ashland.news
December 9, 2023

Letter: ‘Paying parents (of special needs children) is a critical necessity’

January 22, 2023

There are two bills this legislative session addressing the need to pay parent caregivers of children with disabilities.

There is a program through Medicaid that provides in-home caregivers for children that are determined by a thorough assessment to have significant extra-care needs due to a disability. 

There is a shortage of caregivers to fill these roles, leaving many families unable to locate any non-family caregivers for the service offered to their child, and the parents providing all care without pay.  Additionally, there are many kids for whom a frequent rotation of non-family caregivers is not safe and appropriate due to immunocompromising conditions or the child’s mental health condition. 

These Medicaid programs are also meant to allow choice of providers to the individual receiving services, and parents are a valid choice that must be honored. Current rules allow payment to anyone except parents or felons for these caregiving positions. 

Paying parents is a critical necessity to alleviate the above barriers to access vital services. Paying parents helps keep kids out of hospitals or more expensive institutional placements, which is better for children, saves the taxpayer money, and increases the parents’ capacity to continue providing caregiving long term.

Sen. Knopp’s (R) Bill 646 covers more disabled children and provides the taxpayer with the greatest value. I support and encourage others to support Bill 646. For more info, I encourage readers to look up Advocates for Disability Supports.  

Lisa Tschudi

Phoenix

Ryan

Ryan

Related Posts...

Letter: Shop locally

Brent Thompson: In our hunt for presents, hopefully we don’t forget that stores in Ashland’s downtown core and parts of Ashland Street (aka Highway 66) offer crafts, books, comics, shoes, plants, baked goods, chocolate, new and used clothes, kitchen items, games, antiques, pet supplies, art supplies, collectibles, and many other things.

Read More »

Latest posts

Obituary: Margaret McCartney

Obituary: Margaret McCartney died Dec. 4 at 83. Memorial services are planned for 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 44 N. 2nd St., Ashland.

Read More >

A home for the holidays? Local cat adoption events coming up this month

With local rescue groups still overflowing with cats and kittens, those wishing to bring home a new family member for the holidays will have opportunities to do so on two upcoming December weekends. On Saturday, Dec. 9, Ashland-based Friends of the Animals (formerly Friends of the Animal Shelter) will partner with Feral Cat Advocacy (FCA), Melly Cat Rescue, and Hero Tails Animal Sanctuary for a Feline Fair at the Rogue Valley Mall.

Read More >

Relocations: Politics far and near

Herbert Rothschild: Apparently, Kissinger insisted on recording practically every word he said. His aides later commented that he needed to keep track of which lie he told to whom.

Read More >

Explore More...

Obituary: Margaret McCartney

Obituary: Margaret McCartney died Dec. 4 at 83. Memorial services are planned for 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 44 N. 2nd St., Ashland.

Read More>

A home for the holidays? Local cat adoption events coming up this month

With local rescue groups still overflowing with cats and kittens, those wishing to bring home a new family member for the holidays will have opportunities to do so on two upcoming December weekends. On Saturday, Dec. 9, Ashland-based Friends of the Animals (formerly Friends of the Animal Shelter) will partner with Feral Cat Advocacy (FCA), Melly Cat Rescue, and Hero Tails Animal Sanctuary for a Feline Fair at the Rogue Valley Mall.

Read More>
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.

NewsMatch is here! For a limited time, your donation to Ashland.news will be DOUBLED.