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| California State Budget Update |
Since the June 30th deadline for the Senate and Assembly to pass the state budget, California has been operating without a budget. As a result, the State Controller has begun to stop payments for several programs and vendors throughout the state. This has caused many state-funded programs and organizations to operate on little or no funding, seek loans to continue operations, or make plans to stop providing services.
Fortunately, some programs, including the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program, are protected by federal law and must continue to be funded at current levels regardless of the budget situation. This ensures that IHSS recipients will continue to receive services throughout the ongoing budget process and that IHSS homecare workers will continue to be paid.
It has also been reported in the news recently that Governor Schwarzenegger is attempting to reduce the wages of state employees to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour until the budget is passed. It is important to remember that IHSS homecare workers are not considered state employees and will continue to receive their current wages throughout this process.
As reported in past editions of the PASC E-News, the governor's proposed budget includes several cuts to IHSS and other programs affecting seniors and persons with disabilities. However, the governor, assembly and senate are continuing to negotiate for a compromised final budget that may or may not include any of the proposed cuts. It is not known how long this process will take or when the budget will be finalized and enacted into law.
For more detailed information on the proposed cuts that may impact the IHSS community, please see the June edition of the PASC E-News. Additional information on the governor's budget proposal can be obtained by visiting www.ebudget.ca.gov or www.lao.ca.gov. |
| Do you have questions about PASC and the IHSS Program? Do you have suggestions for topics to be covered in the PASC E-News? Send your questions and suggestions to e-news@pascla.org. PASC E-News is designed for you to get the information you need! |
| SEIU Update |
As reported in the L.A. Times (August 21, 2008), Tyrone Freeman has taken a leave of absence as President of The United Long-Term Care Workers' Union, SEIU Local 6434, which represents all IHSS homecare workers in L.A. County. Mr. Freeman has stated that his leave will be for the duration of any investigations that may take place regarding allegations brought against him by the L.A. Times in recent weeks.
During Mr. Freeman's leave, Local 6434 will be placed under a trusteeship with the SEIU national office taking control of the local's finances and assigning an interim president to replace him. At this time, PASC does not have any additional information on Mr. Freeman's leave. |
| Resource Spotlight: Prepare.org |
Do you know what to do when a disaster strikes? Are you prepared for earthquakes, fires, floods, or other natural disasters? The American Red Cross, together with other community-based organizations, has put together a website called Prepare.org, which contains valuable information on preparing for natural and man-made disasters, focusing on preparedness for seniors and persons with disabilities. The site and related materials can be viewed in several different languages and includes information on
- Creating a disaster plan
- Preparing your home for a disaster
- Coping with post-disaster stress and trauma
- Evacuation tips for people with disabilities
- Sign language for emergency situations
- Safety tips for seniors
- And much more!
Many experts agree that preparedness is the key to surviving any disaster and limiting the stress that comes along with it. For more information, please visit the American Red Cross' disaster preparedness website at www.prepare.org. |
| Do You Have a Caregiver Success Story? |
| Has your provider worked for you for 2, 5, 10 years? Have you hired a provider who is much more than your employee? Here at PASC, we get calls from consumers when they need a list of potential caregivers, but, once a provider gets hired, we usually don't get a call back to hear how things are going. If you have had success with finding the ideal provider, we would like to hear about it.
Please e-mail your story to us at e-news@pascla.org, or mail us a hard copy at
Personal Assistance Services Council
Attn.: Registry Outreach Coordinator
4730 Woodman Avenue, Suite 405
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 |
| Diabetes Awareness Part 2: Type 2 Diabetes |
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. An individual can be diagnosed with several different types of diabetes, which may differ in symptoms and treatment options. Last month we began a three-part series on diabetes awareness by focusing on type 1 diabetes. (Click here for last month's edition of E-news.) This month, we will focus on type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
About 90 to 95 percent of individuals diagnosed with diabetes have what is known as type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, a family history of diabetes, a previous history of diabetes during pregnancy, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. Type 2 diabetes is also increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents.
When a person has type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively. This is known as a condition called insulin resistance. After several years, insulin production decreases, and glucose builds up in the blood, restricting the body's ability to make efficient use of its main source of fuel.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually, unlike symptoms of type 1 diabetes, which develop over a short period of time. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Some people have no symptoms.
Healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose testing are the basic management tools for type 2 diabetes. In addition, many people with type 2 diabetes require oral medication, insulin, or both to control their blood glucose levels. Anyone diagnosed with diabetes should see a healthcare provider who will help them learn to manage their diabetes and will monitor their diabetes control.
For more information on diabetes, please visit the American Diabetes Association's website at www.diabetes.org. |
| Looking for Medical Equipment? |
| Most people who are faced with the need for medical equipment such as a hoyer lift or a chair for the bathtub do not know how to start the process of getting what they need. The first thing that a person usually must do is have their doctor sign an order for the device that includes the consumer/patient diagnosis written on a prescription pad. The person must then take the order to a local home health agency, medical equipment store, or pharmacy that will follow up with the doctor for more information and verifications.
However, very few of these medical equipment suppliers continue to take straight Medi-Cal as a form of payment because of the low reimbursement rates. If you have an HMO (like SCAN or Kaiser), you should contact their member services department to see if they cover the equipment.
If you are 65 or older, the cost of lifting devices such as a hoyer lift may be covered by Medicare if certain eligibility guidelines are met. A hoyer lift is equipment that mechanically assists with lifting a person out of bed and into a wheelchair, chair or onto a commode. Typically, Medicare will cover the equipment if the patient cannot transfer without the assistance of more than one person and, without the use of a lift, would be confined to their bed. Medicare does not cover electric hoyer lifts.
Check with your doctor or local hospital for recommendations on where you should get the equipment you need. PASC can also give you contact information for suppliers. Just give us a call at 877-565-4477 and ask to speak to an Information and Referral representative. |
| Upcoming Trainings and Events
Click on training for more information |
For information on additional events, please visit the Calendar section of our website at www.pascla.org.
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| PASC Legislation Watch
Click on bill for more information |
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