We all know the State's revenues are down again. We all know there is a $400 million gap that lawmakers need to fill in order to balance the State's budget.
A big part of that balancing act is coming out of Health and Human Services and again, Maine's elders and those with disabilities, both living in their homes will be hurt.
One cut targets the Home Based Care (HBC) program with a $500,000 reduction, effectively cutting the program in half. DHHS is looking to achieve this by cutting the number of hours of care received. That equals a cut in pay for those direct care workers giving the care.
The second cut targets the two MaineCare self-directed programs (Section 12-CDAS and Section 22-Waiver). This cut will reduce the current hourly rate by 10%. This will NOT impact the hours of care, but will reduce the already bare-bones pay direct care workers receive. This may make it hard for those needing care to retain their caregivers because the caregivers will seek work elsewhere. It will also make it extremely hard for those in the self-directed programs to find new workers because they cannot offer a livable wage.
These cuts are poor public policy. We need to find a better way to reduce expenses without harming those needing care and without harming the workers providing the care.
We as workers, and those we care for, have a opportunity to voice our opposition, concerns, and ideas for reducing expenses. There are two public hearings on these proposed cuts coming up at the State House.
The first is on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 1 pm in room 228, the Appropriations Committee Room. This is on the MaineCare cuts.
The second is on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at 9 am in room 228. This hearing is on the Home Based Care cuts.
Please join me, and the lady I care for, at these hearings. It is so important for lawmakers to hear from those that will be affected by these cuts.
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