Inclusion Daily Express -- Troubles Persist At Institution; Lawmakers Blame Governor

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Troubles Persist At Institution; Lawmakers Blame Governor
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
March 14, 2008

BEATRICE, NEBRASKA--The fate of the troubled Beatrice State Developmental Center and the 320 people with developmental disabilities housed there is becoming a political 'hot potato' for Nebraska lawmakers and Governor Dave Heineman.

In December, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notified Nebraska officials that the federal government would withhold about $28 million from the state if conditions at BSDC were not improved by the end of February.

That same week, Nebraska Advocacy Services reported that the facility investigated 220 allegations of abuse, 86 of which were later substantiated, in the first nine months of last year. Those included twenty-two cases in which residents were found to have suffered broken bones.

Federal inspectors revisited BSDC last week. The Department of Health and Human Services said the inspectors found four violations related to the health and safety of residents, and three situations that presented immediate risk to residents.

John Wyvill, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, told the Beatrice Daily Sun that the state is appealing the findings. If the appeal fails, the federal government will stop funding the facility.

Some state lawmakers are talking about a possible increase in sales tax to save the institution.

According to the Associated Press, six Democratic Senators in the Nebraska Legislature have blamed Republican Governor Heineman for the ongoing problems at BSDC.

Heineman said his critics were part of a coordinated partisan attack on him and his administration.

On Thursday night, Wyvill addressed a town meeting in which he addressed the problems at BSDC.

Wyvill said much of the trouble at the institution had to do with staff turnover. He said that more than half of new employees don't stay for their first year, and that many simply don't want to do the kind of work required.

Related:
"Looking at BSDC’s future" (Beatrice Daily Sun)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0314d.htm

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