Lawmakers to keep close eye on programs for badly disabled

Brendan Riley

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 | 2:14 a.m.

CARSON CITY - A state program that helps a small group of severely disabled Nevadans has been improved after lengthy delays, but lawmakers were told Tuesday there's still a long waiting list.

Charles Duarte, head of the state Health Care Financing and Policy Division, said some disabled people on the list have been waiting for periods ranging from six to 18 months to get on the program.

"We'll be watching this one very carefully," said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, as members of the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees reviewed Duarte's proposed budget.

Duarte said his goal is to get the waiting period down to a couple of months. He also said that by the end of 2001 the number of people being helped by the program - now about 130 - should exceed 200.

The 1997 Legislature authorized $500,000 for the program, but numerous delays help up federal approval needed to spend Medicaid funds so that disabled Nevadans could continue to live in homes and avoid being institutionalized.

State inaction, a change in administration and staff turnover all were blamed for the holdup.

The money approved by the 1997 Legislature for the program was never spent. The 1999 Legislature doubled the sum to $1 million and urged the Guinn administration to try again.

GOP Gov. Kenny Guinn had inherited the delayed program from former Democratic Gov. Bob Miller. In addition to a new governor, staffing changes also occurred in the division - including Duarte's appointment - and in the federal agency involved in administering the project.

Complaints about the delays escalated last summer into threats of court action from advocates for the disabled.

The expansion of benefits required a waiver from the federal Health Care Financing Administration. A waiver amendment request was filed by the state a year ago, but was returned last April for "clarification."

That was followed by a series of phone calls and letters from the state to federal officials. The waiver from the Health Care Financing Administration finally came through in August.

The waiver lets severely disabled people who are able to work to earn from $500 to $1,500 a month without losing Medicaid benefits. The waiver allows them to avoid being placed in institutions or other highly restrictive living arrangements.