On this historic day with Barack Obama being sworn in as our 44th President we will be working with House Research on our reform/transformation bill. Other things of note:
This Friday the Legislative Auditor meets and releases his report on PCA services. We expect the commission to note fraud among some (non-ARRM) providers and the growth in utilization of this low funded program – especially for mental health services. For many people unable to get services through waivers and other programs, PCA services is about the only option left.
Now, with waiver slots shut down for at least a half-year – and limits sure to be put on the table for the next biennium – people will have even fewer programs to turn to if the legislature moves ahead with some of the recommendations we guess will be in the auditors report.
We know there will be several PCAs and clients at the hearing to show the need and support for these supports. The hearing will be in room 107 of the state capitol at 10:30 a.m. Friday Jan. 23rd. The report will go live on the Legislative Auditor’s website at 10:30. Here’s the link:
http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/
Also going on today...
We meet with Rep. Tom Huntley with a coalition of health and human services advocates on funding targets.
The House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee gets the Department of Human Services overview of priority areas and outcome measures.
A group of disability advocates, including ARRM, finish a document for legislators – especially leaders – explaining why the growth in the six waivers for disabilities and the elderly is planned growth as a cost effective alternative to nursing homes and hospitals. We’ll share that document, which ARRM helped develop, as soon as it’s out.