$41.6 million less for homecare client harassment

The state Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services has blocked the Governator's latest attempt at harassing homecare consumers (clients). This now frees up $41.6 million that would have been used to intimidate and potentially eliminate a large number of worthy clients from the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS/homecare) system. Will this money  instead be allocated to supporting the program instead of destroying? You all know my answer.

9th Court of Appeals, US DOJ support homecare funding

Read 'em and weep Governator! It's good to see the federal government is stepping up where the Zombies used to. Case in point: homecare providers (workers) in Lake County, who are not represented by the Zombies, can get their state mandated fingerprinting free of charge! Sonoma county providers who are "represented" by the Zombies receive only intermittent mailings apparently based on employment gained through the Registry, the list of providers who have applied for job placement with the Public Authority and have passed background checks. As a direct hire by my wife, I never had to undergo a background check or fingerprinting and I have yet to receive any mailing about fingerprinting.

From Thursday, March 4, 2010:

From Monday, March 8, 2010:

Perhaps the tide against homecare providers and clients is turning.

Supplementary reading

Though not centered in Sonoma County here are a few links for healthcare related issues covered in the press .

IHSS providers say DSS not so supportive (Capitol Weekly)

California Counties Blast State for Roll Out of New IHSS Program Changes (California Healthline)

Judge Frank Roesch provides temporary relief to IHSS workers

A sense of relief across was felt across the state today when Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch temporarily banned the state from blocking felons from IHSS employment. The injunction hearing is coming up January 29. If a grandma wants to hire her felon grandson, that's between the two of them, and the State needs to keep it's hand off!