California Budget Cuts Leave Major Gaps

PALM SPRINGS, CA. -- California has made drastic cuts to close its budget gap. The area hardest hit is the population that relies on Medi-Cal the most — the developmentally disabled.The Inland Regional Center reports that there are 23,600 in its state program. In June 2009, the California-Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Health Care Services announced it would no longer pay for the following services:
Dental services
Speech therapy services
Podiatric services
Audiology services
Chiropractic services
Optometric services
Psychology services
Without these vital services, our adults and children with special needs face a major problem.