"Thereare nofearless people, only fearless moments. " -Peter Hoeg, Borderliners
Nicole on Assisted Suicide - p.5
Access Press Volume 8, Number 2
SOURCES
DOESGOVERNORCARE.? His Words Don't Say So by Charlie Smith, Editor Last month I listened to Governor Carlson give his State of the State address. The following letter was faxed to the Governor;his response is also
As you will see, the Governor only addresses half of the issues I raised, and even then he
cations. By not answering the tough question, I can only conclude he doesn't care. It appears from his letter that putting people to work is "the solution." Sincechildren with disabilities and their families are faced with unique chal-
On February 4"', a combined House and Senate hearing of the Health and Family Security Committee was heldtotake testimony on how the federal cuts to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will impact families and legal immigrants. At least the legislature is lisample:"Based on seizure his- tening and trying to come up tory, the paid caregiver will with solutions. Let's hope manage seizures 20 minutes the Governor is, too! two days per week. The total time required is 40 minutes Dear Governor Carlson: per week." Obviously, since seizures cannot be scheduled Today, in your State of the 40 minutes a week, whict. Stateaddress, you emphasized wouldbe averaged to roughly "Children first," several times 6 minutes a day, this practice throughout your message. does not insure that a PCA You say you have a real comwill be present when aseizure mitment to the future of the occurs. The Department over- children of Minnesota. looks the fact that the law clearlyprovides for "interven- In July of 1997,3200 Minnetion for seizure disorders, in- sotachildren who receive SSI cluding monitoring and ob- benefits will lose those beneservation...." A person can- fits to federal cuts. not monitor and observe for seizures ifaperson isn't there; Asaresult. thesechildrenwill within the amount of time a lose medical coverage,and in recipient of care is eligible to many cases, this will mean a receive, the PCA can be used 40% drop in family income PCA - cont. or1 p. 3
nlawful Practices educe PCA Hours by Luther Granquist, Disability Law Center The StateofMinnesota's Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program has been successful. The program allows persons with disabilities to get out of nursing homes, or avoid ever going in. Parents get crucial help with theirchildren. These successes occur, to some extent, in spite of how it is administered by the Department ofHurnan Services (DHS). In some ways the program's administration is unlawful, in other ways simply inhumane.
ered personal care service" (i.e. a service for which the state would reimburse the recipient ofthe care), is no longer a covered service. But the contention frequently made by Department personnel, that only "hands-on intervention" is acovered service, is simply wrong andcontrarytothe PCA statute. The statute specifically allows for observation and monitoring so long as that activity is tied to one of the other covered personal care services.
It is a fact, as the DHS health care nurse consultants and One example is seizures. The their supervisors frequently Department's assessment state, that the legislature has form contains the average changed the Personal Care number of seizures and the Attendant statute. General amount of time it takes to insupervision for safekeeping, tervene for each seizure. The which years ago was a '-cov- DHS Bulletin gives this es-
* Under current state law, an estimated 80 percent of the children who lose SSI will still qualify for Medical Assistancethrough a low-income basis of eligibility or because their families are eligible for Aid to Families with DepenWhat do you propose to do dent Children. Oftheremainfor these children and their ing 300 to 700 children who lose their Medical Assistance coverage, manywe expected r Q=mm Children with Special Health Needs (MCSHN) programs. Charlie Smith Editor/Publisher
(source: MN Disability Law Center). The reality is, these cuts in income and loss of medical coverage could result in massive homelessness for a large number of families of children with disabilities.
GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE Thank you for your letter expressing the concern about changes in the federal Sup-
erage and not qualify for other public health care programs.
Minnesota's responseto these and other changes is a fair plan that stresses the value of work. The linchpin is the highly respected and nationThe loss of safety net pro- ally acclaimed Minnesota grams for any child is a diffi- Family Investment Plan. cult situation. Although the While families will have to state cannot make up all lost work, we will provide assistfederal dollars, we are work- ance and support, including ing hard to find solutions to significant investments in the challenge this presents for child care. We are coordinatour children. The Depart- ing this effort with the Minnement ofHuman Services staff sota Department of Children, are studying the new federal Families and Learning. legislation to determine what it will mean for Minnesota's I appreciate your interest and children. I have the following involvement in crafting a information to offer at this meaningful state response to the welfare reform plan as it time: affects children with serious * Based on data from the So- emotional disturbance. Decial Security Administration veloping Minnesota's apand the Congressional Bud- proach to welfare reform is a get Office,the numberofchil- shared responsibility bedren losing SSI in MN could tween citizens. local and state vary from 1,000 to 3,200, government, business, and depending on regulations representatives of the local written by the Social Security systems of care. I look forAdministration. We are hope- ward to a constructive legful that they will use the broad islative session. Together we leeway Congress has given can find a solution that best them in their implementation serves all Minnesota chilofthe law and reduce the num- dren. ber of affected children.
changes will have on children with serious emotional disturbance and their families.
4 1
d.r: I