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| Federal Stimulus Money not Enough to Stop Budget Cuts |
As reported in last month's edition of PASC E-News ( click here to view), Governor Schwarzenegger recently signed into law several bills implementing mid-year changes to the current state budget and establishing a new budget for fiscal year 2009-2010. Several of the originally proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and other programs for seniors and persons with disabilities were not included in the final budget legislation. However, many of the cuts remained in the budget either as cuts with a firm implementation timeline, or as "trigger cuts" that would only be implemented if the state did not receive enough funding from the economic stimulus bill signed by President Obama in early February.
Unfortunately, on March 27th, the State Treasurer and State Finance Director jointly announced that the money the state will receive from the economic stimulus package will be about $2 billion short of what was needed. Therefore, unless the governor and/or legislature takes additional action, the trigger cuts will all be implemented as part of the state's new budget.
Below is a breakdown of the "trigger cuts" that will have an impact on the IHSS community:
- The elimination of the state's share of cost (SOC) buyout program. This would make certain newly-enrolled IHSS consumers responsible for paying the difference between their IHSS share of cost and their Medi-Cal share of cost. (This differential is currently being funded by the state.) Effective Date - July 1, 2009
- The reduction of state participation in IHSS worker wages to $9.50/hour (plus up to $0.60/hour for worker benefits). This reduction would not have a direct impact on wages in L.A. County as IHSS providers are currently paid $9.00/hour. However, it will negatively impact the possibility of future wage increases for providers. In addition, it will have an immediate impact on thousands of providers in other counties throughout the state who are paid more than $9.50/hour. Effective Date - July 1, 2009
- The permanent reduction of SSI/SSP payments by 2.3%. This reduction in SSI/SSP payments will be in addition to the suspension of the June 2010 cost of living adjustment for the SSP portion of the payments, and the reduction of the SSI portion of the payments that were both passed as part of the budget in February. All of these reductions could have a severe impact on many IHSS consumers who rely on SSI/SSP payments to remain in their homes. Effective Date - July 1, 2009
- The elimination of optional benefits under the Medi-Cal Program. This would permanently eliminate several services paid for by Medi-Cal including coverage for dental care, optometry, podiatry, incontinence creams and washes, etc. Effective Date - July 1, 2009
What happens now?
On May 19th, a special election will be held in which the public will vote on a series of budget-related ballot measures. The governor is expected to release his revised budget sometime after the special election. The legislature will then meet to decide if they will be able to restore any of the above "trigger cuts" or if they will all be implemented on July 1st. Much of this will depend on the results of the special election, the current status of the state budget deficit, and any additional proposals issued by the governor in his revised budget.
Additional information on the state's current budget situation and the cuts mentioned above will appear in future editions of PASC E- News. To subscribe to PASC E-News, click here.
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| IHSS and Hospitalization |
 If you are admitted to the hospital, whether it was pre-arranged or for an emergency, the last thing you might be thinking about is IHSS. However, if you are an IHSS consumer, it is important that you let your social worker know about your situation. During the time that you are in the hospital, your IHSS will be temporarily suspended and your provider(s) will not be paid for the hours that they were scheduled to work. If you are in the hospital for 15 days or more, your IHSS case may be closed.
When your doctor determines that you are able to go home, contact your social worker and let them know when you will be discharged. Your IHSS will resume and your provider can begin working for you again once you return home. However, if your IHSS case was closed or your needs have changed and you need additional services, you should ask to have a new IHSS assessment conducted before you leave the hospital. An IHSS social worker will conduct a temporary evaluation at the hospital, if they are given enough notice. Once you are at home, the social worker will conduct a follow-up assessment as soon as possible to make sure that you are getting the hours that you need. Individuals who are leaving the hospital and applying for IHSS for the first time can also request that the initial assessment be conducted before they leave the hospital.
Oftentimes, the transition back to the home and to receiving IHSS is an easy process and the regular provider returns to work for the consumer. If your provider has not returned or you do not have a provider, you can call the PASC Homecare Registry at 877-565-4477 for assistance in finding someone to provide your care.
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| Preventing Falls in the Bathroom |
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Falls in the home account for a significant majority of all elderly deaths and often occur in the bathroom. Many of these falls are preventable. Listed below are a few safety tips to help prevent falls in the bathroom.
- Use bathmats and rugs that have a slip resistant backing. Do not use loose rugs or bathmats.
- Place towel racks close to the sink so that water does not drip on the floor.
- Have a clear walkway in front of the sink. It is important to leave space for individuals who use walkers or wheelchairs in order to have free access to the sink.
- Keep a magnifying glass near the sink to assist with reading prescriptions.
- Install a nightlight in the bathroom that detects movement and automatically turns on when someone enters.
- Keep a flashlight in the bathroom in case of a power outage.
- Ensure that electrical appliances do not have cords dangling on the floor and are safely away from water.
For additional information on fall prevention and home safety, visit these websites:
www.cdc.gov - includes fact sheets, graphs and brochures about falls and fall prevention for older adults.
www.homemods.org - offers practical strategies and materials for home modification and links to several home safety checklists.
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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! Note: If you do not wish to receive future editions or would like to update your profile with us, please scroll down to the bottom of this message and click on either " SafeUnsubscribe" or " Update Profile/Email Address". |
| Is This a Heart Attack? |
| Over 1 million heart attacks are reported in the U.S. every year. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. People who are having a heart attack are often not sure what is wrong and wait too long before getting help. When having a heart attack, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Here are some common signs that you may be having a heart attack:
- Chest pain - Pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body - Including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath - With or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs - Including nausea, lightheadedness or breaking out in a cold sweat.
The most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment for a heart attack. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive and are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. In addition, patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital. If you cannot call 9-1-1, have someone drive you to the hospital right away. Never drive yourself if you think you are having a heart attack. Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out. Tell a doctor about your symptoms immediately.
For additional information on Heart Disease and Heart Attacks, please visit the following sites.
www.webmd.com
www.americanheartassociation.com
www.americanheart.org
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| Upcoming Trainings and Events
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Legislation Watch
Click on bill for more information |
AB 378 (Cook) - IHSS Provider Training: If passed, this bill would require Public Authorities to develop and implement training standards for IHSS providers throughout the state.
SB 246 (Benoit) - Background Checks for IHSS Providers: If passed, this bill would require Public Authorities to add all IHSS providers to their Registries, and to conduct criminal background investigations (CBIs) on all IHSS providers through the State Department of Justice. The bill would also require that each provider pay at least a portion of the cost of the CBI.
AB 452 (Yamada) - The California Independence Act of 2009: If passed, this bill would allow individuals who are not eligible for IHSS to receive provider referrals through Public Authority registries for a fee set by each county. Public Authority participation in this program would be voluntary.
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