Advocates for the brain-injured push lawmakers for more services
Hartford — Advocates for people with brain injuries plan to urge Connecticut lawmakers this week to add more slots to the state's communitybased services program, saying it's difficult for families to wait two years or more for help.
Julie Peters, executive director of the Brian Injury Alliance of Connecticut, said there was hope that a new initiative enacted last year would significantly reduce or eliminate an existing waiting list for services such as case management, day programs and community living supports. However, she said that hasn't happened.
"Take a moment to consider if this was your loved one. Could you wait years? For families and survivors, every day without services is a lifetime," according to prepared testimony that will be submitted today to members of the General Assembly's Appropriations and Human Services Committees.
The two legislative committees were scheduled to hold a public hearing today on proposed modifications to the two programs that provide services to certain adults who've suffered a brain injury. The underlying issue of whether there are enough slots available for individuals seeking services is expected to come up.
According to the state Department of Social Services, 371 individuals are being served in the first program, which allows Medicaid funds to be spent on communitybased care rather than institutional care, such as a nursing home. Despite a waiting list that developed, additional admissions were closed to that program.
A new program, with some new spending limitations, was created last year to help those on the waiting list. DSS said Monday that 27 individuals are being served, with 22 still being assessed.
David Dearborn, a spokesman for DSS, said an additional 22 people with traumatic brain injuries are currently on the waiting list for services in the second program.
"We estimate that serving all on the waiting list could take up to two years under current available appropriations," he said.
Peters said her organization would like the General Assembly to consider adding more slots, or, at a minimum, release 30 slots reserved for Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services clients.
"I think the whole process is taking so very long," she said, adding that families are struggling to find a way to take care of their injured relatives.