By KRWG News
New Mexico – The Health Department plans cuts to a program that provides services to more than 4,000 people with developmentally disabled.
The agency said Wednesday it needs to slow the rising costs of the program because of the state's budget problems. Cutbacks will be in place by the end of June.
Among the changes is a reduction in payments to providers of services, such as therapy for the developmentally disabled.
Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said the state should save $9 million a year.
The state provides home- and community-based services to the developmentally disabled through an optional Medicaid program. Total federal and state spending is projected to reach about $307 million in 2011, with the state's share nearly $79 million.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.