Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) praised the deal struck with the Governor and the Legislature to fully restore funding for programs to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Assemblyman Buchwald helped sponsor legislation (A.6692-C) in the Assembly to restore the $90 million in cuts that were made in this year’s budget.
“This is a huge relief for the thousands of families who may have been without the services they need to ensure the health of their loved ones,” Assemblyman Buchwald said. “We have an obligation to protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens – this was simply the right thing to do.”
Earlier this year, the federal government demanded that the state pay back $1.1 billion in “overpayments” for services to the developmentally disabled. The state was able to negotiate with the federal government to reduce that to $500 million and to be allowed to spread the burden so that the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) providers didn’t carry it entirely. When it came to the final 2013-14 state budget, a $30 million restoration was made to OPWDD funding – leaving a cut of $90 million.
“Without the outpouring of support and dedication from everyone who contacted my office, this would not have been possible,” Buchwald concluded.
A workgroup has already been established to come up with savings recommendations without impacting services or programs. If those savings fall short of the full amount cut, the State has pledged to make up the difference, Buchwald also noted.
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