Issue
Summary of the 2009-2011 State Biennial Budget
(Updated: 07/01/2009)
Governor Doyle has introduced his 2009-2011 state biennial budget. The proposed budget is for the period from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011. The budget is Assembly Bill 75.
More detailed information about the proposed biennial budget is available from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and the Dept. of Administration. Note: Any positions stated in this summary are those of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.
About the Categories:
-
Governor’s proposal
- Joint Finance
actions.
-
Assembly Budget
- Senate
Budget
- Final
budget becomes law
1) Autism Insurance Coverage
Children with autism need insurance coverage of treatment options in order to develop and grow.
What is needed: Private insurance coverage for autism treatment services as well as for other developmental disabilities.
Not included in budget.
Include insurance coverage for autism services in budget. Cap costs at $60,000 for intensive treatment and $30,000 for non-intensive treatment.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal but cap insurance costs at $50,000 for intensive treatment and $25,000 for non-intensive treatment.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Assembly provision - Include insurance coverage for autism services in budget. Cap costs at $50,000 for intensive treatment and $25,000 for non-intensive treatment.
2) Birth to Three Program
Birth to Three provides early intervention services to infants and young children with disabilities.
What is needed: Increase the state base funding for Medicaid and accept all federal stimulus funding for early intervention.
Use additional federal Medicaid funding to maintain the state base amount.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Use additional federal Medicaid funding to maintain the state base amount.
3) Children’s Long-Term Managed Care Pilots
Children are served by many programs. This planning process would look at consolidating those programs into a managed care model.
What is needed: $900,000 to pilot a new managed care model.
No funding for managed care pilots.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - No funding for managed care pilots.
4) Children’s Long-Term Support Waivers
The waivers serve children with developmental or physical disabilities or mental illness and generates federal Medicaid match funding.
What is needed: Provide enough funding to end waiting list for children services.
$3.2 million in all funds plus carryover funds ($9.7 million total) to serve 1,000 children on the waiting list over four years.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - $3.2 million in all funds plus carryover funds ($9.7 million total) to serve 1,000 children on the waiting list over four years.
5) Children’s Long-Term Support Resource Center
Families have difficulty navigating the long-term support system and need help from benefit specialists and others knowledgeable about the system.
What is needed: $1.5 million in state funds to establish resource center.
Not included in budget.
Not included in budget.
Not included in budget.
Not included in budget.
Not included in budget.
6) Community Aids
A portion of Community Aids is used by counties as match funding for Medicaid waivers that serve people with disabilities.
What is needed: No cuts to Basic County Allocation.
Reduce state funds by 1% or $4.1 million in calendar years 2010 and 2011.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Reduce state funds by 1% or $4.1 million in calendar years 2010 and 2011.
7) Community Recovery Services
Community-based mental health services help individuals with significant mental illnesses live in the community.
What is needed: Significant increase in funding.
$15.6 million in federal funds over the biennium.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - $15.6 million in federal funds over the biennium.
8) Epilepsy Foundation Grants
These grants fund services to people with epilepsy and help educate the public about epilepsy.
What is needed: Significant increase in base services.
Cut of 11% ($16,500 each year.)
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Cut of 11% ($16,500 each year.)
9) Family Care, Wisconsin Partnership, and IRIS
The three managed care programs consolidate all the long-term care programs, such as the Community Integration Program and the Community Options Program. When fully implemented statewide, the three managed care programs will entitle enrollees to services. People who meet functional eligibility criteria and are eligible for Medicaid will have to be served.
What is needed: Sufficient funding to fully serve people with disabilities and offer self-directed services options.
$18.1 million the first year and $95 million the second year in state and federal funds to expand the programs.
Accept Governor’s proposal plus additional $8 million in state and federal funds to partially address waiting lists in Milwaukee County sooner than three years.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee’s proposal.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee’s proposal with additional funding to begin Langlade County sooner than otherwise possible.
Accept the Joint Finance proposal - $18.1 million the first year and $95 million the second year in state and federal funds to partially address waiting lists in Milwaukee County sooner than three years.
10) Family Care Program Independent Advocate
Independent advocates help people resolve conflicts over their services.
What is needed: Maintain current ratio of 1 advocate for every 2,500 enrollees and expand program to serve people under IRIS.
Increase ratio to 1 advocate for every 3,500 enrollees. Do not expand program to IRIS participants..
Maintain ratio at 1 advocate for every 2,500 enrollees. Do not expand program to IRIS participants.
Maintain ratio at 1 advocate for every 2,500 enrollees and expand program to IRIS participants.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee’s proposal.
Accept the Assembly provision - Maintain ratio at 1 advocate for every 2,500 enrollees and expand program to IRIS participants.
11) Family Support Program
Family Support provides families with a small allotment of funding to cover some of the extra expenses of a child with disabilities. See above to learn about the Children’s Long-Term Support waivers.
What is needed: Ensure any funding saved through the use of managed care in children’s long-term care is directed to the Family Support Program.
No cuts or increases. Maintain current funding levels.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - No cuts or increases. Maintain current funding levels.
12) Independent Living Centers (ILCs)
ILCs provide a wide range of services to people with disabilities. There are 8 independent living centers around the state.
