Arizona Families Face Cuts to Disability Services Amid Policy Changes
Arizona families caring for children with disabilities will see reduced state funding for critical services following policy changes implemented on Wednesday. The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) have revised policies regarding attendant care and habilitation services for individuals under the age of 18, adjustments necessitated by legislation aimed at preventing program insolvency last spring.
The changes will significantly impact access to care for vulnerable children. Specifically, the state will no longer evaluate the needs of children under 10 for attendant care – funding that supports care workers providing essential assistance for safe and healthy living. New, age-based limitations have also been placed on habilitation, which encompasses therapies designed to help individuals with disabilities acquire vital life skills.
These alterations mean families will be responsible for covering previously funded costs, and parents who received compensation for providing these services will no longer receive that financial support. The changes have sparked outrage among caregivers, who fear a collapse in the quality of care available to their children.
“In my opinion, it’s discriminatory,” stated a concerned caregiver, Holly Brittain, who provides around-the-clock care for her daughter. “They should be doing it by need, not by age. One child like mine, I have to tell my daughter, who’s almost 7, I have to show her hand-over-hand how to wash her hands. Most 7-year-old little kids, you could just tell them to wash their hands.”
Brittain expressed worry that the changes will not only financially strain families but also discourage qualified caregivers from continuing their work. “It’s devastating,” she said. “All parents are going to drown because of this, and especially the kids.”
AHCCCS acknowledged the concerns raised by families, explaining that the updated assessment tools were developed to align with state law and federal guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“The revised assessment tool is designed to ensure consistency, equity, and alignment with medical necessity standards across all members receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS),” a statement from AHCCCS representatives read. “AHCCCS is required by law to administer the strengthened assessment tool effective today, in accordance with the legislative directive outlined in the state budget. AHCCCS remains committed to ensuring Arizona families have access to high-quality, cost-effective care that is responsive to each member’s individual needs, while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the program.”
Despite assurances from AHCCCS, the changes have left many families fearing for the future of their children’s care and well-being, raising questions about the long-term impact of these cost-saving measures on Arizona’s most vulnerable population.
