M.C. Niland, executive director of Witco, a non-profit community rehabilitation organization that provides services to adults and children with disabilities, told lawmakers she's also speaking on behalf of Access Idaho, a group that includes organizations like hers across the state. She urged the Health & Welfare committees to rethink the section of HB 221 that would move patients off of developmental therapy at age 45. She also pointed to various other sections of the bill that she said are problematic.

Mike O'Bleness of Developmental Workshop Inc. said his eastern Idaho organization, based on the bill, would need to discontinue all its Medicaid services in the communities of Challis and Salmon. "It's a small population, but would be heavily impacted by those age 45 and not qualifying for the waiver," he said. O'Bleness said, "We did find some parts of the bill that we were very encouraged by. ... We've been through a number of years of cuts, and it's resulted in a system that's chopped up and not logical in the way that people access the services, so we encourage you to continue your efforts in that are." He expressed fears that some of the bill's provisions would result in greater costs to the state than the anticipated savings.

Roger Howard, executive director of LINC, one of three nonprofit centers for independent living in Idaho, said his center provides services under the Aged and Disabled Waiver. He said the shift of DD clients onto that waiver might not result in their receiving the type of services they really need. Plus, he said the bill's pinching of rates could have "a significant impact on in-home care providers." Howard said, "I don't see how providers can take on additional roles while their financial capacity to operate has been reduced." Asked by Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise, what alternative he preferred, Howard said individual clients should have some choice about what type of services they receive, rather than automatically shifting them at age 45.

Jim Baugh of Disability Rights Idaho told the committee that the bill violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by requiring people age 45 and over to move to institutions in order to continue receiving services they need.