What is needed: Maintain current funding levels.
Cut state funding for ILCs by 56%.
Cut state funding for ILCs by 56% but direct Governor to use 2007-09 budget as base amount for next budget.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal - Cut state funding for ILCs by 56% but direct Governor to use 2007-09 budget as base amount for next budget.
13) Lifespan Respite Care Program
The Program provides respite care to caregivers of children with disabilities.
What is needed: Maintain current funding levels.
Eliminate all funding for Program.
Restore current funding of $225,000 each year of the biennium.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal - Restore current funding of $225,000 each year of the biennium.
14) Medicaid Program
The Medicaid program is the main funding source for essential long-term care and health services for low-income people with disabilities.
What is needed: No cuts and no increases in co-payments or prior authorization.
No changes in co-payments or prior authorization but cut of $100 million over the biennium.
No changes in co-payments or prior authorization but cut of $545 million over the biennium.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal plus require the administration to submit savings plan to Joint Finance Committee for review.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal without requirement for savings plan.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal without requirement for savings plan - No changes in co-payments or prior authorization but cut of $545 million over the biennium.
15) Medicaid Community Provider Rates
Providers include direct service workers, doctors, dentists, and therapists.
What is needed: At least 5% increases each year of the budget.
Maintain current provider rates.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Maintain current provider rates.
16) Medicaid Transportation Manager
Coordination of Medicaid transportation would make the system more cost-effective.
What is needed: Ensure passengers are not negatively impacted.
Establish a Medicaid Transportation Manager and save $17.6 million in Medicaid funding by increasing efficiencies.
Accept Governor’s proposal but save just $6.7 million in Medicaid funding.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Establish a Medicaid Transportation Manager and save $6.7 million in Medicaid funding by increasing efficiencies and delete requirement for report to the Finance Committee prior to contracting with broker
17) Southern Center Restructure
Many current residents of Southern Center for the Developmentally Disabled are able to live in community settings.
What is needed: Establish policy to ensure center residents are able to move into the community.
Restructure Southern Center so that about 100 residents can relocate to the community over the biennium.
Restructure Southern Center but lower target number of residents to 70.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal - Restructure Southern Center but lower target number of residents to 70.
18) Wisconsin Quality Home Care Authority
Individuals providing direct support to people with disabilities not affiliated with an agency would be placed on a registry. The Authority determines wages and fringe benefits.
What is needed: No position.
Provide $666,000 over the biennium for Authority operations.
Accept Governor’s proposal with modifications.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Creates the WI Quality Home Care Authority as amended by the Joint Finance Committee.
Department of Commerce
1) Low Income Housing Property Tax Exemption
Low income people with disabilities benefit from housing provided by non-profit organizations. The individuals or organizations cannot afford to pay property taxes for their residences.
What is needed: Property tax exemption for low-income people with disabilities living in housing provided by non-profit organizations.
Not included.
Tax exemption created in budget.
Tax exemption deleted from budget.
Accept the Joint Finance Committee proposal.
Accept Joint Finance Committee proposal - Tax exemption created in budget.
Department of Public Instruction
1) Special Education Categorical Aid
State and federal funds help school districts pay for the costs of special education services, such as equipment aides. The percentage of costs reimbursed continues to drop each biennial budget.
What is needed: Increase of $80 million in state funds over the biennium to maintain the current reimbursement rate.
Maintain current funding.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Maintain current funding.
2) Aid for High Cost Students
A limited number of students have extremely severe disabilities and extraordinarily high special education costs.
What is needed: $7.4 million the first year and $10 million the second year for extraordinary costs.
Maintain current funding.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Maintain current funding.
3) Response to Intervention Categorical Aid Program
Response to Intervention is an early intervention program that integrates assessment and intervention to help children achieve academically and reduce behavior problems.
What is needed: $23.5 million the first year and $26 million the second year to create categorical aid.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
4) Seclusion and Restraint
The improper use of seclusion and restraint by poorly trained staff physically and emotionally is damaging and sometimes deadly for the student. In fact, poorly trained staff are often injured attempting to restrain students as well.
What is needed: $500,000 for training of school staff and collection of data on incidents..
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
5) Behavioral Management Training
Assessment is needed of the training needs of teachers in behavior management, inclusion, learning disabilities, and other areas.
What is needed: $500,000 for the assessment and $5 million to provide training.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
6) School Finance Reform
The school finance system is dependent on property taxes and has inequities between school districts.
What is needed: A financing system not based on property taxes.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Not included.
Department of Transportation
1) Specialized Transportation
People with disabilities depend upon specialized transportation services to access health services and live independent lives.
What is needed: $6 million increase over the biennium.
Increases of 2.2% ($285,900) the first year and 3.2% ($713,300) the second year.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Increases of 2.2% ($285,900) the first year and 3.2% ($713,300) the second year.
Department of Workforce Development
1) Vocational Rehabilitation Case Services
Case services help individuals with severe disabilities find employment.
What is needed: Maintain current funding and capture all available federal funds.
Cut of $115,400 in state funds (offset by federal stimulus funds.)
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal.
Accept Governor’s proposal - Cut of $115,400 in state funds (offset by federal stimulus funds.)
