If IDEA and Title V no longer fund the parent center and its parent and sibling groups, Tracy's mother and her brother will find it harder to cope. Whether for Medicaid or SSI, block grants give a good deal of control to states, creating variations in eligibility rules and services, and opening up competition between adults and children for funds. The Senate wants MCH combined with 18 other health programs and then block-granted to the states. Senate will take up IDEA in September. Fund PTIs and other important special ed programs.
Many states now face budget crises.
Almost every state will certainly face a budget crisis when federal funds for many key children's programs are cut. Budget cutters will also insist on Medicaid managed care. Everyone, including nursing homes, the elderly, adults with disabilities, and children will fight for state dollars and federal block grant funds. When the Senate stopped its welfare debate in August, they admitted that they needed to talk to the folks back home before they voted. United Cerebral Palsy set up a teleconference to get the latest scoop from Washington.