DULUTH, MINN. --- Today, members of the Northland ARC held a press conference to voice their opposition to a round of new health care cuts that could be implemented by the Minnesota State Legislature.
Last week, the Minnesota House of Representatives proposed a bill that accelerates already–deep cuts to personal care services for the disabled.
According to the Minnesota ARC, If signed into law, the bill would accelerate existing budget cuts in Minnesota's health and human services sector.
Specifically, the legislation calls for eliminating physical, occupational and speech therapy, eliminate funding for special diets, and implementing a 2.5 percent cut in provider fees.
According to lawmakers, the planned savings for Minnesota would be over $347 million in the fiscal year 2011.
However, ARC members say many people with disabilities are already on track to losing a critical part of home health care in 2011 --- thousands of personal care assistants --- and a new round of cuts could be devastating.
"We know that everyone has to have cuts, and we accept that there's going to to be cuts in this area, but to completely take it away just seems cruel" said ARC member Marilyn Gow, who is also an adoptive mother of eight children with disabilities.
The Governor's Budget is expected to be finalized by the middle of May.
Over the past 7 years, state cuts for disability services have reached over 500 million dollars.
Written for the web by Matt Standal
mstandal@northlandsnewscenter.com
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