March update: Read the summary of the House and Senate budget bills and find out how you can speak out.

Virginia's 2010 Legislative Session convened Wednesday, January 13, 2010 and is scheduled to adjourn on Saturday, March 13, 2010. During this session the Senate Finance Committee will be reviewing the proposed budget for Health and Human Resources.

Please join the L'Arche Board of Directors, core people, assistants, and staff in speaking out against proposed budget cuts that will adversely affect L'Arche and thousands of Virginians who have intellectual disabilities:

1. Reduce Provider Rates for Home and Community-Based Waiver Services by 5 percent. - Page 84

Beginning July 1, 2010, this cut would reduce reimbursements L'Arche receives from Medicaid by 5 percent - about $28,000 per year. In order to continue providing services to core people and retain the high quality of life everyone at L'Arche enjoys, these funds would need to be raised from private sources.

2. Limit Annual Visits for Medicaid-Funded Therapy Services. - Page 84
Imposes an annual limit on physical, occupational, and speech therapy services.

Eliminate Coverage for Certain Medicaid Services. The introduced budget eliminates coverage for podiatry services and optometry (adults only) effective July 1, 2010.

While only one person at L'Arche Arlington currently receives physical therapy, it has changed her life. In the past two years she has gone from relying completely on her wheelchair to being able to navigate stairs.

3. In addition, service reductions are proposed for most Medicaid community-based waiver programs including a freeze on new enrollments in calendar year 2011, reducing the hours available for respite care by two-thirds, and eliminating funding each year for 400 MR and 67 DD waivers that were slated to be filled beginning July 1, 2010. - Page 69

Hundreds of families across Virginia need support in caring for their loved ones who have intellectual disabilities. The ARC of Northern Virginia reports that more than 17,000 people are on waiting lists to receive home-based care and live with family members who are 60 and older. Reducing respite care and waiver slots puts an extra strain on our communities and keeps people from living full, healthy lives.

Who to contact:

Senator Charles Colgan, Chairman of the Finance Committee
district29@senate.virginia.gov

Arlington Residents:
Delegate Patrick Hope
DelPHope@house.virginia.gov

Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
district10@senate.virginia.gov

Not an Arlington resident? Find your representative and ask that they oppose these funding cuts:
http://legis.state.va.us - Click on Who's My Legislator

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