Audit: More than 100 developmentally disabled were on waitlist while $20M for services went unspent

Feb. 13--More than 100 people with developmental disabilities remained on a waitlist for services at the end of fiscal year 2015 while $20 million in general funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for those services was not spent.

A performance audit by the legislative budget assistant noted the services for the 101 developmentally disabled, and eight with acquired brain disorder, would have cost about $5 million.

Because the $20 million in general fund money was not spent, the state could not draw an equal amount of federal Medicaid money as a match bringing the total appropriation to nearly $40 million.

The audit notes that the nearly half a billion dollar budget for the bureau of developmental services was an 18 percent increase over the previous biennium and that the division and 10 area agencies that oversee regional programs were ill-equipped to utilize the money.

"Removing citizens from the developmental disabilities waitlist has been a major priority for the Senate, especially during the last budget. Today's audit reported 109 individuals who, at that time, were still on the waitlist to receive services," said Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, at the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee meeting Friday. "In addition, $38.5 million went unspent within the department, which should have provided services for every individual, eliminating the waitlist altogether."

The audit found delays in hiring service providers, budget constraints due to inflexibility, and the agency's failure to properly track expenditures contributed to the issue.

At Friday's meeting, Marilee Nihan, deputy commissioner of DHHS, told the committee the waiting list has grown to 153 clients today.

She said the agency has to ensure future funding is sufficient to move the client off the waitlist.

Waitlists occur when the developmentally disabled turn 21 years old and are no longer the responsibility of school districts or if living or service arrangements require a change.

Pressed by committee members on how quickly the system could be fixed, Nihan said as soon as possible.

"I do this work for a reason. I care deeply about the clients and the people of the state as all of you do," she told the committee. "I want the system to get fixed and run as optimally as possible, and the clients to live to their potential as all of us do."

After the meeting, Dennis Connors, CEO of Community Crossroads of Salem, said the area agencies are on budget for this fiscal year, both for the maintenance of existing clients and for moving people off the waitlist.

"We're right on target," he said.

The committee said it wants to work with the department to fix the problems as soon as possible.

"This system has underserved some of our neediest citizens, and that is unacceptable to the Legislature," Morse said.

grayno@unionleader.com

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