Monday, November 16, 2009

Nebraska Caregives May Get Increase

Nebraska's oft-criticized safety net for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities may get a small funding increase next year despite Gov. Dave Heineman's recommendation to keep funding flat.

The Legislature's budget-writing Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to increase state funding to groups that care for the developmentally disabled by 1 percent, a move one official said could keep their doors open and serve the same number of people they are now.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, must come up with spending cuts to offset the funding increase proposed during the state's worst fiscal crisis in recent memory.

Providers had sharply criticized Heineman's plan to keep funding flat next year because it came at the same time his administration is trying to move people out of institutions and into community-based programs. His proposal is one of dozens of proposed changes to the budget during the ongoing special legislative session intended to decrease state spending by $334 million to address falling state revenues.

"It doesn't sound like much, but it will help groups stave off a financial crisis," said Zavodny, president of a state association of organizations that serve the mentally disabled. In addition to the 1 percent increase, the Appropriations Committee set aside $500,000 to help boost pay to providers of services to the developmentally disabled.

Full Article and Source:
Some Neb.Caregivers May be in for Raise

5 comments:

Thelma said...

It would be far better to fund caregivers at home than put a person into state care under court administration where they give away all their money.

Betty said...

Many family caregivers give up high paying jobs to take care of their loved ones.

Any increase would be of help to them.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see them get more but this is a beginning. Every effort should be made to make it more beneficial for people to stay home and out of nursing homes.

Anonymous said...

Every state should be doing this.

Anonymous said...

caregiving is the hardest job in the world

any compensation that can be given to family caregivers to keep their family at home saves the taxpayers by keeping people out of facilities and by keeping them away from unnecessary exposure in hospital/facility settings