Budget Update
Action Alert

School Violence Prevention Update: Passed General Assemby and Signed by Governor


Budget Update: House and Senate Budget Conferees have been meeting, but have yet to agree on a revenue package or which cuts might be restored. HHS conferees are reluctant to make major cuts to Medicaid provider rates, and want to make sure that sure they gain efficiencies in all programs before cutting direct care, but regardless of Legislators intent, all cuts are still on the table as they have limited funds to work with in restoring cuts. It is clear to advocates that the current cuts to health and human services, especially in mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease are not sustainable. The target figures for case management consolidation, provider rate cuts, and the elimination of community support and level three and four group homes are too high not to result in a loss of services for people who need them. The resulting cuts will result in the loss of thousands of jobs. While to focus has been on teachers and other state and local jobs lost, with the change to a private provider system, many state and county human service jobs are now in the private healthcare sector.

We need to make it clear to State and House Leadership that we support their efforts to raise revenue, but that we need to make more funds goes to help with services and supports for MH/DD/SAS, including Medicaid.

ACTION: Please call Governor Beverly Perdue, House Speaker, Rep. Joe Hackney and House Majority Leader, Rep. Hugh Holliman. Thank them for their support for increasing revenue, and ask that part of these new revenues go to support services and supports in MH/DD/SA, including Medicaid. Contact information for their offices and a sample message is below. Please personalize your message with information about the reason these services are so important to you, those you serve, and your community.

Message: Thank you for your support for increased revenue. Part of any increased revenue needs to go to mental health, developmental disability, and addictive disease services, including those in Medicaid. The cuts are still too deep and will devastate services and supports and result in the loss of thousands of jobs.

Governor Beverly Perdue

919-733-4260

You can make comments to the Governor’s suggestion box at

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/eTownhall/suggestionBox.aspx

Speaker of the House, Rep. Joe Hackney

919-733-3451

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House Majority Leader, Rep. Hugh Holliman

919-715-0873

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