Changes to Purchasing Rules and EMS
You may have caught the news yesterday that Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People has changed the Purchasing Rules and Equipment and Modification Services (EMS).
This follows on from earlier media reports about potential cuts to wheelchair modification services. You can see that article here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350205198/disability-ministry-reduces-wheelchair-services-due-cost
The new guidelines apply to a wide range of services. These are:
Carer Support
Individualised Funding
Enhanced Individualised Funding (EIF)
Choices in Community Living
Enabling Good Lives (EGL) personal budgets
You can find the detail of the new guidelines here: https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/news-and-events/news/whaikaha-purchasing-rules-and-equipment-and-modification-services-ems-update
While Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People have stated that changes to the Purchasing Rules does not reduce the amount of funding that is allocated to disabled people (or carers), there is a reduction in purchasing flexibility for people using these supports.
This will make life more challenging for people who access these disability support services and may impact some people's abilities to use their funding. We know that this news has been deeply concerning to many people.
While we understand that all government ministries have been directed to make cost savings and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People is not immune to those pressures, we share the feeling of disappointment on the lack of community consultation and sudden nature of these changes.
CCS Disability Action's Disability Leadership Coordinator Debbie Ward, who is a disabled woman, shares her thoughts and a call to action.
"Disabled people have the same human rights as any other person. These changes appear to limit choice even more so this takes away our human rights."
"We’re led to believe it’s ‘our’ ministry – where is the consultation? Let’s work together as a collective rather than let others make the decisions for us."
"Anyone receiving disability support services has to fight really hard just to live their life. Historically it has been a long process to get equipment and modifications, for example. These changes further reduce our independence and freedom," she says.
Any move away from genuine choice and control, is a move away from the Enabling Good Lives principals that we are committed to as an organisation.
We look forward to working very closely with Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, alongside others in the disability support sector, to work through the medium and long-term changes signalled by Whaikaha, to ensure disability supports are delivered in a way that work for disabled people and their families.
In the meantime, if you would like to have your say on these changes there are a number of ways to do so:
If you are supported by CCS Disability Action and access one of the above supports, you can discuss this – including your feedback – with your usual support coordinator. Our Chief Executive is collating key themes and impacts so we can feedback on behalf of the people we support.
Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA) has set up a survey to find out how disabled people are affected by these changes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FG3RW5J
Carers NZ are running a survey to seek the views of parents and caregivers. You can find that here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/fundingchanges
Awhi Ngā Mātua are also collecting feedback on the changes. You can find this here: https://awhi.substack.com/i/142712508/please-fill-out-this-form-and-let-us-know-how-the-changes-will-impact-your-family
Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People have (at time of sharing) closed comments on the Facebook announcement, but you may like to read the original post. There may be opportunities to feed back directly in time.
CCS Disability Action will continue to analyse the detail and consider the impacts of these decisions and share any further relevant information via our platforms.