It has been said, that Tax Payer money has been spent on The Special Olympics. Lets examine the logic of this for a moment as millions of dollars is being spent on The Special Olympics.  Services for the disabled are being cut for budgetary reasons. While I understand the sentiment of Mr. Popkey’s column regarding the governor having a face to the issue. I don’t think Idaho’s priorities are clear in the long run that money should be diverted from the International Special Olympic Games to serve the needs of Idaho Residents First. Idaho Health and Welfare are well known in statistics, as well as in consensus format of its residents to be worse in the nation for servings its people.  With that being said I believe that if The State of Idaho really wanted to solve the issues of Medicaid services. You have to solve the issue of eschewed priorities in The State of Idaho’s investment strategy.

The Special Olympics is not inclusive nor is it a good idea to try and put on an international image when there are plenty of issues at home in the state that needs to be solved first. As the old saying goes it is best too, “Get your house in order”. Before attempting to put on a image that you are the best place in the world for those with disabilities.  Some may say to me, “The State needs more revenue”. Well, if the state were to actually create jobs to increase the tax revenue instead of allowing them to be shipped overseas. We as a state would take the lead for the rest of the nation, in not only taking care of its people. Also we would have the revenue to actually take care of Persons with Developmental Disabilities. We would also be able to provide jobs in one of the most hostile states for a working environment.

Then, there is the subject of Right to Work in the State of Idaho; which has not worked for those needing jobs lately. Since, there has been an increasing amount of layoffs as the result of a Bad Federal Fiscal Policy.  We will need that tax money now more then ever to help not just those with disabilities but also, with the low income parents who are barely affording to take care of themselves let alone their disabled family members. Logical thinking tells me that while you sometimes have to make decisions of a very tough nature. You would have to look at the impact it has on human beings let alone the financial budget. That being said, it will be the responsibility for the person involved to learn how to save their money now and start stocking up on food because even the incoming president will say as I paraphrase the new president, “The economy is in pretty bad shape”.

The Priority of Idaho State Government should be right now to take care of its own residents while getting its house in order. Meaning: Idaho should focus on improving its image by doing its job right; helping those with Disabilities obtain their individual liberty by helping them become independent contributing citizens.  If that can be done then you would have less of them on benefits and more of them increasing the tax revenue for both the State and Federal Governments. Which, a lot of them desperately need right now. So now is not a good time to make the illogical fallacy of keeping them from working thinking their disability would make them, “an employer liability”.

(Independentmessage) Reporting

12/16/08

This Evening as Parents and Developmental Therapy Service Provider Access Behavioral Health Service are holding a meeting. Some of the Highlighted concerns for the evening will be Highlighted as The Hold backs of the Idaho State Medicaid Budget continues. There as a brief film on how the, “Budgetary Hold backs” Will affect those who rely on the services to remain independent in the community.

According to Kathie Garrett lobbyist for the IADDA (Idaho Association of Developmental Disability Agencies). The holdbacks are supposed to be up to 6% across the board of The State of Idaho’s budget. This will include Medicaid Expenditures with Public Schools receiving less of the blunt impact due to the use of Idaho’s Rainy day fund.

The Hours for Rehabilitative Service known as Developmental Therapy or DDA for short

The Agenda of this meeting will hae been

Medicaid Release 2008-22

Why the reduction of hours?

When does this start

Is this Permanent?

How is this affecting your services?

How is this affecting your staff?

What is Access doing about MR 2008-22?

What can Families do to help retain their services?

How the EPSDT process can help your child maintain your child’s services.

Are we in this alone?

According to Kelly Buckland Executive Director of The Idaho State Independent Living Council. a rally will be held at the Statehouse in Boise on the 15th of January at 1:30, with the march being held at 1:00 at the same day. According to Evangeline Beecher the Medicaid Holdbacks will only be 1%. Which Translates to 27% cut from the Medicaid budget. The main concern according to Evangeline Beecher is the ability to keep staff employed and working with clients.

For a background of wages paid to care staff in comparison to Department of Health and Welfare employees. 1.9% increase was the last increase while in 2009 The Department of Health and Welfare in 2009 are expected to be increased by 3.0% Source: (Idaho Association of Developmental Disability Agencies Legislative Handbook). EPSDT is the loophole that allows Participants of the Devlopmental Therapy get a, “Medically necessary”. exemption to the budget cut rule. Advocates are expected to appeal to the state Health and Welfare, as well as The Joint Finance Appropriations committee.

