Stay Up to Date on the Funding Crisis

On November 11, 2011, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) cut funding for services to people with intellectual disabilities for the current year. The cut took the form of a 6% plus reduction to the audited costs of providing the services for the Fiscal Year 2009/2010. For Keystone, on an annualized basis, this cut is in excess of $4,000,000. These cuts apply to all services and all providers across Pennsylvania and include cuts for occupancy costs, including mortgages, utilities, repairs and food, which will be devastating to community residential programs.

Keystone Human Services is working very closely with DPW officials to develop more cost effective strategies essential to supporting these critical services for the long term.

We will be providing regular updates on this issue, as well as hosting meetings with family members to keep families apprised of the impact of these cuts. Register below to stay up to date on the funding crisis.

Online Registration Form

PAR’s legislative action center is also an excellent resource on these matters and makes it very easy to communicate by email with our elected officials.

Read Additional Information

• Philadelphia Inquirer article: More tales from the other side of welfare (Feb. 8, 2012)
• The Citizens' Voice article: Agencies serving those with developmental disabilities already feeling funding cuts (Feb. 5, 2012)
• Phoenixville Patch: Letter: Cuts to Welfare Affect Those with Autism, Intellectual Disabilities (Jan. 20, 2012)
• Facebook page of PAR - Pennsylvania's Service Network for Autism & Intellectual Disabilities: http://www.facebook.com/PARdotnet
• Letter from the The Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Services Coalition of Pennsylvania to Mr. Francis T. McCullough, Acting Associate Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Jan. 10, 2012)
• "State budget cuts put disability services in jeopardy": http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/state_cuts_put_disability_serv.html
• IDA Coalition Letter to Kevin Friel on FY2012 Payment Reductions January 19 2012
• IDA Coalition Letter from Kevin Friel on RAF December 12 2011
• "Disabilities take budget hit": http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/578159_Disabilities-take-budget-hit.html
• Click on the links below to learn more about Governor Corbett’s views on human services and the funding cuts imposed by the Department of Public Welfare.
  • Governor Tom Corbett’s Views on Supporting Pennsylvania’s Human Service Community
  • PAR: ODP Deputy Secretary Offers No Relief from Cuts – Our Advocacy is Critical
  • Funding Cuts and Policy Updates from the Office of Developmental Programs
  • Community Integration Changes Provided in the Medical Assistance Home and Community Based Waiver Programs
• Virtual Termination of/Massive Changes to Community Supports for adults on the autism spectrum and other developmental disabilities being served through the OBRA waiver in Pennsylvania.
• PAR Board member Terry McNelis from NHS Human Services details recent funding cuts in an interview for NBC 10: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/shows/NBC10-issue/Pa.-Funding-Cut-for-People-With-Disabilities/135769908
• PAR Board member Mike Rice voices his concern in the November 8th Centre Daily Times: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/11/08/2978223/mentally-retarded-are-left-at.html

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