2011 Budget Cuts

Back to previous page

What Impact Will This Year’s Budget Have on Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs?

In January 2011, Governor Brown released his draft budget for the state of California to address the $25 billion deficit. It won’t be finalized until the California Legislature agrees, and there are a number of proposals that voters must approve. But there are a number of key cuts or proposed changes that will impact children and youth with special health care needs:

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES/REGIONAL CENTERS ↓$750 Million ( + severe cuts from last few years): Regional Centers coordinate community-based services for over 240,000 infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities. Would extend 4.25% reduction in payments to Regional Centers and service providers and would reduce Regional Center funding by approximately $600 million through “statewide service standards” for services, eligibility, rates and parental/ consumer responsibilities.

HEALTHY FAMILIES ↓$135.7 Million: Would include premiums and co-pay increases and would eliminate vision coverage. Potentially would affect 565,000 children, but this increase may not be allowed by federal health reform law.

IN HOME SUPPORT SERVICES (IHSS): ↓$486.2 Million: IHSS serves over 460,000 children and adults with disabilities. New proposal would reduce hours of service by 8.4% for all recipients, resulting in overall 12% reduction for all recipients (including the 3.6% reduction enacted in 2010-11).

MEDI-CAL ↓$1.709 Billion: Limits services and utilization for adults; imposes copayments for adults and children; eliminates Adult Day Health Care Services, over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements; and reduces payments to physicians and providers. All proposed Medi-Cal reductions have been rejected by Legislature or courts in recent years and proposed 10% rate reduction is pending in US Supreme Court

SSI/SSP GRANTS ↓$177.9 Million: SSI/SSP grants provide cash assistance to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities meet basic living expenses. Would reduce grants for disabled individuals from $845 to $830 per month (minimum allowed by federal law).

Coming soon on the June Ballot:

PROPOSITION 10 (FIRST 5): Divert tobacco tax revenue generated by Proposition 10 to pay for Medi-Cal services for children up to age 5. Subject to voter approval, this would redirect Proposition 10/First 5 funds currently covering developmental services to Medi-Cal. Voters rejected a proposition last year to redirect First 5 funds.

PROPOSITION 63 ↓$861.2 Million: Divert Proposition 63 revenues to fund existing mental health related services including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSTD), Mental Health Managed Care (MHMC) and AB 3632 (state-mandated mental health services for special education students). Voters rejected a proposition in May 2009 to redirect Proposition 63 funds.

These proposals are not yet final. If you have something to say, remember to voice your concerns. Legislators need to hear about how these proposals will impact your family. Try visiting them in their home offices, attending a hearing to voice your concerns, providing written input, or even writing an Op Ed piece for your local newspaper.

Get up-to-date information on the California Budget and get involved:

More Information

Below is a template to assist you in voicing your concerns when contacting legislators:

Dear____________________,

I am writing regarding the proposed cuts to services for children and families.

The services help me (and my family) in the following ways:

If services are cut this is what will happen to me (and my family):

Without services, what will I do?

Thank you. I would welcome a response.

Sincerely,

Street ___________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State _________ Zip _____________

**********************************************************************

下面是一個模板，以幫助您在聯絡市參事時，表達你的問題﹕

親愛的 ___________________________,

我想表達關于州政府預算和服務縮減對小孩和家庭的影響
我現在的服務在這些方面幫到我和我的家人

如果我的服務縮減了，我和我的家人將會

沒有了這些服務，我要怎樣做呢？

謝謝，我希望和等待你的回复
真誠的

Street ___________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State _________ Zip _____________

**********************************************************************

A continuación se muestra una plantilla para ayudarle a expresar sus preocupaciones cuando trate de ponerse en contacto con sus legisladores:

Estimado ___________________________,
Le escribo con respecto a los recortes al propuestos en los servicios a los niños y las familias.
Estos servicios me ayudan a mí y mi familia de las siguientes maneras:

Si los servicios se cortan esto es lo que le pasar a mí y mi familia:

Sin estos servicios, no sé que haré?

Muchas gracias. Agradecería una respuesta.

Atentamente,

Street _____________________________________________________________
City _______________________________________ State _______ Zip ________

**********************************************************************
Following are the addresses that letters or postcards may be sent regarding the proposed budget cuts.

Service Standards
Department of Developmental Services
1600 - 9th Street (MS 3-24)
P.O. Box 944202
Sacramento, CA 94244-2020
terri.delgadillo@dds.ca.gov

Senator Bob Huff
Room 5097, State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator.Huff@senate.ca.gov

Senator Leland Yee, District 8
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14200
San Francisco, CA 94102
Senator.Yee@senate.ca.gov

Assemblymember Fiona Ma, District 12
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14600
San Francisco, CA 94102
assemblymember.Ma@asm.ca.gov

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, District 13
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14300
San Francisco, CA 94102
assemblymember.Ammiano@asm.ca.gov

Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee #3
Health and Human Services
State Capitol - Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator.DeSaulnier@senate.ca.gov

Sen. Mark Leno, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State Capitol - Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator.Leno@senate.ca.gov

Assemblymember Holly Mitchell, Chair
Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1
Health and Human Services
State Capitol - Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814
assemblymember.Mitchell@asm.ca.gov

Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, Chair
Assembly Budget Committee
State Capitol - Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814
assemblymember.Blumenfield@asm.ca.gov

And ALWAYS send copies to:

The name of your own State Senator and Assemblymember
State Capitol (no room needed)
Sacramento, CA 95814

Tara Robinson is the Manager for Family Voices of California, a statewide collaborative of locally-based parent run centers working to ensure quality health care for children and youth with special health care needs. To sign up for our statewide listserv or free monthly webinar trainings, please visit our website at www.familyvoicesofca.org.