Vaccination News Home Page Scandals subscribe Vaccination NewsLetter
http://www.gazetteextra.com/autismprogram050203.asp
Doyle proposes
saving part of in-home autism program
(Published Friday, May 2, 2003 09:18:15 AM CDT)
By JR Ross/Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. -- A little more than half of the autistic children who currently
receive intensive in-home treatment would still be eligible for the care under a
proposal Gov. Jim Doyle released Thursday in hopes of saving part of a program
he had originally wanted to scrap.
Doyle's budget had proposed eliminating the program because the federal
government would no longer pay for it and the state could not afford it along
with a $3.2 billion deficit.
But Doyle changed his mind after hearing from parents of autistic children at
almost all of the public meetings he held to gather public input on his budget
proposal, spokesman Dan Leistikow said.
"Even with the $3.2 billion deficit, the governor believes we have to stay true
to our Wisconsin values, and taking care of children is one of those," Leistikow
said.
The program would be overhauled to qualify for federal money again. It currently
covers intensive in-home care for autistic children between the ages of 2 and
16.
But Doyle's proposal would limit eligibility to children between the ages of 3
and 7 and would provide 25 to 35 hours a week of in-home therapy while requiring
families with children enrolled to pay for part of the therapy based on what
they can afford.
Older children would still be eligible for limited in-home care as well as
services through other community and school programs.
Leistikow said the changes were necessary to qualify for federal money and to
reduce the program's costs.
Wisconsin faces a $3.2 billion deficit for the period through June 30, 2005
because projected revenue does not cover requested spending.
The two-year budget, which starts July 1, pays for services such as education
and aid to local governments. Doyle, a Democrat, has ruled out tax increases to
fix the deficit, requiring deep spending cuts and other measures.
The state's current autism program is funded by state and federal Medicaid
dollars and was expected to cost more than $40 million for the current year.
Doyle's proposal will be included in a waiver that will be submitted to the
federal government seeking permission to continue using federal money to pay for
the revised program. It estimates the program would cost about $66.5 million
over the next two years, with the state picking up about $26.5 million of that
tab.
Leistikow said the state's share would come from money within the Department of
Health and Family Services budget.
Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, said she was happy Doyle was trying to save the
program. But she also wanted more information on how the Department of Health
and Family Services would be able to pay for the state's share of the program.
"You can't walk away from these families, and that's what the original budget
did," said Rhoades, a member of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee, which
is reviewing Doyle's budget and making changes.
If the state receives approval for the waiver it will submit to federal
government, Doyle will submit an amendment to the Joint Finance Committee that
it can consider adding to the budget.
During the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1,076 children were enrolled in the
program; 630 of them were between the ages of 3 and 7, according to DHFS.
Autism is a developmental disability, typically diagnosed during the first three
years of life, that affects the normal development of the brain in the areas of
social interaction and communication skills.
Copyright ©2003 Bliss
Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
Use of this material and this site are subject to the
GazetteExtra Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy.
Content may not be published, broadcast, re-distributed or re-written.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.