1) They haven't done the planning: They are moving as fast as they can to shut down these DDS facilities, starting with the Fernald Developmental Center by June 30, and to transfer the residents to two remaining state facilities and to community-based group homes. Three other state facilities would be shut by Fiscal Year 2013. The problem is that thousands of people are already waiting for care in that same under-funded community system. The administration is leading the state toward the edge of a cliff. Even the ARC of Massachusetts and other organizations that support the closures of the DDS facilities have tried to warn the governor that the privatization plan won't work because there isn't sufficient funding in place for the community system. Our analysis of DDS's plans shows that the administration intends over the next four years to develop only enough community-based group home beds to accomodate residents of the four DDS centers marked for closure. We believe the coming logjam of people trying to get placements in the community will result in new and expensive lawsuits against the state. 2) They haven't done the proper cost analyses: The administration has claimed that closing Fernald and the other DDS facilities will save the state millions of dollars. But their cost analyses have been based on apples-to-oranges comparisons. As we've pointed out many times, the DDS facilities serve people who have much more severe mental retardation and medical needs on average than does the community-based system. On top of that, the administration's cost-savings claims in closing the facilities have continually changed and have been made with little or no supporting evidence or documentation. 3) They are letting care and services at Fernald deteriorate as they attempt to force guardians of remaining residents to move them out. For the past six months, we have been providing report after report to DDS about inadequate staffing following layoffs at the facility; residents going without services; and dirty conditions in living areas. Yet, Commissioner Howe has refused to admit that a problem exists. 4) They are ready to pay extra to close Fernald by June 30; but they are paying the minimum to make a key alternative site available and livable for Fernald residents. According to a feasibility study we reviewed, the state is projecting that it will cost $1.88 million to renovate two buildings at the Wrentham Developmental Center to accomodate 64 Fernald residents. The feasibility study, however, states that the renovations will not include a number of "desirable" features, such as replacing windows and the roof in the aging Wrentham buildings because of "cost considerations." Yet, a top DDS official has said the state is prepared to "work around the clock" to get the buildings ready for the Fernald residents by June 30, even though the bidding on the project is four months behind schedule. Working around the clock will most certainly lead to higher costs. 5) We contend the unilateral shutdowns of these centers amount to a giveway of land and contracts to favored human service vendors and political contributors to the administration. 6) Howe is a professional state facility closer. She was hired here in Massachusetts to continue doing what she did in New York State. McGuire, meanwhile, has been put in charge of the Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation, which is supposed to be a neutral body, but will be used now for political cover. Patrick removed the staff and budget of the Commission, and has appointed only facility-closure advocates and people with ties to human services vendors to it. The bottom line is that this administration is acting on this major policy issue in undue haste and without planning and without sensitivity to the people being affected by it. It's bad policy and bad management. |
