Budget and health services news from Sacramento and D.C.

If you ever wished you had an ear on the ground in Sacramento but didn't know just how to accomplish that, you need to know about the California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN). The disability community does have an ear (and a heart) on the ground in the capitol - Marty Omoto. You can sign up to receive the network's updates by email or check in to their website for the latest news.

Updates from CDCAN have been pouring in the last few weeks as the California legislature approached the deadline for passing this year's budget. Lobbying over various trailer bills seems to have been intense as groups scrambled to maintain funding for vital services in these tough economic times.

Yesterday CDCAN reported that Governor Brown had signed the main budget bill and today followed up with a report that he had made his line item vetoes. Although impact to Health & Human Services seems to have been largely avoided, CDCAN highlighted the following items:

• Additional $15 Million Cut to Early Mental Health Initiative
• $4.7 Million Reduction in IHSS Administration Funding
• Reduction Impacting Quarterly Reporting Requirements on Hiring Plan Related to Court Monitoring of State Hospitals Under federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act

In other news, CDCAN announced what you may have already seen reported elsewhere, and that is that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld as constitutional most of the healthcare reform act. Good news for the Obama administration and everyone who will benefit from the changes already being made to how healthcare is administered here in the states.

So those are the main headlines. What the new budget in California really means for the disabled community will become more clear in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to CDCAN updates for the latest information.

---

PHA news:
The latest issue of The Eldridge Gazette is in the mail. You may have already received your copy by email or post. If not, you can download a copy by clicking.... www.parenthospitalassociation.org/forms/Gazette/GazetteMAY2012.pdf

And a reminder that there will be NO general membership meeting in July. Next time we get together will be September 8. Enjoy your summers everyone!