What's happening:
Supportive Services rates are being cut by 7%.
Background:
In 2013 and 2014, the Minnesota Legislature passed cost of living rate increases for Supportive Services by 7%. Recently, the Minnesota Department of Human Services announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services disqualified these rate increases which amounts to a 7% cut to supportive services benefits beginning July 1, 2018 (subject to banding).
If this cut remains, it will have a direct impact on PAI and the people we serve, resulting in an approximately $420,000 shortfall in our annual budget.
The state budget outlook currently predicts a surplus. The 7% cut is part of that surplus and needs to be restored to the budget. The State Legislature can stop this cut and strengthen the system for setting supportive service rates.
What you can do:
Contact your state legislator to support effective measures to correct the 7% rate cut.
You are welcome to use the template below as a starting point to make your voice heard.
Dear Senator/Representative ___________________:
As you know, people with disabilities rely on reimbursement rates set by the state to pay for basic needs and the services that support their quality of life. You are probably also aware that recent guidance from the federal government via Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will result in a 7% rate cut for supportive services beginning July 1, 2018. These cuts, especially in the midst of an ongoing shortage of direct service professionals to provide these services, could be devastating for disabled individuals.
I urge you to reverse these cuts and bring much needed stability to this system and to the lives of the people it supports.
Thank you.
(Signature)
Click
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to identify your state representatives
(please focus on state representatives as this issue is not believed to be something that federal representatives can currently influence).
