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Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Texas House of Representatives in their vote passing a budget on April 3rd reduces funding for persons living in the community with intellectual and developmental up to 34 percent. These devastating cuts will result in more than 25000 people being displaced more than 400 providers closing their doors and thousands of health care workers sent to unemployment lines.
Persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve better" said Doug Svien President of the Providers Alliance for Community Services of Texas (PACSTX) a nonprofit association of providers serving about 5000 intellectually and developmentally disabled Texans. They are among the most vulnerable members of our society particularly since many no longer have family who can help them. We give them a home and the support they need to stay out of costlier institutional care" he added.
David Southern also a member of PACSTX said As former mayor of Granbury I know these cuts will push health care costs down to the local level. If these vulnerable members of our community are not able to live in a stable community-based environment they will end up in our emergency rooms in our jails or on the streets. We cannot let people with autism Downs syndrome or other conditions suffer this way."
Persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities can receive services in an intermediate care facility a group home a foster care home or their own home under the Home and Community Services waiver. In these settings persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities can receive nursing care help with medications assistance with activities of daily living habilitation and necessary therapies.
There are not enough beds in state-supported living centers across the state to serve the number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in the community. Even if there were institutional care costs three times as much as community-based care. To care for someone in their home and in their community isnt just that its the right care for them it makes sense for the long term benefit to our community and taxpayers. From every aspect these cuts just dont make sense" Mr. Svien stated.
The funding for the Home and Community Services (HCS) waiver was reduced by 29 percent in H.B.1 and funding for intermediate care facilities (ICF-MR) was reduced by 34 percent.
