Missouri families worry proposed $80.7 million cut will hobble disability care programs
Department of Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn told lawmakers that while the reductions would impact families, the spending reductions would preserve the state’s ability to offer these services
The Missouri Independent article explains that Missouri families and disability advocates are alarmed by a proposed $80.7 million cut to disability care programs warning that lowered pay rates for caregivers and eliminated services could undermine in-home care and push people into institutional settings. These reductions are seen as threatening independence and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, who are urging lawmakers to reject or restore funding.