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Rhonda Rogers
From: Columbus, Cherokee County
Impact of Budget Cuts: Kicked off Waiting List/Raised Eligibility Requirements
Senator: Dwayne Umbarger (14th)
Representative: Doug Gatewood (1st)
I have Hepatitis C, which was caused from a blood transfusion when my son was born fifteen years ago. This has also caused me to have Cirrhosis of the liver for which I receive chemotherapy three times a week. I also have progressive Rheumatory Arthritis and Hypertension.
I need help with all aspects of my daily living and I am totally dependent on someone else for my laundry, house cleaning, and transportation to chemotherapy. If it were not for my fifteen-year-old son, I would be in a nursing home. On the days that I am very ill my son has to stay home from school to take care of me. I am very concerned for his education and the principal is very understanding.
What the State of Kansas has done to me is unfair, as well as what they have done to my son and his education. I feel very discriminated against. I was assessed for HCBS services in August of 2002. I met the criteria then, and I qualified for services in my home only to be told that I was going to be placed on a waiting list. I found out that the criteria score was moved to 30 and that I only had a 27 and no longer qualify for services.
I feel that it is very unfair and unjust to have been placed on a waiting list to begin with, and with the same score the state will pay an enormous amount for me to go to a nursing home. I received my Notice of Action that I no longer qualify for HCBS and I have been removed from the waiting list because someone at the State of Kansas decided to raise the score criteria to 30. I qualified for these services and should be receiving them now.
I cannot believe that those we vote into office would allow the citizens in their own country to be treated this way. You can be sure that there are many citizens with disabilities when it comes to voting, and we will be looking long and hard at whom we vote for.
Ronald Murphy
Age: 54
From: Augusta, Butler County
Impact of Budget Cuts: Lowered Protected Income
Senator: David Corbin (16th)
Representative: Everett Johnson (77th)
Ronald receives Social Security payments and a small VA pension totaling a miserable $800 a month. That amount isn't much to live on by itself, but Ronald also has to pay a client obligation of $142. Even worse, his client obligation is $68 more than it was previous to February 1st. Ronald has to pay his obligation or else he won't be able to keep his medical card, which he needs for kidney dialysis and other medical bills. He also receives PCA hours and gets help with his medications, and other household daily activities. With the extra obligation Ronald now must spend less on groceries and doesn't have any money for hobbies. He used to love fishing, hunting, and leatherwork, but there is absolutely no funds for them now, as they are too expensive. Worrying about heating and electric bills, how he will pay for them, Ronald exclaims, "How the hell am I supposed to live?" Ronald invites any legislator to live on his income level to see what it is like. Ronald does what he can to stay independent in his own home, as he says, "I live in a house, but I can't afford to do anything."
Jean Alverez/Carol Rhea l Contents l Jeanette McNeese/Amy Ritter
Statewide Independent Living Council of
Kansas
www.silck.org
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