greater expense.

We do not want Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs) or nursing facilities to become the only places people can reliably access therapy services. That is a direct blow to community living.

A Forced Choice No One Should Have to Make

While therapies would technically remain available through Medicaid waivers, individuals would be forced to “choose” between therapy services and other essential supports within their limited Individual and Family Services (IFS) or Aggregate budgets — such as:

  • Respite for family caregivers
  • Community engagement
  • Employment supports
  • Behavioral services

This is not real choice. It is rationing.

The good news: this proposal is only in the House budget. There is still time to ensure it does not appear in the final negotiated budget.

 

What you can Do

If this issue matters to you, please contact your House members and tell them:

Do not eliminate PT, OT, and Speech therapy for adult Medicaid recipients. Therapies are medically necessary and life-changing.

What Happens Next?

The House and Senate must now negotiate a final spending plan. The Governor must also sign off — and there are already differences of opinion about revenue assumptions, including reliance on the proposed “Millionaire Tax” (SB6346). More than 100,000 people signed in on that bill, showing how high-stakes this conversation is.In short: the session is not over. Much could still change. Stay tuned.

Your voice matters. We have already seen that advocacy works.

Let’s keep going.

Thank you for your continued partnership. We cannot do this without you.