Medicaid cuts would take disabled in S.C. backwards
The U.S. Senate is moving rapidly towards a plan to cut and cap the Medicaid program. More than 174,000 South Carolinians with disabilities receive Medicaid, including 6,229 people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who rely on Medicaid waivers to meet their needs. South Carolina receives more than $471 million in federal funds to provide support and services that individuals with I/DD use to live in the community.
Over the last two decades, funding for services has grown because of widespread bipartisan support. Disability knows no political, geographical, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. They provide dignity to people through assistance programs.
The Senate is considering the same $830 billion dollar cut to the Medicaid program as passed the House. We fear that because home and community based services are “optional” and “waiver” services, states will cut them first if confronted with this greatly reduced federal commitment. The per capita cap proposal will pave a path backwards to institutional care and segregated services.
It’s a recipe for disaster for our state, and will only get worse over time.
Margie Williamson, Chapin
This story was originally published July 14, 2017 at 10:27 AM with the headline "Medicaid cuts would take disabled in S.C. backwards."