By David Gorn, California Healthline
California officials and disability rights advocates yesterday announced a settlement of a lawsuit challenging a 20 percent budget trigger cut in In-Home Supportive Services care.
The settlement allows an 8 percent reduction this year and a 7 percent reduction in 2014. It also changes the cuts from permanent to temporary.
The size and timing of the cuts are based, in part, on a current 3.6 percent IHSS cut established in 2009. That reduction will remain in effect, and an additional 4.4 percent cut will be added onto that this year followed by a 3.4 percent additional cut next year, bringing the totals to 8 percent this year and 7 percent next year.
"As a package deal, it's not as simple as saying it's 20 percent down to 8 percent," said Elissa Gershon, attorney for one of the plaintiffs, Disability Rights California. "What we're looking at is small cuts this year and the following year, and hopefully full restoration of benefits in 2015."