Nebraska is changing the way it assesses and funds services for people with developmental disabilities. Families say some people are seeing substantial reductions in funding even though their needs haven't changed.
But is this simply an attempt to modernize the system, or are Nebraska's budget problems influencing those decisions?
Dan Parsons talks with State Sen. Victor Rountree, sponsor of LR404; Carol Salber, a licensed independent mental health practitioner and parent; and Mike Browne, father of two adult sons with profound developmental disabilities and a member of Nebraska's Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee.
They examine concerns about the interRAI assessment, a reported $68,000 annual funding reduction for one individual, questions about the state's financial assumptions, and whether Gov. Jim Pillen and DHHS should pause reductions while an independent review is underway.
It's a conversation about budgets, accountability — and what these decisions mean for some of Nebraska's most vulnerable citizens.
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