Corbett administration imposes hefty copays on services for disabled children on Medicaid

[PA Democrat]

Under the new DPW requirements, a family whose income is above 200 percent of the poverty level will have to pay up to 5 percent of their gross monthly income for "wraparound" services: behavior therapy, speech, occupational and physical therapies, medications, doctor's visits and more.

That means a family of four whose incomes is just at 200 percent of the poverty level, or $46,100 a year, will have to pay an added $2,300 a year.

In a recent statement, state DPW Secretary Gary Alexander noted that these services cost "$700 million a year, yet many of the families receiving this care have the ability to pay their fair share. About 80 percent of these families have incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level and one in four have an income above $100,000 a year."


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/parents-of-disabled-kids-decry-new-pacopays-for-behavioral-services-655772/#ixzz288n1xWJZ

I would like to add that this is not just cruel, but extremely short-sighted. These services can have significant benefits for this population of children and save taxpayers in the long run. I've personally seen many kids who have made so much progress that they will need far fewer supports as adults. Shouldn't that be the ultimate goal?

[enough]

1. Our state is now the petri dish for the worst of right-wing infections. (nt)

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Why in the world did people vote for something like this man? Will he run again? What are

his chances of winning again? I hope PA wised up.

[enough]

3. I think that was the last election in PA where people thought

we were still playing by the old "rules." Corbett seemed like a regular old-style republican (except for those in the know). Most people could not have imagined how extreme the party has become.

Hoping for change in PA in two years. But as usual in PA, it's not at all clear what Democrat will run.

Actually, Corbett seems to be governing as if he assumes he'll only have one term. The idea is to get as many extreme measures through in as short a time as possible. Then even if the Dems win the next term, they will have to fight to roll back the status quo.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. Well lets hope.

[left-of-center2012]

5. PA's my home state

I hate to see the state where I grew up go so far to the right.