Disability providers urge Gov. Laura Kelly not to cut 2021 funding

The intellectual and developmental disability community is hoping Kansas Gov.

Laura Kelly will change her mind about a funding cut in the 2021 fiscal budget.

FORCING STATELAWMAKERS TO MAKETOUGH DECISIONS ONBUDGETS.AND THOSE DECISIONSCOULD HAVE LASTINGIMPACTS.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESEXPLAINS.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Johnson CountyDevelopmental Supports herein Lenexa is one of the manyproviders in the state that'sbeen struggling from beingunderfunded for years.

Theagency tells me this fundingcut will affect every person inthe system like Andy Pate."ANDY PATE, RECEIVES SERVICESFROM JOHNSON CO.DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORTS"I'm ready to go back to work,ready to make more moneyagain and work with theagency and at the BuffaloState where I work now."ANDY IS ONE OF THE 1,700PEOPLE RECEIVINGSERVICES FROM JCDS.BUT AFTER YEARS OFUNDERFUNDING - THEAGENCY SAYS ITDESPERATELY NEEDSMORE SUPPORT.MELISSA REEVES, COMMUNITYRELATIONS MANAGER, JOHNSONCO.

DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORTS"The system is as stretchedas it can be."THE 2020 LEGISLATUREAPPROVED A FIVEPERCENT INCREASE INFUNDING FOR THE I-D-DSYSTEM, WHICH WOULDHAVE GONE INTO EFFECTJULY 1ST.GOVERNOR KELLY PULLEDIT FROM THE FINALBUDGET - A MOVECOMMUNICATIONSMANAGER MELISSAREEVES SAYS WILL HURTPROVIDERS AND PEOPLEWITH DISABILITIES.MELISSA REEVES, COMMUNITYRELATIONS MANAGER, JOHNSONCO.

DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORTS"When covid hit they werealready at a higher risk ofgetting complications from itand so now with not gettingthe funding that's needing inthese agencies that justincreases the risk."MATT FLETCHER -EXECUTIVE DIRECTORWITH INTERHAB - SAYSHE'D LIKE TO SEE THEGOVERNOR USE CARESACT FUNDING TO FILL THEGAP.HE SAYS THE LOSS INPROVIDERS IS ALREADYPREVALENT.MATT FLETCHER, EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR, INTERHAB"In the Johnson County areabetween 2014 and 2019 wesaw about a 25 percenterosion in provider capacity."THE AGENCIES ARE ASKINGFAMILIES TO URGEGOVERNOR KELLY TO USEANY MEANS SHE HAS TOPROVIDE SUPPORT TOTHOSE WHO NEED IT ANDTO HELP KEEP PROVIDERSRUNNING.MATT FLETCHER, EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR, INTERHAB"We've heard anecdotally anumber of providers who arenot sure if they have the fundsto keep their doors open overthe next few months, andthese funds would have beena lifeline to them."IN LENEXA, EMMA JAMES,41 ACTION NEWS.