Idaho Dept of Health and Welfare To Cut Benefits for Developmentally Disabled

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A recent decision by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to cut Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-home care for the developmentally disabled has received pushback from disabilities activists who say the move will negatively impact care.

The Post Register reports the change announced Friday returns the level of reimbursement to what providers received in 2006. Providers who offer in-home care at the "intense" level will see about a 46 percent cut in the reimbursement they receive each day. Rates were cut by 37 percent at the lowest level of support.

Advocates say most in-home care providers won't be able to survive the rates, possibly forcing the developmentally disabled into state institutions and prisons.

The state says it won't allow loss of access to services.