Advocates Prepare To Fight Over Cuts to Adult Day Health Care
Advocates for seniors and residents with disabilities are gearing up for a fight over Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) plan to eliminate California's adult day health care program, the Contra Costa Times reports (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 5/22).
Background
In March, state lawmakers passed budget legislation that eliminated state funding for adult day health care services. Lawmakers intended to later provide $85 million to create a new, scaled-down version of the program ("Capitol Desk," California Healthline, 5/18)
However, Brown's newly released May revision of his budget plan includes only $25 million for adult day health care services.
Lydia Missaelides -- executive director of the California Association for Adult Day Services -- said the $25 million would go toward transitioning the program toward elimination (Mohajer, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 5/19).
Gregory Franklin -- deputy director of health care operations at the state Department of Health Care Services -- said the $25 million will help the state transition adult day health care beneficiaries to other programs. He said such beneficiaries could be shifted to In-Home Supportive Services, the Multipurpose Senior Services Program and regional centers for people with disabilities.
Gregory Franklin -- deputy director of health care operations at the state Department of Health Care Services -- said the $25 million will help the state transition adult day health care beneficiaries to other programs. He said such beneficiaries could be shifted to In-Home Supportive Services, the Multipurpose Senior Services Program and regional centers for people with disabilities.
Preparing for a Fight
According to advocates, eliminating adult day health care services would force thousands of program beneficiaries into long-term care facilities, which ultimately will drive up state costs. Advocates note that Medi-Cal -- California's Medicaid program -- pays about $76 daily for adult day health care programs and about $175 daily for nursing home care (Contra Costa Times, 5/22).
Missaelides said her organization is promoting legislation (AB 96), by Assembly member Bob Blumenfield (D- Woodland Hills), that would help restore $85 million for adult day health care services and convert it into a waiver-funded program. As a waiver-funded system, the adult day health care program would have stricter eligibility standards and would serve fewer residents
Although the program would be scaled down, Missaelides said the changes would be preferable to complete elimination (AP/San Jose Mercury News, 5/19).
State Response
Brown and other state lawmakers say the adult day health care cuts are necessary to address California's $9.6 billion deficit. They estimate that eliminating the program will reduce state spending by $170 million annually.
Tony Cava, spokesperson for DHCS, said provisions of the federal health reform law limit the state's ability to cut spending on Medi-Cal. However, he noted that the state has the power to reduce Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for health care providers and eliminate optional Medi-Cal benefits such as adult day health care services.
California officials have asked for federal approval to eliminate Medi-Cal coverage for adult day health care services. The federal government has 90 days to respond to the state's request (Contra Costa Times, 5/22).
For more coverage of the planned adult day health care cuts, see today's Capitol Desk post.
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