Ask Mike - Worried about cuts in services

Dear Mike,

I am a guardian to a 52 year old female who is developmentally challenged and lives somewhat independently with a female who has MS. Both women have special needs and get provider services at this time. I just received a notice regarding budget cuts in Michigan and that their services may be affected. Can you tell me anymore than this notice says? I am ecspecially concerned regarding the woman I am guardian to, she was born mentally challenged and basically functions at a level of a 6 year old. She can dress, bath, feed herself, sure, but she cannot cook, figure out her medications, cannot count money, shop for herself, etc. Will she be eligle for any type of service after these cuts in October 2011?

Regards,

Worried About Cuts

Dear Worried About Cuts,

Thanks for contacting me. You wrote that you are a guardian for a woman with intellectual disabilities in Michigan. She currently receives services and lives with a roommate with disabilities. They both received a notice a few weeks ago about budget cuts and that their services may be affected. You are particularly concerned about your ward and want to know if she will be eligible for any services after the cuts in October.

There is no way to tell how any individual will be affected in a situation like this without a whole lot more information and background knowledge. This being said, the PAS Center website can assist you with contact information for the Michigan Medicaid program. Hopefully, you can find the answers you need by directly contacting the state Medicaid program office.

On the PAS Center website go Contact Info and Descriptions for Medicaid Waiver. Next, click on "Michigan" on the USA map. Next, contact information and a website for the "Habilitative" Waiver serving the MR/DD labeled population appears. This most likely is the program for which your ward has applied. Using the same process, you could also try clicking on Agencies Related to PAS found under the same heading. Contact information for the Michigan Medicaid program as a whole is found by following this link.

Good luck. I hope these needed services are maintained.

Mike Oxford.

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