Governor Gashole's Cutbacks to close Western Pennsylvania camp for disabled
Gov. Tom Corbett's 2012-13 budget proposes 20 percent reductions — saving $168 million — for seven line items that include money for intellectual disabilities and behavioral health services. The line items would then be consolidated into one block grant for counties to distribute at their discretion.
In November the state Department of Public Welfare reduced reimbursement rates by 6 percent for agencies such as InVision.
"Providers of all sizes are having to look at things like summer camp realistically and ask, 'Can we continue to provide these?' " said Gabrielle Sedor, spokeswoman for the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. "Summer camps are really just the beginning of what we're going to see.
"Even though everyone told us, 'If you thought last year was bad, this year is going to be worse,' I still think the level of cuts took us all aback. Yes, times are tight, but if you say something is a priority like serving those most in need, you find the money."
Read more: Cutbacks to close Western Pennsylvania camp for disabled - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_782363.html?_s_icmp=NetworkHeadlines#ixzz1mqbJaOpI
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