SUPPORT FUNDING FOR BUDGET LINE-ITEM 4513-1111 AND PRESERVE THE HOME LINKS PROGRAM

SAVE MONEY IN THE FUTURE BY MANAGING DISEASES TODAY

Budget line-item 4513-1111 funds the Department of Public Health's (DPH’s) prevention and disease management programs, including the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter’s Home LINKS program. Home LINKS (Live Independently Navigating Key Services) is a care management program that helps people with MS live independently and safely in the community. Funded in part by the state budget since 2000, the program operates through a collaboration of the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter and the DPH to help more than 3,000 individuals with MS each year by providing everything from basic information and referrals to hands-on care management to access programs and services.

The Commonwealth’s dire fiscal condition in recent years has led the legislature to substantially cut funding for line-item 4513-1111. Since 2008, the total appropriation to line-item 4513-1111 has been cut over 77% from over $13 million in fiscal year 2008 down to $3.278 million in fiscal year 2014. These cuts have not only threatened funding of the Home LINKS program, but have also resulted in a substantial loss of federal matching funds from four federal grants.

Governor Deval Patrick released his fiscal year 2015 budget recommendations on January 22, 2014. The Chapter is pleased to announce that the Governor included the DPH’s Prevention and Wellness line-item 4513-1111. The Governor recommended an appropriation of $3,242,377 to the line-item.

Some of the key points to make in advocating for an increase in funding to line-item 4513-1111 are:

- Funding for prevention and management today results in far greater future savings because failure to manage chronic disease can lead to exacerbated conditions and complications that ultimately require more comprehensive health care.

- For individuals with MS, the funding of line-item 4513-1111 may mean the difference between access to support services for home care (i.e. assistance with daily routine activities, such as bathing) versus the extremely expensive alternative of total confinement in a nursing home facility.

- The long-term savings to be realized through the funding of line-item 4513-1111 does not end with MS, as this line-item supports many key programs to prevent and control conditions that are the largest drivers of health care costs, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and Hepatitis C.

- Line-item 4513-1111 not only honors the Commonwealth’s commitment to promoting health and disease prevention, it preserves the independence of the adult disabled population in Massachusetts, allowing them to function productively and continue to make meaningful contributions within our communities.