Legislators look to foundation for families denied Deeming Waiver

Families and advocates are carefully watching the developments surrounding solutions for children who are denied services under the Deeming Waiver. Both the Senate and the House have added funding that totals $7.6 million in the supplemental budget for FY 06 and in the FY07 to cover families who were dropped from the program.

In today's Gwinnett Daily Post, Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee was quoted saying, “We’re going to take care of these families who were depending on Katie Beckett and lost it.’’ Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, also said Tuesday that “it’s not going to cover everybody who wants to get in the program.’’ He went on to say, “the ones we’re trying to take care of are the ones who did qualify and then the criteria changed.’’ But the money would come with strings that have advocates for the Katie Beckett program concerned. The budget the House will take up today refers to the $7.6 million as “one-time’’ funding. It calls for the creation of an independent foundation to handle the program in the future. Sen. Johnson said lawmakers hope the foundation will be able to “leverage’’ private contributions to augment what the state provides. “The state can’t afford to take on the whole Katie Beckett program,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, HB 1464, Peachcare for All Kids Act, looks to expand the states's Peachcare program to include families who make 200%-400% of the federal poverty level. Premiums and co-pays would apply.

Foundations, temporary state funds, and Peachcare might be possible solutions.

Are they all just bandaids to the real problem? Which one would you support?

What do you think? Click COMMENTS to tell us...