www.accesspress.org History Note
Inside
“We work to become, not to acquire.”
■ Precinct caucuses–pg 3 ■ People and Places–pg 5 ■ Directory of Organizations–pp 7-10
— Elbert Hubbard
Page 2 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 4766 Return Service Requested
Volume 21, Number 1
Minnesota’s Disability
Community Newspaper
January 10, 2010
2009 year in review by Jane McClure January Gloomy state forecast, film has premiere Minnesotans and the state agencies and programs that serve them were looking at a difficult 2009 legislative session. Unallotment of state funds in December 2008 was one worry. Another was Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s announcement that he would not support spending reductions for the military, veterans, K-12 education and public safety. That meant human services programs would be more vulnerable to cuts. Pawlenty had announced that there would be an overall state budget deficit of $35 billion. Disability organizations planned a Disability Advocacy Day in February, and organized other rallies to draw attention to disability community issues and the need for continued state funding. However, most community leaders conceded that it would be a
very tough year. Health and human services make up about 28 percent of state spending, putting the programs in the bull’s-eye for cuts. Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) had prepared an extensive legislative agenda, after committees had spent several months working on topic areas including personal care attendants (PCAs), housing and employment. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Writer Mai Thor continued her Pregnancy Journal, describing how a disability affected a high-risk pregnancy. The cumulative impact of aging and cerebral palsy was the focus of the Health Matters column. The People and Places column featured photojournalist Dan Habib’s film, Including Samuel. The film focused on Samuel, who has cerebral palsy. Samuel is Dan Habib’s son. Best Buy’s corporate
headquarters hosted the premiere. Accomplishments of the Qwest Community Advisory Panel were outlined.
February Service dog is denied, a royal spotlight on ASL Newman, a service dog belonging to eight-year-old Wally LaBerge, could not accompany the boy to his classes in St. Paul Public Schools. Wally is autistic and has had the service dog since May 2008. Wally’s parents Victoria and Tim were considering their options in light of the school district’s decision. Wally’s parents said Newman keeps their son calm and focused, and helped him in school. But after a trial period school district officials said the dog couldn’t remain in school with Wally. Cecelia Dodge, director of special education for the school district, said the dis-
trict could not comment on the LaBerge case. St. Paul Public Schools allow dogs to be tried in a classroom on a case-by-case basis, looking at whether or not a student is making progress with the help of a dog, and how the student and dog relate to
other students. Dodge did note that service dogs for persons with autism are a newer trend that the school district is tracking closely. Meanwhile the LaBerges were weighing their options. Newman was the first Hearing and Service Dogs of
Minnesota animal trained for work in a school. ALSO IN THE NEWS: A state audit of personal care agencies and the assistants they provide was released, and immediately generated debate. The 2009 St. Paul Winter 2009 review - cont. on p. 13
GAMC will end, but at what price for Minnesotans?
Protesters stood outside of the Governor’s Mansion in St. Paul, in December, reading the names of those who will be affected by the end of General Assistance Medical Care.
by Jane McClure On March 1 General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) will end, not only putting thousands of Minnesotans at risk, but it could also cause financial problems for the Minne-
sotaCare health care program and its participants as well. State lawmakers, health care providers and numerous advocacy groups are scrambling to keep a financial meltdown from happening.
When the 2010 Minnesota Legislature convenes Feb. 4, at least two proposals to address the end of GAMC will be introduced. The goal of many state lawmakers is to have a plan ready to be voted
on early in the session. Until then several groups are working to draw attention to the difficult situation the end of GAMC is creating. In December, activists and GAMC recipients participated in a statewide event meant to draw attention to the cuts. At various locations they read the names of the 30,000-plus GAMC recipients who will be affected by the program’s end. Many of the roughly 36,000 people covered by GAMC are mentally ill or have other disabilities. Gov. Tim Pawlenty line-item vetoed GAMC funding in 2009 to help balance the state’s budget. At the time Pawlenty said most GAMC clients could be moved into MinnesotaCare, a health care program that provides coverage for many low-income working Minnesotans. But at a Dec. 14 joint hearing of House committees on health care and human services, Minnesota Department
of Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman said that moving GAMC participants to MinnesotaCare would put the MinnesotaCare’s funding into deficit by July 2011. Ludeman said the intent of DHS is to make transitions from GAMC to MinnesotaCare as “seamless” as possible and that DHS is committed to helping GAMC clients with the transition. But the transition will have costs and not just to MinnesotaCare. At the Dec. 14 hearing, representatives of hospitals, health care providers, health care workers, social workers and county governments spoke of the ripple effect of costs they will be facing. Lawmakers have many concerns about the transition as well. Rep. Tom Huntley, DFLDuluth, questioned whether many of the current GAMC clients would be able to make the transition. He also worried
aloud that working Minnesotans who have no option other than MinnesotaCare would be kicked off of that program. Many of those trying to save GAMC see their efforts as interim measures, meant to fill the gap between now and a time when federal health care reform is adopted by Congress. But any federal changes aren’t expected to take effect for a couple of years at the earliest. Two proposals were reviewed Dec. 14 by the joint committee, before a packed hearing room. Many of those present, from the Save GAMC Coalition, wore red and white stickers in support of the program. Rep. Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said the DFL’s proposal is a “work in progress.” That plan would restore $292 million of GAMC’s $396 million budget through a combination of county and federal funds, a hospital surcharge and cuts to GAMC - cont. on p. 4