Senate OKs its Version of 2010-2011 Budget; House Budget Writers Already at WorK
The NC Senate finished its work on the 2010-2011 Budget May 20. The near $19 billion spending plan was $570 million less than the 2009-2010 budget and almost $160 million below the plan Gov. Perdue proposed in April. The budget was developed with few public meetings. The only change among the items reported on last week was a projected increase to savings anticipated by Community Cares of North Carolina. CCNC is now expected to generate savings in excess of $45 million.

Immediately upon passage of the Senate’s version of the budget, House Budget Subcommittees met publicly to review the Senate’s action. They also began to understand their charge to make 5 per cent in additional cuts below those made by the Senate, about another $216 million.
 House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee members reviewed the Senate’s spending plan and flagged numerous items for additional information and review. 
 NCOTA is concerned that proposals to reach the savings necessary to achieve the House’s new, lower target could include changes to outpatient rehab therapies or visit limits similar to the proposal that was included in Gov. Perdue’s budget. NCOTA continues to work with colleagues in PT and SLT to communicate the consequences of rehabilitation therapy cuts on Medicaid beneficiaries’ outcomes.
 House budget writers are aggressively attacking the budget task, planning to conclude their work and votes on the bill by June 4.
 Budget items of interest to NCOTA can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/DocumentSites/browseDocSite.asp?nID=85&sFolderName=\2010%20Short%20Session\2010-05-17%20Meeting\Subcommittee%20Report%20and%20Special%20Provisions
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© 2010 Evelyn Hawthorne, NCOTA Government Relations Consultant