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Arizona Department of Economic Security cuts provider rates by 10%
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Source: Sanja Gjenero/stock.xchng
In response to their slashed budget, the DES is again attempting to reduce the rates it pays providers by 10%. As a DES provider, I say bravo!
Three months ago DES announced it would be cutting provider rates to meet the budget shortfall. This affected a number of people providing services to special needs kids in Arizona including therapists, habilitation workers, and respite care workers. I provide respite care to my niece's family so this cut affected me, though not as much as people who get most or all of their revenue from the state.
I thought this was a reasonable step in the state's attempt to balance the budget and the therapists I spoke to agreed. It was going to be a blow to their businesses, but it seemed like an acceptable sacrifice to help the state maintain its programs.
I was disappointed when the injunction came a month later stopping the rate reduction. While I appreciate the motivation of the organizations fighting the state, I feel in this battle they are being short sighted. We need to focus our attention on efforts such as keeping the state from shutting down AzEIP, not fighting them when they do something practical.
The new rate cut should be effective May 25, 2009 and I'm hoping it doesn't get blocked again. Like it or not, the economy is in a mess especially in this state. We can't keep our fingers in our ears singing "La, la, la I'm not listening". Turning our backs on the problem is exactly how this country got in its current sad financial situation. We are all going to have to accept some cuts.
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