New Mexico caregivers of people with developmental disabilities face cuts in Medicaid funding

From KOB-TV:

Thousands of New Mexicans who care for a person with developmental disabilities receive funding from the state's Medicaid program to offset the time spent taking care of their dependant.

The New Mexico Department of Health says the state will reduce the money used to care for persons with developmental disabilities.

It's a move that's expected to save the state about $9 million.

Health officials say the money used to pay for services will be reduced by 2% or about $1,400 less a year.

Those who take care of disabled individuals worry what the cuts will do.

Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Pierson has Prader-Willi syndrome, mental retardation and behavioral problems. His mother says he also has a good quality of life.

His mother, Deborah Pierson, said, "The 12 hours he works a week at Smith's grocery store he has a one-on-one job coach that makes it possible or him to do that job, and to be a part of the community and feel like he's valued by the community."

The rest of the week, Deborah Pierson is the one at work, caring for her son. The waiver program provides $67,000 a year for Chris' specialized care. That's money she uses to get by, and for Chris's specialized care.

"I for one thing, I have to keep all the food locked up all of the time because of PWS he would probably eat himself to death," she said.

Deborah has several other caregivers for Chris, paid for with the developmental disabilities waiver money.

Randy Costales, director of the ARC of New Mexico, a nonprofit that works for benefits of the disabled, says he gets letters from parents who have waited years to qualify for the state's program, and cuts will force them to wait even longer.

Costales said, "If these cuts continue to take place the waiting list could extend to potentially 10, 12 years for services."

There are currently about 4,700 people on the waiting list for waivers.

Costales is afraid the state's financial belt-tightening is happening at the expense of the people who need state money the most.

She said, "They may end up in crisis. They may end up in urgent care, in the hospital— they may end up in the justice advocacy system."

She says those are all outcomes that will cost even more money in the long run.

She said, "I would just appeal to Governor Richardson to keep the status quo, and increase the a mount of money for people with developmental disabilities. Don't cut it there. There's got to be other places it can be cut."

The changes are expected to take effect on June 30th.