Federal Government cuts begin through the Centers For Medicaid Medicare Services in January with an investigation  by The House Govenment Oversight and Reform committee since CMS did the cuts without approval from congress. Henry Waxman Congressman had requested information from the Medicaid Administrators from all 50 states as to the effects on beneficiaries.

Editors Note: The Reporter/blogger will be in that particular film

Sources:

IADDA Legislative handbook

Letters found on the web from Idaho Medicaid Administrator to House Governmental Oversight and Reform Committees

Report by House Governmental oversight and reform committee (Also found on the web)

Developmental Disability Budgetf rom 2009 Budget of Idaho also found on the web.

EPSDT guide letter from Department of Health and Welfare

Conference Broucher that contains the date of the rally

People quoted in the post/ article

Kathie Garrett

Evangeline Beecher

Kelly Buckland

Media files  in the sites media section indictates documentation on the issue

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510080.html
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510220.html
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/29/residents-palins-alaska-hometown-hail-choice/
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/29/palin-historic-choice-vice-president-and-all-unkno/

Alaskan Governmental Reform on Healthcare PDF file

http://www.hss.state.ak.us/hspc/files/200710_nga_statehealthreformsum07.pdf

From the British Isles

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/uselections2008.republicans2008
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0830/1220023440682.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7588542.stm

For the disability groups across the Atlantic between the States and The UK you have no need to fear. This is the link to the article that talks about The High Courts Decision.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/dec/21/science.genetics

I know that I am a little bit behind on this, however I think it needs to be said. If you, are going to write an article about something make sure that if you inject opinion into a piece say, “In the opinion of this writer”. In a July 2nd 2008 speech Barack Obama did call for a, “Civilian National Security Force”. While that scares me as much as the next guy. Don’t make a fabrication about what someone else has said. This is the Youtube video of the speech in full context.

I will be doing Fact Check posts on various items that I read or hear about. I will be doing more entries like this when I get the chance.

For those who read this Blog, I want to mention that I have  a policy of giving credit where credit is due. If a debate ensues on my blog I will give credit to those who are right on the issue. My Youtube channel www.youtube.com/acousticfreeze  This blog will be dedicated to news items outside of disability issues. If you want to discuss those issues the site you go to is www.myspace.com/understandingdifferences that is the myspace page for my disability radio show.

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1721458,00.html

There is a new film out from the nation of Columbia called paradiso travel this film challenges both the Immigration Advocates and the immigration opponents. Finally this might be the answer to an honest look at the Immigration issue. The Argument then comes to mind as, is it really worth it? With the Columbian Filmmaker directly challenging both sides of the issue maybe we can take a closer look at how to really solve the problem.

american-apathy

There are more important issues as a whole then the celebrity scandals that you see on Television. The people that you idolize do not care about you at all they consider insignificant specks to say the least, they have other things to worry about then the common Ordinary person. The situation in your daily life is not entertainment it is hard reality, which should lead us to declare, “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore”. Our reality is a hard one, many Americans have decided that, “I don’t care what does it matter anyway”? I will tell you this politics affects your everyday life as it is. I can tell you that the digital televisions that you are required to have will not come cheap with increasing prices in electronics and everything else for that matter. Shouldn’t you spend time trying to fix the situation that you are facing whether it is 1. Not getting a college loan due to the credit crunch. 2. The rising coast of living, for those who complain about how, “Paris Hilton didn’t have to go to college”.

She didn’t have to work hard for what she had, Not everyone can be born into the Wealthiest 1% it doesn’t matter what stance you take in life or politics we all have to start from the bottom. Working our way up to the top feeling good about the rewards from working hard on the things that we stand for. Though you may not want to for it being too hard it is up to us to realize that we are in a dangerous time in more then one way. The ways that I am referring to is the ways that the majority of Americans do not care about what goes on around them. We are a nation that was founded on caring and hard working principals of freedom. Freedom cannot be handed to you it is hard work to retain your freedom. Being baby-sat by your government is a recipe for a Dictatorship regardless of who the leader happens to be.

Hello,

I would just like to say that I am making a newsletter every once in awhile i will issue one on this Blog pages. The Articles on here will be doing stuff that is related to Idaho.  I will also do my best to use the main blog as an Editorial.