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Agencies could lose $37 million

 
By Josh Rabe | Published: February 18, 2008    Comment on this article Leave a comment

The impending loss of $37 million in federal money means fewer child welfare services and less assistance for the developmentally disabled in Oklahoma.

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An emergency rule change made to Medicaid policy in December declared state employees such as juvenile probation officers and child welfare workers can't be paid with federal Medicaid dollars because they are performing a state-level function. Because it was an emergency rule change, the issue wasn't argued in Congress.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the cuts are a result of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Medicaid hopes to cut $1.28 billion in spending by 2013.

The Department of Human Services will take the largest hit, losing $34 million for services it provides for child welfare and developmental disability services. The state Office of Juvenile Affairs would lose $3 million, which supplements case management of juvenile offenders.

About 5,000 Oklahomans receive services like direct care in their homes, said Sheree Powell, spokeswoman for the developmental disabilities division of DHS.

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Related Topics: Law, Health and Fitness, Welfare Policy, Public Finance, Domestic Policy, Social Policy, Federal Budget, Criminal Law, Government Spending, Juvenile Justice, Social Work, Federal Deficits, Disabilities, Health Care Issues, Learning and Developmental Disorders, Paying for Health Care, Crime and Law, Government and Politics



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