PARMA, Ohio — People may think about Medicaid as a health insurance, but for people with developmental disabilities, it’s really their lifeline to live and work in the community.
One man has needed the benefits his entire life, and any cuts made to the program could potentially change life as he knows it.
“I require assistance with most tasks that people typically perform independently,” said Sean Walker of Parma.
Sean walker is 37. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth.
“My disability impacts all aspects of my daily living,” Walker said through a machine that he uses to communicate.
His disability affects his walking, eating, bathing, dressing and his speech. Fortunately, Medicaid helps pay for a person to help him with his daily needs so he can live independently, but he worries that may change.
“Listening to discussions about Medicaid services and funding will be cut is an extremely scary thought,” he said.
The budget plan by House Republicans makes no mention of Medicaid cuts. But it does call for slashing $880 billion over 10 years in spending overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the committee that has jurisdiction for Medicaid.
Cuyahoga County is worried about the impact to the people it serves.
“They rely on people funded by Medicaid to come into their home to help them in their home, to get ready for the day, to go out into the community,” said Amber Gibbs, CEO of Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The county provides support to 15,000 people with developmental disabilities from birth to old age, and although typically thought of as those who meet poverty guidelines, it’s much more.
“It also serves people of every income who have a disability, such as a vision impairment, hard of hearing or deaf and people with developmental disabilities,” Gibbs said.
Walker’s parents enrolled him for Medicaid waivers when he was 4 years old.
“It also pays for my medical needs and medical equipment including my wheelchair and communication device,” Walker said.
The county said it’s been receiving a lot of calls over concerns about cuts, but they say things are business as usual, and as of now, there have been no service reductions.
