 New Jersey State Budget FY2009
Much Advocacy is needed prior to July 1st for FY 2009 Budget
ABCD, as part of the Cost of Providing Care Coalition, is requesting a 3.6% increase for providers for FY'09 based upon the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region.
To view more information on the Cost of Providing Care and on other issues of importance to ABCD in the Budget, click ABCD Budget Testimony
For years, ABCD has been calling the State to maximize all of its federal Medicaid waiver revenue and to reinvest those funds in community services for people with developmental disabilities. To see how much federal funds New Jersey has been receiving since FY 1999 and how much has been invested in the community, click on History of
Funding under the Waiver
ABCD, as part of the Coalition for a Moral Budget, calls for the elimination of all Medicaid co-pays that have been proposed in the budget. To view the Coalition's White Paper click on Coalition on a Moral Budget's White Paper on Medicaid Co-pays or for just the Executive Summary click on Exective Summary of Coalition's White Paper
History of Successes in FY 2008 Budget, It Does Make a Difference.
We had a number of sucesses in this year's budget for people with developmental disabilities (See below on Medicaid co-pays and the Cost of Providing Care. These successes only occured due to the efforts of individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, staff, Board members, and advocates. ABCD is a member of several coalition that have worked together on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and others.
The Cost of Providing Care Coalition, of which ABCD served on the Steering Committee, is thankful for your work. The Coalition appreciates your work and has put together an Alert to thank you. Please click Cost of Providing Care Thank You
Victory on Medicaid Co-pays: Coalition for Moral Budget Applauds Legislators for Eliminating all Medicaid Co-pays
The budget negotiated between the Legislature and and Governor that will be voted on by the end of June eliminates all Medicaid Co-pays. This is a great victory and we should thank the legislators and the Governor for hearing us on this important issue.
For more information related to national research showing why Medicaid co-pays will harm beneficiaries click Medicaid Co-pays Harmful to Beneficiaries
Cost of Providing Care Receives 3% increase (beginning in January)in Budget
The Legislature and Governor included in their final budget, to be voted on by the end of June, a 3% increase beginning in January 2008 for community providers, which is in effect a 1.5% increase. This increase is appreciated given that the Governorn's proposed budget had proposed 2% beginning in Janaury, which in effect was a 1% increase. However, the increase is not enough. Providers have seen substantial increases in fuel costs, health insurance, workers compensation, and other costs of doing business. Providers are asking for an annualized cost of providing care increase using the Consumer Price Index for Northeast Urban Wage workers. This year's increase using the index is 4.1%
More than 1,000 people came to the State House on May 31st to let the Governor and the Legislature know that community providers needed a 4.1% increase in the budget for their contracts. Keep up the advocacy on the Cost of Providing Care with your Legislators.
The Cost of Providing Care Coalition has compiled data from a state-wide survey on the need for a Cost of Providing Care increase. For information on the survey click Data on the Cost of Providing Care.
The Cost of Providing Care Coalition has developed charts showing the actual cost of providing care increases for providers since Fiscal Year 1996 and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Workers in the North East along with what the Cost of Providing Care increase would have been if A 1996, a bill requiring that the Governor's budget include a Cost of Providing Care increase was enacted. For the table click Table on the Consumer Price Index and the Cost of Providing Care.
ABCD's Budget Testimony on FY 2008 Proposed BudgetABCD had the opportunity to testify at the Assembly Budget Hearing on March 13th and the Senate Budget Hearing on March 14th. ABCD's testimony focuses on: 1) the Cost of Providing Care; 2) Reinvestment of Federal Medicaid revenues from the Community Care Waiver into DDD community services for Olmstead, the Residential Waiting List, and Family Support; 3) Need to Eliminate Medicaid Co-Pays; 4) Long Term Financing for Early Intervention including reimbursement rates for EI Providers; and 5) Medical Day Care for People with Developmental Disabilities. To view our testimony click ABCD Budget Testimony on FY 2008 Budget.
Governor's FY 2008 Budget Proposed
On February 22, 2007, Governor Corzine proposed his FY 2008 budget. The budge includes a 2% cost of providing care increase, effective in January 2008, $10 million in additional funds for the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and proposes co-pays for prescription drugs for Medicaid beneficiaries. For more information on the budget click Governor Corzine's Proposed FY 2008 Budget (updated on February 27, 2007)
State Fiscal Year 2008 Budget
In February 2007, Governor Corzine will propose his FY 2008 budget (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008). In preparation the State Departments are developing their plans.
ABCD's advocacy for the budget focuses on issues at the Department of Health and Senior Services and at the Department of Human Services. ABCD has provided testimony at the Department of Human Services' Budget Forum. To read our testimony ABCD Testimony at Department of Human Services Budget Forum.
April 16, 2008
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