Welcome to the Mental Health Association's On-line Advocacy Legislative News. 

These periodic alerts are designed to keep you up to date on important legislative issues and to suggest steps to action.  We welcome your input and responses to these alerts, which are compiled and written by Marge Parrish, Special Projects Coordinator.  Please call us with your feedback at 314-773-1399, or send e-mail to mparrish@mhagstl.org.

To keep you abreast of the proposed budget that Governor Matt Blunt made public on January 26, 2005, we offer these updates from a couple of sources.  It is time to begin the process of contacting the Governor, your State Representative and State Senator in regard to Gov. Blunt's proposed cuts to the Department of Mental Health and Medicaid.

We believe that the Governor's proposals cannot be tolerated by an already stretched-to-the-limits mental health system that is largely dependent on Medicaid.

 

Information from Jennifer Hill, Missouri Health Voice:

Missouri Governor proposes $632 million in cuts to the Medicaid program. Here's how it's done.

Eligibility Changes

Adults eligibility reduced to 30% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or $391.80 per month affecting approximately 60,000 working families.

Elderly and Disabled eligibility reduced to 74% of the FPL or $574.24 per month, affecting approximately 30,000 seniors and disabled people.

Elimination of Programs

General Relief Medicaid - 3,100 individuals with disabilities lose coverage.

Missouri Workers With Disabilities - 99,000 participate; they will have to quit working or lose their Medicaid coverage.

Reduction of Optional Benefits

Dental, Podiatry, and equipment such as wheelchairs will be eliminated for the elderly and disabled, and any adults who still qualify

Other proposals in Governor Blunt's speech include a new state law to require annual re-verification of Medicaid recipients; this is already required by federal law.  The Governor also claims that he can achieve $75 million in savings by attacking fraud, waste and abuse.  It is unclear that there are savings of that kind available, or if providers as well as recipients will be targeted for scrutiny.

We estimate that approximately 180,000 recipients will be affected.   Remember: "We all Know the difference between right and wrong.  Protecting health care for seniors and children is right. Medicaid cuts are wrong."

From the Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers

PLEASE KNOW THAT THESE PROPOSED ACTIONS ARE UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR HISTORY.  $40 MILLION IN CUTS ARE TARGETED FOR COMMUNITY TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES  FOR THE DIVISIONS OF ADA, CPS AND MRDD.  IMPACT STATEMENTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND WILL BE FORWARDED TOMORROW OR MONDAY. 

Department of Mental Health
Fiscal Year 2006 Budget

Governor Blunt will provide funding for the Department of Mental Health in the amount of  $915.6 million, including $480.7 million general revenue.  The Governor has implemented core cuts totaling $92 million, including $49.9 million general revenue as part of his program to partner with providers to provide a higher level of services to clients.  The core cuts include closing a residential facility and three Independent Supported Living Programs and a reduction of services to non-Medicaid eligibles.  (See explanation below.)

DMH Community Programs Core Reduction  ($ 40,777,208)

· ($10,226,703) reduction in non-Medicaid services for non-Medicaid eligible persons who would otherwise receive community-based drug and alcohol treatment.
· ($9,181,797) reduction in non-Medicaid services for non-Medicaid eligible persons who would otherwise receive community-based psychiatric services.
· ($4,201,547) reduction in community-based psychiatric services to clients eligible for Medicaid, but receiving services that are not Medicaid billable.
· ($11,409,213) reduction due to Medicaid optional eligibility reductions for clients served by all divisions. (Predominantly MRDD)
· ($5,757,948) reduction due to the elimination of Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities program (MAWD). 
Bellefontaine Habilitation Center Closure ..($5,272,791)
      Jobs lost….……………(920)

· $14,425,599 has been redirected from Bellefontaine to MRDD Community Programs for the state's share of $129.00 per day to support public-private partnerships in the community for 344 clients.  Through public-private partnerships, providers will draw down federal earnings to supplement the state's share for client support in the community.

MRDD Independent Supported Living Programs (ISL)…………. ($1,261,263)
Jobs lost…………..........… (97)

· $1,699,988 has been redirected to MRDD Community Programs to support 69 clients from Nevada, Southeast Missouri Treatment Center, and St. Louis DDTC Independent Supported Living Programs.  Through public-private partnerships, providers will draw down federal earnings to supplement the $90.00 a day state's share for client supports in the community.

New Decision Items

The Governor added $5.2 million for caseload growth (ADA, CPS, MRDD) and $1.3 million to add another 17 treatment beds for the sexual offender program. 

Marge Parris
Special Projects Coordinator
Mental Health Association
314-773-1399

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