Mar. 10, 2017
HARRISBURG – Rep. Alex Charlton (R-Springfield) testified Thursday before the House Appropriations Committee to urge the state to pass a budget that ensures the well-being and protection of individuals with special needs.
Watch Rep. Charlton’s testimony by clicking here.
“In my district I have a constituent who is currently receiving services through an institutional-based setting,” Charlton said. “His family and the institution agreed that he would be best served through a community-based service provider. Essentially their (Department of Human Services) answer is, ‘we are spending more money to provide him with care at an intuitional setting, because we can’t spend less.’”
Charlton’s constituent has yet to move from an institution to a community center.
“The best answer I have been able to receive is that he is still on the waiting list because the waivers program is not adequately funded,” said Charlton. “My constituent is losing out on quality of life, a family is losing sleep wondering if they’ll ever get their son into the community-based service provider and the state is wasting tax-payer money.”
In testifying, Charlton said he hopes to see the Department of Human Services receive its full, requested funding for the 2017-18 budget to provide the necessary services to constituents who are most in need of support.
“I hope we can all agree that the care, protection and well-being of individuals with disabilities should be one of the state’s greatest priorities,” he concluded.
Representative Alexander Charlton
165th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Mike Madry
717.260.6587
mmadry@pahousegop.com
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