ACTION ALERT
Dear JPAC Board Members, Volunteers, and Interested Parties:
We are writing to update you on the very latest proposed State Budget cuts just recently released. These new proposed reductions in government funding will have a major impact on social services in the State of California. We need your help to oppose these devastating cuts.
As you may know, the dire State budget deficit has grown to an additional $24 Billion (in addition to the $36 billion deficit that was dealt with by the Governor and Legislature in only February of this year). The news has gone from bad to devastating for low income, frail and disabled individuals in the State with the Governor proposing the complete elimination of numerous medical and social service safety net programs.
Several programs administered by our Jewish agencies are on the chopping block, including the case management-focused Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP); the Linkages program (case management for disabled adults); Adult Day Health Care which serves frail, very low income seniors; and Domestic Violence programs. The combined financial impact for JFCS-San Francisco and JFS-LA of government cuts to date would be a loss of approximately $8 million annually, or almost all of their state governmental funding. The impact on comparable social service agencies from throughout California are similarly destructive.
The proposed cuts would be devastating in numerous ways. The proposals would result in the State’s loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal matching grants and not even save the State a dime as most clients would very soon need to be placed into much more costly nursing home facilities (assuming that the beds are actually available) or receive crisis care in local hospital emergency rooms.
We are working closely in coalition with our colleagues around the State and our representatives in Sacramento to oppose these proposals in every way possible. In addition to hurting the most dependent in our community, these proposed cuts will NOT achieve the longer term cost savings needed. We will be meeting with key legislative leaders and the Governor’s office to voice our strong objections and to educate them about more cost effective approaches to achieve needed savings. Similarly, letters, calls and local meetings will be arranged.
Take Action Now!
Please assist us in this effort by also making calls ASAP to the State Legislators that we have identified below* and to the legislators in whose districts you reside. CLICK HERE for a link to help you find your legislator. Talking points are detailed below** and are also attached to assist in your conversations.
Should you be able to make calls, please ask to speak with the Budget staff person and let them know that you are calling to urge that the proposed cuts to the Adult Day Health Care program, MSSP and Linkages be rejected. If you have a personal relationship with any members of the State Legislature, trying to reach them directly would of course be great and we hope you will keep us informed so that our efforts are coordinated.
Please feel free to contact our JPAC Legislative Advocate Monica Miller at (916) 448-8240 with any questions you may have. Caron Spector, JPAC’s Association Director, can also be reached directly at (323) 251-0772. Thank you for your ongoing support for our state’s most vulnerable citizens during this critical time. All that you do as important members of the California Jewish community is very much appreciated, especially at this time.
*Please contact our State’s legislators to help save these valuable programs!
Please call and ask to speak with the Budget staff person and explain that you are calling to request/urge that the proposed cuts to eliminate MSSP, Linkages, ADHC, and Domestic Violence shelters be rejected. If it isn’t possible to speak to the Budget staffer, please leave a message with your name, where you are calling from and why.
The State Senate Members of the Budget Conference Committee are:
· Senator Denise Ducheny–P: (916) 651-404
· Senator Mark Leno–P: (916) 651-4003
· Senator Alan Lowenthal–P: (916) 651-4027
· Senator Bob Dutton–P: (916) 651-4031
· Senator Mimi Walters–P: (916) 651-4033
The Assembly Members of the Budget Conference Committee are:
· Assemblymember Noreen Evans--P: (916) 319-2007
· Assemblymember Kevin de León–P: (916) 319-2045
· Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield–P: (916) 319-2040
· Assemblymember Roger Niello–P: (916) 319-2005
· Assemblymember Jim Nielsen--P: (916) 319-2002
Legislative Leadership:
· Speaker Karen Bass–P: (916) 319-2047
· President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg–P: (916) 651-4006
** TALKING POINTS
Although we understand California is in a terrible fiscal crisis, eliminating these vital programs would put an additional burden on the state’s fragile social service safety net, increase costs and cause irreparable harm to our frailest community members. We urge you to call you legislators today to urge them to say NO to these eliminations and tell them that this will only cost the state more money in the immediate future.
ADHC – Total elimination $117 million in 2009-10 and $152.6 million in 2010-11
· The elimination of ADHC will throw 36,000 elderly and disabled Medi-Cal participants and their caregivers into turmoil.
· Only 11% or 3,700 ADHC participants going into a nursing home will wipe out the potential savings. Statewide it is estimated that more than 20% of ADHC clients will move into nursing facilities within 60 days at a time when for Medi-Cal nursing facility beds are extremely limited.
· Working caregivers will be forced to choose between quitting their job and losing their income or placing their loved one in a nursing facility.
· Clients without family support will sit at home alone without the nursing and therapy support they need as their health slowly deteriorates or they rapidly de-stabilize, leading to ER visits, hospital stays, psychiatric stays and overuse of emergency response, at an even greater cost to the public.
MSSP – Total Elimination $24.2 million in 2009-10 and $35.3 million in 2010-11
- These individuals are nursing home eligible, however by keeping them in their homes the total public costs (SSP, IHSS, AAA services, and other Medi-Cal costs) of an MSSP client is less than 65% of the cost of placement in a skilled nursing facility, which translates to a $16,000 in savings to the state per client each year.
- Currently 12,500 frail seniors are receiving services statewide. Approximately half, or 6,250 people, would immediately be placed in skilled nursing facilities at an annual Medi-Cal cost of an additional $30,000 per person, for a total cost of approximately $200 million to California in the first year.
- This cost would grow each year as more former MSSP recipients enter the long-term care system.
Linkages – Total Elimination $7.9 million in 2009-10 and 2011-12
- The Linkages Program saves the state money by delaying and preventing costs to the Medi-Cal program for skilled nursing facility care for older adults and adults with disabilities.
- Since 54% of Linkages clients are currently on Medi-Cal and an additional 22% meet the eligibility definition of “near Medi-Cal, i.e., eligible for long term care Medi-Cal within 6 months of admission to a skilled nursing facility, the supposed short-term savings of eliminating the Linkages Program will be reversed by increased state costs within six to twelve months.
Domestic Violence – Total Cuts $20.4 million in 2009-10 and ???2011-12
The Domestic Violence Program provides funds to 94 domestic violence shelters/centers providing emergency and other services to domestic violence victims and their children across the state.
- Reduced revenue will directly result in reduction of services to victims of domestic violence. Rural counties, which have limited services already, will likely be forced to close their programs leaving victims without help.
- When women cannot receive shelter services, they tend to remain in their homes, continuing to live with the cycle of violence. Women who are in abusive relationships, with no way out, exhibit more depression and anxiety; self medicate with drugs, alcohol and or food, and can be emotionally absent parents.
- Children exposed to violence are at risk. They act out, modeling either the perpetrator or the victim, do poorly in school and are at high risk for gang affiliation.
- Reduction in domestic violence funds translates to increase in the use of Emergency Room visits, over usage of Food Banks, increase in youth violence and increase demand on local law enforcement agencies.
Please feel free to forward this and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to call as well! Thank you.
