Kansas advocates say "mind-boggling cuts" to services will be devastating to people with disabilities

From the Lawrence Journal-World:

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansans with disabilities on Feb. 12 pleaded with lawmakers to restore cuts in Medicaid funding that have ended some services and threaten to eliminate more.

“Any more cuts, and I may have to go into a nursing home,” said Terry Walter of Topeka. Walter has diabetes, congestive heart disease and uses a wheelchair.

Because of dwindling tax losses, Gov. Mark Parkinson cut Medicaid by 10 percent or $77 million. The cut has been especially harmful because it means the loss of an additional $140 million in federal matching funds.

“It’s just mind-boggling that we would cut those services only to force people into institutions which are going to cost taxpayers more dollars,” said Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas.

He said policymakers don’t understand that the cuts “are real and are devastating people’s lives, and without restoring those cuts, it’s only going to get worse.”

At a news conference, several people caring for those with disabilities spoke about the need to restore funding.

Margaret Landry, a caregiver from Lawrence, said that because of the cuts, the 3-year-old boy she takes care of, Max, will be unable to get a new wheelchair when he grows out of the one he is in now.

Daniel Perez of Wichita said the cuts have forced him to lose respite and dental care for his autistic son, Daniel, 18. (Both are pictured.)

And Kathy Payne of Berryton said the cuts have reduced the wages for the caregiver of her 36-year-old daughter, Robin, who is severely disabled.

Without Robin’s caregiver, Payne said she would not be able to hold down a job and keep her daughter at home.