Motion Considered
Under the motion, authored by GOP Rep. Rhoades and Dem Sens. Mark Miller, John Lehman and Bob Jauch, the committee will adopt alternative A1 of budget paper 395.
That alternative approves the governor's funding recommendations, as reestimated, to expand Family Care. Funding is reduced in the bill by $1.74 million GPR and $2.32 million FED in 2007-08, and increased by $1.73 million GPR and $220,000 FED in 2008-09 to reflect the reestimate.
In addition, current law provisions would be retained requiring DHFS to seek the approval of the JFC under a 14-day passive review process prior to expanding the program to areas of the state where more than 29 percent of the population would be eligible for the benefit. Under the motion, the expansion would be deemed approved if the JFC fails to act within 45 days. The governor's provision to repeal the current law provision that requires any expansion of the program to areas where more than 50 percent of he population eligible for the benefit must be approved by the full Legislature would also be adopted under the motion.
The motion requires that as of Jan. 1, 2008, all counties participating in the program by offering the services of a CMO to either provide payment to the DHFS, or to authorize DHFS to allocate an portion of the county's basic community aids allocation to fund the operation of the county's resource center CMO.
Further, the motion directs DHFS to provide $190,000 in 2007-08 and $525,000 in 08-09 to contract with an organization to provide ombudsman advocacy services to individuals enrolled in Family Care who are under the age of 60.
Also, the motion directs a reallocation of MA funds -- $2 million GPR and $2.71 million FED in 07-08 and $2 million GPR and $2.77 million FED in 08-09 -- to increase funding available to serve individuals under the children's long-term support program.
Labels: DHFS, Family_Care
