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May 5, 2017

California Congressional Delegation Urges Governor To Reconsider Cutting Funding For In-home Care For Needy

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) and Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) spearheaded a letter signed by members of the California Congressional delegation urging Governor Edmund G. Brown to reconsider his proposal to cease operation of the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) and undo the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Maintenance of Effort (MOE).

“Californians who truly depend on in-home caregivers for basic care like using the bathroom and cooking meals will be left holding the bag,” said Congresswoman Barragán.  “Services provided to the needy who depend on the program could skyrocket for California’s 58 counties.  If the Governor cuts this program, the counties would have to shoulder a much bigger share of IHSS expenses that they simply cannot afford.  I hope the Governor will look for another solution.”

The IHSS program provides vital in-home services that help elderly and disabled children and adults remain safely at home and avoid high-cost institutional care.  Currently, over 500,000 California residents benefit from the services provided through this Medicaid-funded program in which the non-Federal costs are shared by the State and counties.

“Discontinuing CCI and In-Home Supportive Services MOE would unfairly shift costs to Counties,” said Congresswoman Lofgren.  “As a former County Supervisor, I understand firsthand the challenges Counties face in providing services required by federal and state law.  Shifting costs to Counties will impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of Californians, many of whom are among our state’s most vulnerable.  I thank my colleague Rep. Barragán for her leadership in bringing this significant issue the attention it deserves.”

“I commend our California congressional representatives for taking a stand against Governor Brown’s plan to slash the state budget for in-home care services,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor and Board Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas. “This united group of elected federal officials recognize that the proposed cuts could have a devastating impact on our County, especially in the wake of the vote by the House to repeal the Affordable Care Act.”

 

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