Gov. Rick Scott agreed to lift his emergency order that made massive cuts in state payments to caregivers who help thousands of Floridians with physical and developmental disabilities
The following article was published on April 15, 2011in the Tallahassee Democrat/Florida Capitol News:
Scott lifts disabilities-services cuts
Lawmakers assure governor that budget will include $174M needed
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott agreed Thursday to lift his emergency order that made massive cuts in state payments to caregivers who help thousands of Floridians with physical and developmental disabilities.
Scott met with legislative leaders and received assurance that the House-Senate budget negotiations would include language covering a $174-million Agency for Persons with Disabilities budget gap. The House version of the budget already covers it, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has directed Senate negotiators to follow suit.
"I'm very hopeful. We need to do it," Scott said. "It's an important group of people, individuals, so we're working with the House and the Senate."
The Medicaid waiver provides services for about 30,000 people with such conditions as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, autism, Down syndrome and other physical or developmental disabilities.
The governor's 90-day order touched off protests by advocates for people with disabilities, who said they could not survive a 15 percent reduction in payments by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities under a Medicaid waiver program. Many service providers said they would have to lay off staff and curtail services — even close their doors — because the full impact of the cut was in some cases more than 30 percent.
Scott said at the time he had no choice, since no agency is allowed to overspend its budget.
"After years of deficit spending that put these services at risk, I'm glad that we're taking steps to finally bring responsible financial management to this agency and the people they serve," Scott said Thursday in a statement.
Terry Bishop, head of Specialized Supports and Services, said rescinding the payment cuts would keep her 90 employees caring for about 125 people in the Tallahassee-Madison area.
"I had a few leave and a few more said they were staying to help the individuals but had to start looking for other employment," she said. "Many were so attached to the individuals they served that they wouldn't leave. We're delighted to know that there will be an agreement. Many parents and providers will be so relieved."
Hundreds of providers, parents and clients staged a mass protest at the Capitol last week, demanding that Scott personally try tending to an APD client for a day or two before imposing such cuts. Bishop and other providers said clients would end up in institutions, at much greater cost and less benefit for the affected people, if they lost in-home or group care.
The formal executive order rescinding Scott's March 31 directive will go out early next week, his staff said.
"Families and advocates are frightened, frayed and exhausted," said Sylvia Smith, legislative and public affairs director for Disability Rights Florida Inc., an advocacy group. "It's badly needed good news."
House and Senate budget talks will not start until after the Easter break but the signal clears the way for payments to be kept at standard rates.
"Governor Scott's initial decision to freeze a portion of APD's budget was an effort to get a better handle on the situation," Haridopolos said in a statement. "I've worked with Governor Scott and House Speaker Dean Cannon to ensure that those Floridians who rely on this funding will receive the full amount of services provided by the state."
Scott said his agreement with the legislative leadership lifted a hold on about $30 million that will cover the payment gap for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Gov. Rick Scott agreed Thursday to lift his emergency order that made massive cuts in state payments to caregivers who help thousands of Floridians with physical and developmental disabilities.
Scott met with legislative leaders and received assurance that the House-Senate budget negotiations would include language covering a $174-million Agency for Persons with Disabilities budget gap. The House version of the budget already covers it, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has directed Senate negotiators to follow suit.
"I'm very hopeful. We need to do it," Scott said. "It's an important group of people, individuals, so we're working with the House and the Senate."
The Medicaid waiver provides services for about 30,000 people with such conditions as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, autism, Down syndrome and other physical or developmental disabilities.
The governor's 90-day order touched off protests by advocates for people with disabilities, who said they could not survive a 15 percent reduction in payments by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities under a Medicaid waiver program. Many service providers said they would have to lay off staff and curtail services — even close their doors — because the full impact of the cut was in some cases more than 30 percent.
Scott said at the time he had no choice, since no agency is allowed to overspend its budget.
"After years of deficit spending that put these services at risk, I'm glad that we're taking steps to finally bring responsible financial management to this agency and the people they serve," Scott said Thursday in a statement.
Terry Bishop, head of Specialized Supports and Services, said rescinding the payment cuts would keep her 90 employees caring for about 125 people in the Tallahassee-Madison area.
"I had a few leave and a few more said they were staying to help the individuals but had to start looking for other employment," she said. "Many were so attached to the individuals they served that they wouldn't leave. We're delighted to know that there will be an agreement. Many parents and providers will be so relieved."
Hundreds of providers, parents and clients staged a mass protest at the Capitol last week, demanding that Scott personally try tending to an APD client for a day or two before imposing such cuts. Bishop and other providers said clients would end up in institutions, at much greater cost and less benefit for the affected people, if they lost in-home or group care.
The formal executive order rescinding Scott's March 31 directive will go out early next week, his staff said.
"Families and advocates are frightened, frayed and exhausted," said Sylvia Smith, legislative and public affairs director for Disability Rights Florida Inc., an advocacy group. "It's badly needed good news."
House and Senate budget talks will not start until after the Easter break but the signal clears the way for payments to be kept at standard rates.
"Governor Scott's initial decision to freeze a portion of APD's budget was an effort to get a better handle on the situation," Haridopolos said in a statement. "I've worked with Governor Scott and House Speaker Dean Cannon to ensure that those Floridians who rely on this funding will receive the full amount of services provided by the state."
Scott said his agreement with the legislative leadership lifted a hold on about $30 million that will cover the payment gap for the remainder of the fiscal year.
