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Dear LaCAN Member,
Act NOW to Keep Funding for Home and Community-Based Services
IT'S TIME TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE if you want to express support for action taken by the Senate Finance Committee.
The Committee included the following in the budget:
- Funding for an additional 125 NOW slots (for a total of 200)
- Restoration of funding for Children's Special Health Services
- Restoration of funding that will impact DHH and may protect Families Helping Families
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Contact Your Senator & Representative
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NOW through SATURDAY morning
Contact your Senator
Find your Senator's email address here.
You can also speak directly to your Senator (or leave him/her a message) by calling the Senate switchboard at 225-342-2040.
NOW through TUESDAY morning
Contact your Representative
Find your Representative's email address here.
You can also speak directly to your Representative (or leave him/her a message) by calling the House switchboard at 225-342-6945.
Click here to find out who your Senator and/or Representative is.
Sample Message:
"Please support the funding currently in the budget for 200 additional NOW slots and Children's Special Health Services. Also support the funding for DHH contracts which will protect Families Helping Families and other home and community-based services."
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With only six days remaining in this year's session, the state budget (HB1) continues to make its way through the legislative process. The Senate Finance Committee approved the budget with amendments for 125 additional New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) slots (for a total of 200) and the restoration of $794,000 to Children's Special Health Services (CSHS). There was also partial restoration of the House cuts that may result in protection of Families Helping Families and other home and community based services, but the specifics of how this restoration will impact DHH are unavailable at this time.
The budget will be debated by the full Senate on Saturday where they are not expected to make significant changes.
After the Senate approves the budget, it will return to the full House early next week for their approval or rejection of the Senate changes. There is indication that the House might not accept the Senate changes. (Click here for an article citing the response of some House members.) If the House does not agree, HB1 goes to a conference committee made up of several Senate and House members where they must reach a compromise.
Therefore, if you support the funding of 200 additional NOW slots, keeping the CSHS clinics open, and restoring funding to the Department of Health and Hospitals for the protection of Families Helping Families and other home and community-based services -- your Senator and Representative need to hear from you.
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Don't forget to let us know you took action!
Reply to this email or notify your Regional LaCAN Leader to confirm your action.
Why confirm your action?
This info helps us to know how effective we are in reaching you with this information and engaging members across our state in advocacy for systems change.
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If there are any questions about the information in this email, contact LaCAN by replying to this email, or calling the toll free number listed below.
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