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Politics & Government

Governor Axes MediCal Adult Day Services

"We have 110 patients in the adult day services. Sixty percent of those are MediCal patients," said NVHADS Program Director Celine Regalia.

A funny thing happened to adult day services on the way to the budget.

During the state’s lengthy budget process, legislators stressed their intention to maintain adult day services through state and federal funding, according to a press release.

However, on June 30, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed the state budget he unexpectedly vetoed the section that would have preserved the programs, the press release said.

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The line-item veto stops MediCal funding for 300 adult day centers statewide.

This will affect about 60 percent of patients receiving adult day services at , according to NVHADS Program Director Celine Regalia.

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“We have 110 patients in the adult day services. Sixty percent of those are MediCal patients,” she said. “If the state funding stops, we no longer will be able to bill MediCal.”

Regalia said they are looking for alternative programs for the MediCal patients. But there are not many programs that provide the services that NVHADS does all in one place, she said.

The Disability Rights California has filed a federal lawsuit seeking an injunction to stop the elimination of the MediCal funds, Regalia said.

“The judge has signed the injunction. There will be a hearing on July 28," she said. “If the judge rules against the injunction, we have until end of August to come up with alternatives. We no longer will be able to accept MediCal patients at that time.”

Eleven adult day care services across the state have already closed their doors, Regalia said.

Regalia made it clear the legislation will in no way affect the Hospice Center services they offer. “Many of our adult day services patients are elderly and low income,” Regalia said.

"Fifty-five percent of the 110 patients in the program have some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. We are talking about long-term care.”

NVHADS offers services that allow the disabled to live in their own homes instead of long-term care facilities.

If the majority of adult day services centers statewide closed, “there would not be enough nursing homes to accommodate the displaced patients,” Regalia said.

NVHADS also provides private pay services.

Although the patients at the Napa adult care services live with caregivers, they cannot be left for the day unsupervised, Regalia said. “So if we have to turn them away, it will be an extreme hardship on their caregivers as well.”

Currently MediCal pays $76 a day per patient, which is spilt between the state and federal government.

Regalia said HVHADS provides all the patient’s services under one roof. They provide speech, physical and occupational therapy, among other services for the disabled.

The 23 staff members monitor the patients health and provide the personal care each one needs. The program also has many volunteers.

“We also pay the transportation for the clients. Most of them arrive daily by a special bus. If that is eliminated, that will also create hardship on their caregivers,” Regalia said.

“The people who use the adult care services are some the most frail and vulnerable members of the community,” Linda Gibson, NVHADS president and chief executive officer said in a press release.

“Our staff and volunteers are heartsick over this development. Many of participants will not be able to remain in their own homes without the support of adult day services,” Gibson said.

NVHADS has been open since 1998.

“In that time we have kept many, many patients in their homes and out of convalescent homes,” Regalia said.

The center services are available to everyone 18 and older. The average age of the participants in the adult day services is 76, Regalia said.

Regalia urges the community to contact their legislators and advocate the need for the adult day services.

“We need this for our community. It is cost effective and keeps those who need our services out of rest homes.”

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