Forrest Calls on Corbett To Rescind Co-Payments for Disabled Children

Sept. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Liz Forrest, Democratic candidate for State Representative in the 189th District, today called on Gov. Tom Corbett and Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander to rescind their plan to implement “cruel” and financially burdensome co-payments for most Pennsylvania children on Medical Assistance beginning in October. She also sharply criticized her opponent, Rep. Rosemary Brown, and the Republican-controlled Legislature for approving deep cuts to the DPW budget, while voting to give themselves a pay raise and expanded medical benefits.

"Why do the politicians in Harrisburg constantly try to balance the budget on the backs of people who can least afford it, while continuing to enrich themselves?" Forrest asked. “These co-payments are cruel and unusual punishment for families that already bear the additional financial and emotional burdens of raising children with disabilities.”

According to DPW's own figures, savings generated by the co-payment proposal would be about $5.8 million, which is a tiny fraction of DPW's total budget. The plan would cap the co-payments at 5 percent of a family’s adjusted gross income but by some estimates, the plan would result in monthly payments of as much as $395 for a family earning less than six figures.  

Forrest also noted that the plan will sacrifice potentially millions in federal aid. Currently, state assistance to disabled children through Medical Assistance is matched at the federal level by Medicaid. If the state shifts the burden to families and local school districts, which are responsible for Medicaid- funded behavioral health services under individualized education plans for the autistic, it would not just be the families who get hit financially. Under the law, local school districts will either have to pay for the behavioral health services directly or reimburse the DPW co-payments.

"This ill-conceived plan will sacrifice more in federal dollars than it gains from co-pays, and increase the financial burden on our local school districts, which are already strapped because of cuts in state education funding,” said Forrest. “In the final analysis, this proposal makes no sense financially, and it only hurts disabled children and their families.”

According to some members of the autism community, DPW and the Department of Insurance should be enforcing Act 62 to generate additional revenue.

"I am told that by enforcing Act 62, $25 million currently paid out through Medical Assistance could be picked up by health insurance," Forrest said, adding that some autism advocates contend DPW is not encouraging providers to join networks, and the Insurance Department has not sanctioned insurers for denying claims that they should have paid under Act 62.

Forrest also criticized Brown and the GOP-controlled Legislature for cutting assistance to disabled children while giving themselves a $6,500 salary increase and increasing their own health insurance coverage, which costs taxpayers up to $20,000 each year for a single legislator.

“Rosemary Brown and the politicians in Harrisburg can’t talk out of both sides of their mouths,” Forrest said. “They can’t lecture families with disabled kids about how we all have to tighten our belts, and then feather their own nests with pay raises and better health benefits.”

Forrest also pointed out that Rep. Brown sits on the Children & Youth Committee and the Insurance Committee, which have jurisdiction over the issues affecting families with disabled children.

"Advocates for people with autism and other disabilities have visited Harrisburg more than once since Rosemary Brown was elected,” Forrest said. “Is she listening? Is anybody listening?"