This article was contributed by Jennifer Mahan, ASNC Director of Advocacy and Public Policy.
The NC House passed HB97, its version of the two-year budget, on May 22. The House budget would increase spending by $1.3 billion (6.3 percent) to address funding needs in Medicaid, education, and other services. The bill includes funds for increased teacher pay, student growth, some education initiatives, current Medicaid services, and new crisis services.
The Senate is expected to reveal its version of the budget this week, with fewer increases in funding to make changes to income and corporate tax rates. Then a House and Senate budget conference committee is usually appointed to work out differences between the budget bills.
Here are some details on the proposed House budget:
Education
- 2 percent pay increase for teachers
- Student growth is funded
- Special education per-pupil spending is increased in special provision language
- Funds for technical assistance to increase capacity for postsecondary education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
The education special provisions include bill language from HB921 to begin addressing graduation and future employment of students with disabilities as well as to improve postsecondary education opportunities that promote employment and independent living.
Health and Human Services
- Funds Medicaid rebase (growth in Medicaid eligible populations and current services)
- Adds $2.3 million to the NC START crisis program that serves individuals with IDD so that it can serve children and youth.
- Adds about $7.5 million (some recurring and some non-recurring) to develop more crisis services for MHDDSA populations including hospital beds, behavioral health crisis units, and a crisis bed registry.
- Adds $2.1 million to fund a pilot project for Targeted Case Management for individuals on the waiting list for Innovations waiver services slots.
The special provision language in the Medicaid section would return more control to the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to manage the Medicaid budget. Legislators stated that the language in this section will allow NC DHHS to shift funds as needed to support group homes that have been affected by changes to Medicaid policy on who qualifies for personal care and other services.
Other
- Funds the administration and promotion of ABLE Act 529 savings plans for people with disabilities.
Whatās missing?
The House budget bill does not specifically fund the expansion of Innovations waiver slots to address the lengthy waiting list for IDD services. Also not included are any new funds to address the need for autism treatment under Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment services. The $2.3 million in NC START funding in the House budget is enough to address the gap in adult IDD crisis but is not enough to address the needs of children and youth with IDD. Another $4-5 million would be needed to build effective child and youth crisis services.
ASNC will continue to advocate with the Senate to ensure that education and human services budgets address the growing needs of people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Learn more
Information about the budget and the latest versions of the bill can be found in the left column of the General Assemblyās website at www.ncleg.net. The ābill textā includes all of the bill language including the special provisions. The ācommittee reportā is also called the money report and includes funding cuts, additions, and shifts in funding from one source to another as well as a brief description of each funding item.
Have questions about this legislation or other public policy issues? Contact Jennifer Mahan, ASNC Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, at jmahan@autismsociety-nc.org or 919-865-5068.
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