Community Services Faces Possible Drastic Expenses under Obamacare

Community Services faces possible drastic new expenses under Obamacare and may possibly require them to cover more employees under the plan, Executive Director Bonnie Patterson told the Community Services Board in a written report at their regular meeting last Wednesday. Community Services could face a double hit from sequestration cuts and Obamacare and may be forced to make even more cuts down the road. Patterson said that she would contact the insurance agent and discuss her concerns with him.In California and Oregon, two of the early states to implement Obamacare, rates will be much lower than expected at least initially. However, the concern is that these are simply teaser rates and that they will go sharply higher once everyone is locked in.

Community Services received their funding cut amount from Head Start due to the sequester cuts; it ended up being 5.27%, an amount which is likely to be permanent even if no more sequester cuts are forthcoming. She said that they anticipated a 6% cut in Section 8 Housing funding as well.

The State Association is applying for federal money to become navigators for clients to become enrolled in the federal healthcare system or to purchase affordable healthcare. If their application is successful, Community Services would be able to help clients navigate the system and pick the plan that is best for them.

Community Services Block Grant funding around the country will be cut by $635,283,911, a reduction of approximately 6.3%, from Fiscal Year 2012. This is according to a letter from the US Department of Health and Human Services. This funding level reflects both the final enacted appropriation and sequestration. These figures reflect both the sequestration and the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013 signed into law by President Obama on March 26th.

Community Services was able to weatherize two homes during April. They currently have 126 on the HUD rolls and 10 vouchers out. They have received two new contracts for the insulation of homes, one being a new construction and two additional estimates out. They received a grant from Home Depot for the Energy Savings for Veterans Program, which is specifically for materials. Community Services has acquired control of their domain name, website, and everything else related. They plan to start a new website by the first of June.