INDIANAPOLIS — Families with children with complex medical issues are worried about the future of their children’s access to care, as a $1 billion shortfall in the Medicaid budget has led the FSSA to announce possible cuts to exemptions for the elderly and disabled.
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“It’s definitely made a big impact,” said Alexander Davis, who is disabled. “Right now, my dad can’t work because of his leg and back injuries, so this program is our only source of income.”
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Davis is talking about the Medicaid nursing program. His mother, Anastasia, earns her income by caring for her son. She says it’s hard to find a nurse for her son, which is why she started participating in the program.
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“We were on the nursing list and care list and we had been on the list for seven years before this program and we had no help,” said waiver recipient Anastasia Davis. “This program has changed our lives and taken just a little bit of stress off of our family.”
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The Department of Family and Social Services offered to stop making payments to the family. For the Clements, the payment was life-changing. Before the payment, Shi Clements worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. She was only getting four hours of sleep a night, often sleeping in her car between shifts.
“In the last nine months, it’s allowed me to go back to a regular full-time job,” says Cy Clements. “I’ve finally been able to support my wife, provide more support for my daughter, increase her medical care, and have the time and means to actually get out and go to the zoo!”
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Caregivers can earn $10 to $15 an hour. These families hope the FSSA will continue to fund the program and that lawmakers understand that for some families, this is their only option. Rachel Scott says it’s her husband who gets the exemption. They’re lucky they can now afford the home they consider a farm. She says if the funding runs out, they’ll have to give up.
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“We have to sell our home and all our possessions,” Scott said. “We will be in real financial difficulty and won’t be able to provide for our children.”
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As of now, the cuts, if implemented, would take effect July 1. Parents plan to be at the state Capitol throughout the session to talk with lawmakers and urge them to find a solution.
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