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FY 2004 Federal Budget A Mixed Bag for the Disability Community
Each year the number of people with disabilities increases. In February of 2003 charts from the International Center for Disability Information indicated the number of individuals in the United States experiencing the loss of one or more “essential life functions” to be approximately 58,038,500. As the disability community reviews President Bush’s FY 2004 budget proposal we find many proposals that would improve the health and well being of people with disabilities. But the budget also contains proposals that we consider a step back from the nation’s historic commitment to the health, education, employment and inclusion for her disabled citizens, including the following: · Changing the federal funding for state Medicaid programs to block-grants encourages states to cut benefits at a time when states are facing tremendous cost pressures in the Medicaid health systems. While people with disabilities constitute 18% of the Medicaid population, expenditures for their medical care make up 44% of Medicaid expenditures. Any cuts in Medicaid, whether introduced by federal or state governments, pose a grave danger to low income Americans with disabilities seeking needed health care. · Because the appropriation for housing for the elderly and disabled is increased by a rate lower than inflation, the US effectively reduces the housing appropriation for economically struggling citizens that already experience a serious lack of inexpensive, accessible housing. · Failure to adequately fund the federal share of the TANF program poses threats to the significant number of unemployed disabled Americans. Further if the final TANF extension bill fails to permit exceptions for the many disabled persons unable to work, or work on a full time basis, the TANF program effectively locks them into permanent and extreme poverty. · Conversion of Section 8 Housing Assistance to a block-grant effectively reduces the amount of funds available for this program, leading to a smaller pool of available units. This concerns the disability community greatly; Section 811 of the federal housing program is one of the few programs that address the unique housing needs of individuals with disabilities. · Because individuals with disabilities depend upon federal and state health programs, cuts in programs such as 1) community access for the uninsured; 2) state planning grants; 3) universal newborn hearing testing; and 4) emergency health services gravely distress the disability community and their advocates.
We are hopeful that some of the administration’s budget proposals would bring needed relief to the disability community, including those that: · Improve child nutrition and reduce childhood obesity, which can cause more serious disabilities to develop later in life. · Endorse the reenactment of “The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act.” Not only does child abuse sometimes lead to varied disabilities, but children with disabilities experience a higher risk of being abused. We hope to see additional funding proposed, however, that targets children at higher risk for abuse. · Renew mental health parity requirement for ERISA health plans that help our brothers and sisters with mental health disabilities receive more equitable treatment from their health insurers. · Create small business purchasing associations that allow more small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees, including those having disabilities at competitive prices. · Extend Medicaid and SCHIP programs that help uninsured families provide health care for their children. As a result more of the 400,000 uninsured American children with disabilities will have access to regular health care, and fewer children may develop disabilities as a result of poor childhood healthcare. · Extend and fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant to the states. Children with disabilities that have well designed education plans, which are effectively executed, have more successful outcomes with higher education and employment.
Because every public issue affects persons with disabilities, they should be consulted in the development of every policy. |
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