State Budget Action Alert!

State Budget Action Alert!

Governor Malloy is proposing a budget that largely protects both the children and adult mental health systems, invests in supportive housing, expands the mental health waiver to divert and discharge people with mental illnesses from nursing homes, invests in jail diversion and re-entry programs, moves forward with the raise the age initiative, and extends coverage for smoking cessation to all Medicaid recipients.

We must show the Governor and the Legislature that we support this balanced approach and long term vision! Please call or write the Governor and your state senator and state representative and tell them that you strongly support the fact that the proposed budget finally focuses on cost-effective, prevention and community care vs. costly, institutional and emergency care. We also urge you to testify at the upcoming budget hearings or attend a town hall – details are provided below.

There are regressive proposals in this budget as well, such as Medicaid co-pays, which Keep the Promise Coalition opposes as bad public policy that will restrict access to treatment and medications for people on Medicare and Medicaid. We will work with the Administration and Legislature over the coming months to advocate against these policies that are proven to limit access to care and push people into more intensive and expensive services. Multiple studies have shown that attempts to cut costs at the pharmacy level will reduce appropriate care, adversely affect health status, and cause shifts to more costly types of care. We must make this very clear!

Overall, the proposed budget asks for $1.5 billion in taxes, $1 billion in concessions from state employees, and $758 million in spending reductions.



To contact the Governor: Call (800) 406-1527; (860) 566-4840 or email: http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/site/default.asp

To contact your State Representative and State Senator, go to: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CGAFindLeg.asp



The highlights and lowlights of the Governor’s proposed budget are as follows:

HIGHLIGHTS

Housing

The development of 150 new units of supportive housing across the state!

•$30 million in the first year for bonds for permanent supportive housing, to create 150 new supportive units.
•$1.1 million in supportive services through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
•$1.5 million in new rental assistance subsidies through the Department of Social Services.
The Governor’s budget introduction states, “Residents of supportive housing have become contributing members of their communities, their use of expensive emergency services has been significantly reduced, and once‐blighted buildings have been rehabilitated, creating newly vibrant neighborhoods.”

Overall, the proposed budget funds $130 million for supportive and affordable housing development and rehabilitation projects!

Community Mental Health System

•Avoids major service reductions
•Supports expansion of community care through Money Follows the Person (MFP) and the DMHAS Medicaid Waiver for diversion and discharge from nursing homes.
•Funds caseload growth in Young Adult Services in DMHAS
•Continues support for the Raise the Age Initiative – 17 yr olds move to juvenile system as of July 1, 2012; 60 additional beds over the biennium; additional community services to support the continuum of care.
Medicaid

•Extends tobacco cessation coverage to all Medicaid recipients effective January 1, 2012
LOWLIGHTS

•Imposes $3 co-payments on most Medicaid services, however:


ü co-payments would not apply to hospital in-patient, emergency room services, home health, laboratory or transportation

ü co-pays would be capped at 5% of the involved family’s income

ü co-pays for prescription drugs would be capped at a maximum of $20 per month

ü a number of groups would be exempt from co-pays (this includes recipients of SSI, women who are receiving treatment for breast and/or cervical cancer and individuals who reside in institutional settings)



•Increases co-pays for people on Medicare Part D (in 2011, these range from $1.10 to $6.30 per prescription), with the result that dually-eligible individuals will be expected to pay up to $25 per month in co-payments (an increase from the current co-payment of $15)


•Reduces State Supplement benefits for those who are “Aged, Blind, or Disabled” by any federal Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase in an individual's Social Security benefit


Please note that this is not a complete summary of the budget. A more detailed legislative update including primary bills of interest will be forthcoming.

Please call KTP or NAMI-CT staff to sign up to testify/or with any questions you might have:

Call Cheri or Maura (KTP) or Alicia or Tom (NAMI-CT): (800) 215-3021; (860) 882-0236

Or email them at:

Cheri keepthepromise@namict.org

Maura ktpassistant@namict.org

Alicia publicpolicy@namict.org

Tom policystaff@namict.org



State Appropriations Budget Hearings Schedule

Wednesday, March 2

Health and Hospitals (Room 2D)


11:30-12:30 PM Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Public Hearing (Room 2C) 3:00 PM




Friday, March 4

Human Services (Room 2D)


11:00-12:30 PM Department of Children and Families

1:30-3:00 PM Department of Social Services

Public Hearing (Room 2C) 5:00 PM



Governor Malloy will be visiting 17 town halls across the State. The scheduled visits are posted below. Please try to attend forums close to your office or home and ask questions pertaining to your legislative priorities that you feel are most important.



BRIDGEPORT
February 21, 7-8 PM
City Hall Annex Auditorium
999 Broad Street

TORRINGTON
February 24, 7-8 PM
City Hall Auditorium
140 Main Street

NEW LONDON
March 2, 7-8 PM
Jennings Elementary School
50 Mercer Street

WATERBURY
March 8, 7-8 PM
Veteran’s Memorial Hall
235 Grand Street

NORWICH
March 9, 7-8 PM
City Hall, 3rd Floor
100 Broadway

BRISTOL
March 14, 7-8 PM
City Council Chambers
111 North Main Street

MERIDEN
March 15
Time & Location TBD

MIDDLETOWN
March 16, 7-8 PM
Common Council Room
245 DeKoven Drive

HARTFORD
March 21
Time & Location TBD

STAMFORD
March 22, 7-8 PM
Government Center
4th Floor Cafeteria
888 Washington Boulevard

NEW HAVEN
March 23, 7-8 PM
Aldermanic Chambers
165 Church Street

GREENWICH
March 28, 7-8 PM
Town Hall Meeting Room
101 Field Point Road

MANCHESTER
March 29, 7-8 PM
Lincoln Center Hearing Room
494 Main Street

WINDHAM
March 30, 7-8 PM
Town Hall Auditorium
979 Main Street

NORWALK
April 4
Time & Location TBD

NEW BRITAIN
April 5
Time & Location TBD

DANBURY
April 6
Time & Location TBD