Frequently Asked Questions ...

... About Budget Cuts

What’s all this in the news about state budget cuts?

By law, Minnesota must have a balanced budget. Today, state revenue is lagging behind state spending at a rate of about $43 million, per day. State lawmakers must plug that gap before the 2010 session ends on May 17. If unchecked, the deficit would grow to $1.2 billion by the end of the fiscal year. That’s the big number you see in the paper and hear on the news. Gov. Pawlenty has just released his plan for balancing the state budget, largely with cuts in spending.

How do the proposed state budget cuts affect Courage Center?

As he did last year, the Governor has proposed the elimination of physical, occupational, and speech therapy services If enacted into law, this would take effect Jan. 1, 2011, for adults enrolled in the Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare program.

Additionally, Medical Assistance payments to Courage Center would be cut by 2.5 percent, effective Oct. 1, 2010, for participants in the TRP, and for all waivered services (such as Independent Living Skills and Behavior Services).

Is this a done deal?

No. Courage Center’s Public Affairs team will be working to preserve access to rehabilitation therapies and current payment rates for services. Working with many organizations last year, we preserved rehabilitation therapies. We’re hopeful we will again succeed this year.

What can I do?

Call Gov. Pawlenty’s office at 651.296.3391 and respectfully say: “Hi, I work at Courage Center, and I’ve seen the difference rehabilitation therapies can make in the lives of individuals who have had an accident, injury, or live with a disability. I hope my taxpayer dollars will continue to fund these cost-effective services.”

Come to the Communicate at the Capitol event: www.couragecenter.org/communicateatthecapitol  

Or check out these options, depending on the amount of time you have to dedicate: http://www.couragecenter.org/PreviewPages/makeadifference.aspx