Arizona’s version of Medicaid, or AHCCCS, has issued new age-based rules that will drastically reduce the amount of care offered to children with disabilities.
The new rules go into effect on Oct. 1. Brandi Coon is the executive director of Raising Voices Coalition — and mom to 10-year-old Tyson who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She says the strict age-based restrictions for things like attendant care and habilitation were unexpected.
"And then the biggest issue is that there's no flexibility," she said.
So if a child who’s 6 or 7 has extraordinary needs like Tyson, Coon says they won’t be eligible for supervision until age 10, leaving parents to fill the gaps, which could mean parents who work full-time may either have to leave the workforce or reduce their hours.
"Because according to the state, those hours are then being viewed as typical parenting," Coon said.
For parents who are paid by the state to provide attendant and habilitation services to their child, Coon says it means they’ll lose their income.
Attendant care includes bathing and toileting, whereas habilitation focuses on life skills like communication.