For complete South Florida Home Health Care support, go to www.afamilymemberhomecare.com.
Scott lifts disabilities-services cuts
Lawmakers assure governor that budget will include $174M needed
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott agreed Thursday to lift his emergency order that made massive cuts in state payments to caregivers who help thousands of Floridians with physical and developmental disabilities.
Scott met with legislative leaders and received assurance that the House-Senate budget negotiations would include language covering a $174-million Agency for Persons with Disabilities budget gap. The House version of the budget already covers it, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has directed Senate negotiators to follow suit.
"I'm very hopeful. We need to do it," Scott said. "It's an important group of people, individuals, so we're working with the House and the Senate."
The Medicaid waiver provides services for about 30,000 people with such conditions as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, autism, Down syndrome and other physical or developmental disabilities.
The governor's 90-day order touched off protests by advocates for people with disabilities, who said they could not survive a 15 percent reduction in payments by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities under a Medicaid waiver program. Many service providers said they would have to lay off staff and curtail services — even close their doors — because the full impact of the cut was in some cases more than 30 percent.
Scott said at the time he had no choice, since no agency is allowed to overspend its budget.
"After years of deficit spending that put these services at risk, I'm glad that we're taking steps to finally bring responsible financial management to this agency and the people they serve," Scott said Thursday in a statement.
Terry Bishop, head of Specialized Supports and Services, said rescinding the payment cuts would keep her 90 employees caring for about 125 people in the Tallahassee-Madison area.
"I had a few leave and a few more said they were staying to help the individuals but had to start looking for other employment," she said. "Many were so attached to the individuals they served that they wouldn't leave. We're delighted to know that there will be an agreement. Many parents and providers will be so relieved."
Hundreds of providers, parents and clients staged a mass protest at the Capitol last week, demanding that Scott personally try tending to an APD client for a day or two before imposing such cuts. Bishop and other providers said clients would end up in institutions, at much greater cost and less benefit for the affected people, if they lost in-home or group care.
The formal executive order rescinding Scott's March 31 directive will go out early next week, his staff said.
"Families and advocates are frightened, frayed and exhausted," said Sylvia Smith, legislative and public affairs director for Disability Rights Florida Inc., an advocacy group. "It's badly needed good news."
House and Senate budget talks will not start until after the Easter break but the signal clears the way for payments to be kept at standard rates.
"Governor Scott's initial decision to freeze a portion of APD's budget was an effort to get a better handle on the situation," Haridopolos said in a statement. "I've worked with Governor Scott and House Speaker Dean Cannon to ensure that those Floridians who rely on this funding will receive the full amount of services provided by the state."
Scott said his agreement with the legislative leadership lifted a hold on about $30 million that will cover the payment gap for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Gov. Rick Scott agreed Thursday to lift his emergency order that made massive cuts in state payments to caregivers who help thousands of Floridians with physical and developmental disabilities.
Scott met with legislative leaders and received assurance that the House-Senate budget negotiations would include language covering a $174-million Agency for Persons with Disabilities budget gap. The House version of the budget already covers it, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has directed Senate negotiators to follow suit.
"I'm very hopeful. We need to do it," Scott said. "It's an important group of people, individuals, so we're working with the House and the Senate."
The Medicaid waiver provides services for about 30,000 people with such conditions as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, autism, Down syndrome and other physical or developmental disabilities.
The governor's 90-day order touched off protests by advocates for people with disabilities, who said they could not survive a 15 percent reduction in payments by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities under a Medicaid waiver program. Many service providers said they would have to lay off staff and curtail services — even close their doors — because the full impact of the cut was in some cases more than 30 percent.
Scott said at the time he had no choice, since no agency is allowed to overspend its budget.
"After years of deficit spending that put these services at risk, I'm glad that we're taking steps to finally bring responsible financial management to this agency and the people they serve," Scott said Thursday in a statement.
Terry Bishop, head of Specialized Supports and Services, said rescinding the payment cuts would keep her 90 employees caring for about 125 people in the Tallahassee-Madison area.
"I had a few leave and a few more said they were staying to help the individuals but had to start looking for other employment," she said. "Many were so attached to the individuals they served that they wouldn't leave. We're delighted to know that there will be an agreement. Many parents and providers will be so relieved."
Hundreds of providers, parents and clients staged a mass protest at the Capitol last week, demanding that Scott personally try tending to an APD client for a day or two before imposing such cuts. Bishop and other providers said clients would end up in institutions, at much greater cost and less benefit for the affected people, if they lost in-home or group care.
The formal executive order rescinding Scott's March 31 directive will go out early next week, his staff said.
"Families and advocates are frightened, frayed and exhausted," said Sylvia Smith, legislative and public affairs director for Disability Rights Florida Inc., an advocacy group. "It's badly needed good news."
House and Senate budget talks will not start until after the Easter break but the signal clears the way for payments to be kept at standard rates.
"Governor Scott's initial decision to freeze a portion of APD's budget was an effort to get a better handle on the situation," Haridopolos said in a statement. "I've worked with Governor Scott and House Speaker Dean Cannon to ensure that those Floridians who rely on this funding will receive the full amount of services provided by the state."
Scott said his agreement with the legislative leadership lifted a hold on about $30 million that will cover the payment gap for the remainder of the fiscal year.
For complete South Florida Home Health Care support, go to www.afamilymemberhomecare.com.
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