Your Monday Morning Update!

April 28, 2014

Your Monday Morning Update:

I’m a bit perplexed and befuddled (so what else is new?). I need your help in sorting things out. Let me set the stage:

JCDS gets a call Wednesday afternoon announcing that Governor Brownback is going to stop in for a Friday afternoon visit. He has some BIG news to share. We discover that he intends to publicize that due to the savings from KanCare, he is going to be adding money to his Governor’s Budget Amendment (GBA) for the IDD waiting list.

We are thrilled and get busy making arrangements, finding a podium and setting up chairs. We are so excited about what he may say. Knowing that there are thousands on the waiting lists, we anticipate that his announcement will be powerful and give people access to something they have been waiting on for years!

As the time comes and the room at JCDS is packed with the Governor’s people, County officials, a handful of legislators, staff and a few providers, the Governor stands at the podium and makes his announcement:

The Governor is going to ask the legislature to approve that $2.6 million go towards waiting lists.

After a little figuring, it appears that the IDD underserved list will go away, 77 folks from the statewide IDD unserved list and 132 from the physically disabled list will be offered funding.

So my dilemma is – 77 people….really?
On one hand – The underserved waiting list is ending
On the other hand – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it must go away
On the other hand – But what about the 3,000 on the unserved list that have been waiting?
On the other hand – Then again, 77 is better than nothing
On the other hand – The waiting list grows by hundreds each year
On the other hand – We are fortunate that any money has been allocated
On the other hand – Over 400 folks from Johnson County are on that unserved list
On the other hand –Perhaps ten or twelve offered will be from Johnson County
On the other hand – I should be grateful
On the hand – I’m saddened and disappointed. I expected more.

As my dad would say “It is what it is”, but I have to say to myself “Is it what it should be?” And therein lies my dilemma.
So now I’m handing it off to you….what do YOU think?

Warm regards,