Governor Kemp makes zero waiver recommendations
Headline Teaser: The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities is worried about a lack of state funding this year. the organization says previous administrations recommended 200 medical waivers to be funded each year. But for the first time in a decade, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has made zero waiver recommendations.
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is concerned about a lack of state funds this legislative session. The organization says this year Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has made zero waiver recommendations. The group took their concerns to the Georgia State Capitol for Advocacy Days to raise awareness and get money allocated for Medicaid waivers. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities says federal funds will match four times the amount for Medicaid waivers – but the state needs to budget for it first. GCDD Media Relations Director Hillary Hibben said "I really feel like we won the lottery [by getting a wiaver after 12 years]. There's little transparency as far as how one gets the waiver in terms of navigating the system and who's most in need. There are 6000 people in need and it's unfortunate that we have to pit one person's need against another." The group wants 125 waivers at a price tag of 5-million dollars.
- This story was broadcast on the following television stations:
• WJBF News Channel 6 @ 7 on 2/21/20
• WJBF News Channel 6 at 5:30 (teaser) on 2/21/20
• WRBL Evening Edition on 2/21/20 (View Clip)
• Coastal Sunrise Weekend (WSAV-TV )on 2/22/20
• Good Morning Augusta (WJBF-TV ) on 2/24/20
• WSAV News 3 at 4:30 on 2/24/20 (View Clip)
Text: The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is concerned about funds for Medicaid waivers. For the first time in a decade the governor is not allocating any money. Activists took their concerns to lawmakers for advocacy day. Our Georgia Capitol reporter Archith Seshadri - was there. An unusual pairing - these two Atlanta residents share a common bond. Joan McCarty: "My son is 25 years old and he is autistic." Hillary Hibben: "My sister has Down syndrome - an intellectual disability." They want more Medicaid waivers to help disabled Georgians be independent.
Eric Jacobson: "People need support in three areas of daily living - help getting up, help communicating, and help going to school. Those kinds of activities allow people to communicate and be a part of their community."
Joan McCarty: "He needs support 24 hours a day, seven days a week and that is because he cannot communicate without the help of a communication partner. Joan McCarty's son, John, is one of 6000 people in Georgia who are still on a waiting list for a waiver.
Joan McCarty: "John has been on a a waiting list for eight years, and when John was getting close to 18, I really thought he needed some help, I needed help." Hillary Hibben's sister Hannah, is one of the lucky ones who got the waiver.
Hillary Hibben: "She was on the waiting list to receive those services for about 12 years. And really, since she's had the waiver, which has only been a handful of months, it's been night and day." John is a presenter and consultant and uses this device to communicate. Joan McCarty: "When you are 25 years old and you cannot control your body and you need a communication partner to speak, you have to have someone with you all the time."
Hillary Hibben: "I really feel like we won the lottery. There seems to be little transparency, perhaps, as far as how one gets the waiver in terms of who's most in need. As far as navigating the system, there are 6000 people in need and it's unfortunate that we have to pit one person's need against another." But for now it's a tale of two waivers as the waiting game continues. Reporting at the State Capitol, Archith Seshadri, Atlanta bureau chief. 125 waivers are needed, at a cost of 5-millions. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities determines who will get them.
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is concerned about a lack of state funds this legislative session. The organization says this year Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has made zero waiver recommendations. The group took their concerns to the Georgia State Capitol for advocacy day to raise awareness and get money allocated for medicaid waivers. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities says federal funds will match four times the amount for Medicaid waivers - but the state needs to budget for it first. GCDD Media Relations Director Hillary Hibben "I really feel like we won the lottery. There's little transparency as far as how one gets the waiver in terms of navigating the system and who's most in need. There are 6000 people in need and it's unfortunate that we have to pit one person's need against another." The group wants 125 waivers at a price tag of 5-million dollars.
